Guest Article by Rebecca Dameron of Simplifine®
Hoarding isn’t a new phenomenon, but it is being brought out of the shadows by the A&E and Discovery Channel ™ TV shows about hoarding. And you used to think your cluttered garage was a mess! So what makes hoarding hoarding? General clutter, cluttered disorganization and hoarding are on the same spectrum but vary greatly by degrees and causal factors. General, not excessive, clutter and hoarding are on opposite ends of a scale of chronic or challenging disorganization as defined by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD).
General clutter would be considered a Level I on ICD’s Clutter Hoarding Scale (found on their website). This is how most of us probably live – with “living your life” clutter. Level II reflects conditions where functionality of rooms, appliances and exits is being compromised and sanitation is becoming a concern. Most of the people showcased on the hoarding shows are at least a Level III on the ICD Clutter Hoarding Scale (CHS) – where the functionality of a house is restricted and there are sanitation concerns. The more extreme cases on the shows are Level V (the highest) – when there are serious health and/or structural concerns.
So what contributes to the differences between Level I and Level V? Being chronically disorganized and/or having some mental illness are the biggest factors. Chronic disorganization (CD) is defined by lifelong disorganization, failed self-help attempts and having disorganization that negatively impacts your life. CD can manifest differently in different people and can be the result of numerous and different factors, such as a brain injury, a bad filing system, a mental disorder, too much stuff, or a new child. (See the ICD Fact Sheet 004, ‘Disorganization’ at www.challengingdisorganization.org/content/fact-sheets-public-0.) CD is not about the messes that we all may have around our homes in a Level I situation and more importantly, is not about someone being lazy.
While CD can certainly lead to much clutter, it is not the same as a hoarding situation. Most people with CD can organize or eventually let go of their stuff, they may just need help in getting to it. This may include a counselor, an organizing buddy, a coach (for life skills, time management, or ADD, for example), or a professional organizer. ;Getting help for a chronic disorganization situation is fairly straightforward though it does take a time and effort commitment.
Hoarding is definitely a different situation. While much is known about hoarding, there is much that is still unknown. Even psychiatric professionals who write and edit the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) debate on how to classify hoarding. Usually it is classified under Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), though that isn’t always the case. There are usually other conditions (depression, anxiety, addiction, etc) associated with hoarding. Generally, hoarding is about 1) acquiring, but failing to discard, a large number of items that appear to be useless or have limited value, 2) greatly restricted living spaces and 3) an impaired or distressed life due to the hoarding.
Help for a hoarding situation is best when it comes from many sources. This may include some of what was mentioned above as well as a mental health professional, legal assistance, a clean-out service, strong family or friend support, medication and possibly more. One of the best known treatments for hoarding is CBT – or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. In very simple terms, this involves counseling about the desire to change and changing one’s beliefs about possessions. Two sources for finding therapists that do CBT are the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists (www.nacbt.org) and the International Obsessive Compulsive Foundation (www.ocfoundation.org).
Having clutter isn’t intrinsically a bad thing – it becomes a negative thing when it impairs our life and our activities. Whether you are cluttered, chronically disorganized, or someone who hoards – there is a way through if you are ready. A few good websites to start looking for help are the ICD (www.challengingdisorganization.org), CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) (www.chadd.org), Clutters Anonymous (http://sites.google.com/site/clutterersanonymous/Home) and the OCD Foundation (www.ocfoundation.org – search for hoarding). Helpful authors include Judith Kolberg, Sandra Felton, Julie Morgenstern, Randy Frost, David Tolin, Gail Steketee, Tamara Hartl, Michael Tompkins, Edward Hallowell and John Ratey – to mention just a few really good ones.
Don’t let your stuff keep you from living your best life. Start on your decluttering journey today.
Rebecca Dameron, owner of SimpliFine®, has been a Professional Organizer since 1998.