Ep 10. Jan / Bebe

Jan / Bebe, the tenth episode of season 6 of the show Hoarders, features two individuals struggling with hoarding disorders. Jan, a 65-year-old retired school teacher, has been hoarding for over 20 years and has amassed an overwhelming amount of items in her home. Bebe, a 31-year-old stay-at-home mom, is also facing a severe case of hoarding and has accumulated excessive amounts of clothing and furniture.

The episode begins with Jan's niece and her daughter attempting to help her declutter her home, but they quickly realize that the situation is far worse than they had anticipated. The home is filled with piles of clutter that have accumulated in every room, including the kitchen, bedroom, and living room. Jan's emotional attachment to her items prevents her from letting go of anything, and she confesses to feeling immense anxiety when she considers discarding any of her belongings.

Dr. Robin Zasio, a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in hoarding disorder, arrives on-site to assess Jan's situation. She quickly realizes that the clutter has reached dangerous levels, with mold and mildew growing on many of the items in the home. Dr. Zasio works with Jan to understand the source of her anxiety and helps her to make decisions about what to keep and what to discard.

Meanwhile, Bebe's hoarding disorder has caused tension in her relationship with her boyfriend, who is frustrated by the clutter that has overtaken their home. Bebe is passionate about thrift store shopping, and her addiction has led her to accumulate an excessive amount of clothing and furniture. Her home has become a maze of clutter, preventing her from moving around freely and causing her to feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

Dr. Zasio arrives at Bebe's home and begins working with her to understand the psychological roots of her hoarding disorder. Bebe expresses a fear of missing out on potential finds at thrift stores, fearing that she will regret not acquiring items that she believes she may need in the future. Dr. Zasio helps Bebe to see that her hoarding has become a means of escape from the difficulties in her life, and that she needs to confront her fears in order to move forward.

Throughout the episode, both Jan and Bebe face difficult emotional challenges as they work to combat their hoarding disorders. Family members and loved ones help to support them through the process, and professional organizers provide practical steps to help them manage their clutter and start anew.

In the end, Jan and Bebe both make significant progress in decluttering their homes and overcoming their hoarding disorders. Although the road ahead may be long, both are filled with hope for the future and a renewed sense of purpose as they begin to take control of their lives. As Dr. Zasio points out, hoarding disorder is a complex psychological condition that requires patience, understanding, and a willingness to confront deep-seated fears and beliefs. However, with the right tools and support, it is possible to overcome even the most severe cases of hoarding disorder.