About Hoarding: Buried Alive

Hoarding: Buried Alive is a reality television series that first aired on TLC in 2009. The show focuses on individuals who suffer from compulsive hoarding disorder. The series takes viewers into the personal lives of hoarders, showcasing the extreme conditions in which they live and the severe impacts that their disorder has on their relationships and health.

Making / Production

Produced by Discovery Studios for TLC, the production team works closely with professional organizers, therapists, and cleaners to safely film the show and help the participants. The crew takes great care when filming to respect the hoarders' homes and possessions, and the cleanup process is usually carried out over the course of several days.

Actors

• Jay H. Stevens: Jay is a licensed psychologist and professional organizer who often participates in the show. He provides counseling to the hoarders and aids in the cleaning process.
• David Tolin: David, a clinical psychologist and a hoarding expert, also appears as a key figure in the series. He provides therapy for the participants, helping them understand and manage their hoarding behavior.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The show's title, 'Hoarding: Buried Alive,' is metaphorical, representing the suffocation that hoarders often feel due to their overwhelming belongings.
• In some cases, participants have been subjected to legal action due to the health hazards and public nuisances caused by their hoarding habits.
• The series provides a deep insight into hoarding as a mental health issue and educates the viewers about this less-discussed disorder.

Awards

The series has not won any major awards, but it has received critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of hoarding disorder and the pains taken by the production team to help the participants.

Quotes

• "Old habits die really hard, but I'm trying to make a change." – Participant
• "We're not just dealing with clutter, we're dealing with a mindset." – Jay H. Stevens
• "It's not about the stuff, it's about the person." – David Tolin

• The series does not rely heavily on music or a specific soundtrack. However, the occasional background music is carefully chosen to reflect the emotional state of the hoarders and the gravity of their situation.