Jayne, a 75-year-old retired librarian from Cardiff, found herself engulfed by boxes of belongings after the tragic death of her husband. Her home became a maze of boxes, with her hoarding so severe that only half of her bed was available for sleeping. This compulsion filled the void left by her husband's passing, turning into a source of both comfort and burden.
Two years ago, Jayne sought help from Holistic Hoarding, a charity dedicated to assisting individuals with hoarding disorders. The organization has been pivotal in changing Jayne's life, helping her transform a seemingly insurmountable problem into a journey of recovery. Today, she regularly gives away boxes of items, something that would have been "impossible" for her just 12 months ago.
Jayne's collection initially served as a small way to find pleasure after being left a widowed single mother with two teenage children. Reflecting on her experience, Jayne shared,
"I think I cried every day for years," – Jayne
Her house was once piled high with boxes, and she describes how this impacted her life:
"I was sleeping in half of my bed because the other half was three to four foot high with boxes," – Jayne
The journey to recovery hasn't been easy. Jayne admitted,
"I was looking for pleasure in my life," – Jayne
"when I came home from a shopping trip with so much stuff in my car that I couldn't get anything else in it." – Jayne
However, with the help of Holistic Hoarding, Jayne began to release this burden by practicing a new technique that involves reusing and repurposing her belongings. She described the weight she carried, stating,
"It was like a millstone around my neck," – Jayne
Support workers at Holistic Hoarding can spend up to two years with individuals like Jayne, as they receive at least two new referrals daily. Founder Kayley Hyman noted the importance of therapeutic intervention, explaining,
"We are looking at a 97% relapse rate of enforced clearances without therapeutic intervention," – Kayley Hyman
Jayne began to box up her collectibles and donate them to charities and schools, such as Hawthorn Primary School in Cardiff. The school's headteacher expressed gratitude, noting that the donations provided valuable equipment that would otherwise be unaffordable within their budget.
Sustainability officer Celeste Lewis praised the approach of reusing and repurposing items as an effective way to reduce waste and benefit the environment. This method not only helps individuals like Jayne but also supports broader community needs.
Kayley Hyman emphasized the positive impact of showing individuals the value others can find in their items:
"If we can show them that other people can find value in their items, they have pride instead of shame." – Kayley Hyman
For Jayne, this journey has been about finding happiness amidst profound loss. She poignantly reflected on her experience:
"You're just trying to keep yourself as happy as you can in the circumstances," – Jayne
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