This past Sunday's Parade Magazine in the Los Angeles Times 
featured an outstanding article on Compulsive Hoarding. According to author Dianne Hales,
"... nearly a million Americans obsessively acquire and save things most people consider worthless. While many of us stash stuff in attics or garages, compulsive hoarding breeds wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling clutter that interferes with daily living."
I was talking about the article to my friend and Compulsive Hoarding expert, Lynne Gilberg of Lynne Gilberg Organizing in Los Angeles, and she says there is at-home help available for people with this disorder. Lynne explains:
"Someone who really wants to change their environment and is willing to put in the time and effort to work with a specially trained organizer can have a successful outcome. Organizing [for compulsive hoarders] is not a substitute for therapy, but works beautifully as an adjunct to it. Attempting big changes is too overwhelming and frustrating to go it alone."
Lynne is a member of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. She recommends going to their website to find referrals for CD and ADD/ADHD specialists in your area, to download a reading list and some very useful fact sheets on hoarding, causes of chronic disorganization, various professional perspectives on hoarding and time management tips for people with these special issues. "Hopefully, this cyber visit will provide some motivation for readers who are drowning in their stuff: there is help out there," according to Lynne.
More of Gilberg's helpful, expert advise can be found here, an article on "Making a Major Move When You're Disorganized."
The Parade Magazine article is available through the archive here.
As always, I welcome your comments.
