| Tools for Self-Help 5 Stages of change for Compulsive Hoarding |
| Don't overthink. "If you have to go through a long and complicated decision-making process for each and every item before you get rid of it, you'll never get free of the clutter," Dr. Tolin says. "Most decisions are not that complicated. If you find that the decision takes you more than a couple of minutes for a particular object, you are probably making it too complicated." |
| Be brave. "Beating compulsive hoarding requires you to face things that are very scary," says Dr. Tolin. "I can't tell you not to be scared, because you can't really control that. But you can be brave. Be willing to face your fears. Be willing to risk making the wrong decision. The people who gain the most are usually the people who are willing to risk the most." |
| Dr. David Tolin suggests, "The question to ask yourself is not whether you can use the object, but whether you really will use the object. A good rule of thumb is that if you haven't used an object in over a year— say, you didn't even know it was there until you found it on the bottom of a pile— you probably can live without it." |
| Changing a lifelong habit is a difficult thing. Even after clearing one's home, many people who hoard have to always keep on top of their hoarding behavior. People can and do change and it is possible to say one is over something like this, but until we know more about what causes this, we won't know what a "cure" will look like. One important component to successful treatment is not only to clear out each room, but to learn how to live and be comfortable with a cleared room. -Randy Frost, Ph.D., Expert on Compulsive Hoarding |
| Tools & Tips Sent In Please share the tip, tool, article, quote, mantra, method, anything at all that helps you! Maybe what you use will help someone else too? |
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Quotes from the Oprah Show, 11/2007 from Peter Walsh & Dr. David Tolin:
1. Organize your stuff. Knowing where stuff is located is of prime importance. When your possessions have a designated home,
then not only do you know where to find them, but you use them and you don’t buy more of the same stuff because you think
you need it.
2. Reorganize how you think about your life. Stop thinking about the stuff in your life the same way. Keep focused on what’s
most important in your life – love, family, friends, faith, health. Stuff is just stuff, but the people in your life matter most.
3. Don’t add without subtracting. As you bring new things into your home, take something away. If you buy a new pair of
shoes, consider donating an old pair.
5. Set limits. On anything that you accumulate, decide your maximum. Without limits, you’ll find yourself with far too much stuff.
Determine the boundaries in your home so that you can maintain a comfortable, livable space in each room (including the
garage).
6. Face the emotions. Dig deep when you organize and clean house. Unveil the truth behind your clutter. Why are you holding
on to this stuff? Most often, each individual has physiological causes of each clutter some area.
7. Know that change is possible. No matter how bad, no matter how messy, no matter how cluttered and disorganized, there
is always hope. You can always make the choice to change the way you live your life.
8. Choose quality over quantity. More does not mean better. Junk won’t make you happy. And all your stuff won’t make you
feel whole, so tend to the people in your life. That’s where you’ll find quality and a real source of joy.
9. Get help. Share your troubles and burdens with your family and friends. Don’t tackle the big stuff alone. When needed, seek
the assistance of professionals, whether that means therapy or medication, or a professional organizer.
HelpingHoarders.com recommends finding an organizer familiar with the unique needs of the chronically disorganized
only. You can find those organizers who are certified on different levels at NSGCD.net.
10. Live your best life. Whenever you’re shopping at the store, always keep in mind the question, “Will this help me live my
best life?”
1. Organize your stuff. Knowing where stuff is located is of prime importance. When your possessions have a designated home,
then not only do you know where to find them, but you use them and you don’t buy more of the same stuff because you think
you need it.
2. Reorganize how you think about your life. Stop thinking about the stuff in your life the same way. Keep focused on what’s
most important in your life – love, family, friends, faith, health. Stuff is just stuff, but the people in your life matter most.
3. Don’t add without subtracting. As you bring new things into your home, take something away. If you buy a new pair of
shoes, consider donating an old pair.
5. Set limits. On anything that you accumulate, decide your maximum. Without limits, you’ll find yourself with far too much stuff.
Determine the boundaries in your home so that you can maintain a comfortable, livable space in each room (including the
garage).
6. Face the emotions. Dig deep when you organize and clean house. Unveil the truth behind your clutter. Why are you holding
on to this stuff? Most often, each individual has physiological causes of each clutter some area.
7. Know that change is possible. No matter how bad, no matter how messy, no matter how cluttered and disorganized, there
is always hope. You can always make the choice to change the way you live your life.
8. Choose quality over quantity. More does not mean better. Junk won’t make you happy. And all your stuff won’t make you
feel whole, so tend to the people in your life. That’s where you’ll find quality and a real source of joy.
9. Get help. Share your troubles and burdens with your family and friends. Don’t tackle the big stuff alone. When needed, seek
the assistance of professionals, whether that means therapy or medication, or a professional organizer.
HelpingHoarders.com recommends finding an organizer familiar with the unique needs of the chronically disorganized
only. You can find those organizers who are certified on different levels at NSGCD.net.
10. Live your best life. Whenever you’re shopping at the store, always keep in mind the question, “Will this help me live my
best life?”
| How Clean Is Your House Online Videos (about a person who hoards) with feel good ending! |