Wow, so revealing the way you expressed your painful story Ruby. I've known 3 families that had women in the household who were hoaders. So much of what you descibe is familiar to me, even from me being on the outside looking in. One of the people was the mother of a guy I was dating. I couldn't believe that she was an elementary teacher when I finally saw the inside of her home (after dating him for months). Once she went away for a week and I talked him into letting me go in and clean the whole house. I found bags and bags of brand new toys and supplies she bought for the children in her classroom, as well as new clothes still in bags and with price tags. But each hoarder's situation was different. One woman was just a bargin shopper who couldn't pass up a sale - of anything, ever. It's truly a sickness and I thank you for enlightening people.