Why does Cliff, a successful lawyer who regularly wins landmark cases, step over two-foot piles of paper whenever he opens his front door? Why do Joan and Paul ask Children's Services to take their three children instead of decluttering their home? Why does Lucinda feel intense pressure to hold onto her family's heirlooms even though she has no room for them? They have hoarding disorder, which an estimated 2% to 6% of the adult population worldwide experience.
Conquer the Clutter offers hope to anyone affected by hoarding. Real-life vignettes, combined with easy-to-use assessment and intervention tools, support those who hoard'and those who care about them. Written by Elaine Birchall, a social worker dedicated to helping people declutter and achieve long-term control over their belongings, the book
provides an overview of hoarding, defining what it is'and is not
explains the difference between clutter and hoarding
describes different types of hoarding in detail, including impulse shopping, ""closet"" hoarding, and animal hoarding
debunks myths about hoarding and hoarders
explores the effects that hoarding has on relationships, on work, and on physical and financial health
presents a practical, step-by-step plan of action for decluttering
contains dedicated advice from individuals who have successfully overcome their hoarding disorder
The most comprehensive work about hoarding on the market, Conquer the Clutter discusses special populations who are not often singled out, such as the disabled and the elderly, and includes numerous worksheets to assist individuals in determining the scope of their hoarding disorder and tackling the problem.
Acknowledgments
How to Navigate the Book
Prologue
Introduction
Part I. Understanding Hoarding and What It Takes to Clear Your Path
Chapter 1. Overview of Hoarding
Chapter 2. Environmental and Self-Assessment
Chapter 3. Goals
Chapter 4. Take Back Your Life
Chapter 5. Procrastination
Part II. Moving Forward: Inspiration from Those Who Have Gone before You
Chapter 6. The Impact of Hoarding on Families: Her Pills Haven't Worked Yet
Chapter 7. The Impact of Grief: Drowning in Loss
Chapter 8. Impulse Shopping: Can't Buy Happiness
Chapter 9. The Sandwich Generation: Overwhelming Obligation
Chapter 10. A Life Stored, Not Lived: Secondary Diogenes Syndrome in Seniors
Chapter 11. Professional at Work, Powerless at Home: Secret Lives
Chapter 12. Disabled in Dire Straits
Chapter 13. Home Is Where the Heart Is: Disconnecting from Your Environment
Chapter 14. Collateral Damage: Adult Children of Hoarders, Seniors Living with Hoarders, and Neighbors
Chapter 15. The Last Word
Part III. Getting There: Resources, Tips, and Tools
Chapter 16. Resources
Appendix. Case Review from Birchall Consulting and Associates, Inc.
References
Index
"A great, accessible resource for anyone touched by hoardingsufferers, family, friends, and therapists." Elspeth Neiman Bell, The Bell Center for Anxiety and Depression
"Birchall's compassionate and commonsense approach to decluttering continues to factor into everything we do when supporting people whose lives have been impacted by hoarding." Rheanon Funnell, Housing Services, Canadian Mental Health Association
"If you're one of the millions who loved Elaine Birchall's radio show Take Back Your Life When Things Are Taking Over, then Conquer the Clutter is for you. Elaine provides pragmatic tools for managing and overcoming challenges of hoarding while debunking myths. Learn how this disorder is impacting people worldwide, perhaps even your neighbor next door." Camille Nash, VoiceAmerica Talk Radio Network
"Clutter was making our home unhappy, our marriage unhappy, and our family unhappy. We didn't own stuff, stuff owned us; stuff was holding us hostage. Elaine's strategies have helped us take charge of the clutter and take charge of our lives." J and C R., clients of Elaine Birchall, Ontario, Canada
