Ep 5. David / Nora

David and Nora are the center of attention of this episode of Hoarders season 7. David is a former drug addict who’s been sober for over two years. However, he still struggles with compulsive behaviors, which have led him to hoard massive amounts of junk in his home for decades. Nora is his friend who lives next door, and she is also a hoarder. Her hoarding has become so severe that the city has threatened to condemn her house, leaving her to stay at David’s cluttered home.

The episode starts with an introduction to David. He talks about his journey towards sobriety and how clutter has always been a part of his life. His mother was a hoarder, and he witnessed her struggle with cleaning up the house. David claims that he has attempted to stop hoarding multiple times but has always failed. His house is packed with items to the ceiling; he sleeps on a cluttered mattress and walks around piles of useless stuff.

Next, the crew moves to Nora’s house, which is equally cluttered, concerning hoarded items. Nora is a collector of porcelain dolls and has a room dedicated to them, but she has accumulated much more than she can manage. She also has an infestation of bugs, and her dog has fleas because of the dirty environment. The city gave her a notice to clean up the house, or they’ll condemn it.

The counselors assigned to David and Nora are Dr. Robin Zasio and Dorothy Breininger. Dr. Robin is a licensed psychologist and specializes in anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders. Dorothy Breininger is a professional organizer with over twenty years of experience. They visit Nora’s house first, examine the clutter and prioritize items. They arrive at the critical decision that she needs to downsize her porcelain doll collection. Dr. Robin provides guidance on managing items and offers Nora solutions on how to let go of stuff. Nora has trouble making decisions and often becomes sentimental about her possessions.

Meanwhile, Dorothy and Dr. Robin assist David in clearing the clutter in his home. David struggles to part with items but agrees to donate some of his belongings. They make progress and encourage him to continue purging items regardless of how hard it is for him. Moreover, David finally agrees to take a chemical test to prove to himself and others that he is drug-free, which he passes.

After managing David’s home, the therapists turn their attention back to Nora’s property. They assist her in organizing her dolls while maintaining a clutter-free environment. Nora admits that she feels relieved when she donates some of her accumulated stuff, which she has had for years. Dr. Robin advises her to change her mindset and concentrate on specific goals, such as being able to sleep in bed at night without clutter surrounding her.

As the episode progresses, David still struggles but sees some progress in his hoarding behavior. His house goes from a cluttered mess to an organized space where it’s possible to walk and live. He talks about taking the first step towards a clean environment and how it has brought him peace of mind. Nora’s home, too, sees progress. The crew manages to transform her house into a hospitable environment where she can live comfortably and be free of health risks.

In conclusion, David and Nora's episode is one of the most relatable on the show. It highlights how anyone can hoard items and how letting go of clutter can be challenging. Through guidance and intervention from Dr. Robin and Dorothy, David and Nora see significant progress in managing their hoarding behavior and turn their cluttered houses into functional environments.