DEAR ABBY: My mother-in-law is a hoarder, and anything her son (my husband) and I do to bring it to her attention makes her angry.
When we had a meeting with her and her doctor about the situation, she denied that she had a problem. She straight-out lied to him and said she's "working on the issue." In reality she has done nothing.
It has reached the point that my mother-in-law is sleeping on a corner of her couch because the clutter has forced her out of her bedroom. Is there any organization out there that we can contact for support and guidance on how to address this? -- HOPING TO HELP, PUEBLO, COLO.
DEAR HOPING: When the tendency to hoard becomes as overwhelming as your mother-in-law's has, it may be a symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Obsessive-Compulsive Foundation is a reliable resource that may be able to help you help her. It has many local chapters that educate about this treatable neurological disorder, and they can refer you to qualified professionals.
The OC Foundation offers individuals with this disorder the support they need to manage their symptoms, and can help you persuade your MIL to seek the help she needs. Its address is P.O. Box 961029, Boston, MA 02196. Its phone number is (617) 973-5801 and its Web site is � HYPERLINK "http://www.ocfoundation.org" ��www.ocfoundation.org�.