Am I a Hoarder?
This is the number one question we get asked when first meeting with new clients ready to embark on their organizing projects.
Rarely do any of our clients fall into the category of this disorder. The term “hoarder” often is misused by the general public to describe anyone who is even slightly messy or lives in a cluttered environment. While we cannot diagnose this disorder, in general you must fit all three of these descriptions:
You collect and keep many items, often things that may be useless or have little value, and have difficulty letting go of the items.
Your items clutter your living spaces and prevent you from using your rooms as intended and often cause safety issues.
The items you keep cause distress or problems in your day-to-day activities and often prevent you from having visitors.
If you think that you or someone you know may fit this description, we recommend that you contact your mental health care professional to get evaluated. If diagnosed, your treatment most likely will include working with a team of mental health care professionals and professional organizers trained to work with those that have the disorder. *We are not trained to work with those that are classified as having a hoarding disorder.
Find Fact Sheets, Guides and other information about Hoarding Disorder from the following mental health associations:
What If I’m Not a Hoarder but Struggle with Clutter?
Most of you are likely NOT hoarders but may struggle with clutter, disorganization, and other habits that affect your living spaces and quality of life. Here are resources to help you better understand your current situation:
Review the ICD Collecting, Compulsive Acquiring or Hoarding Behavior Fact Sheet
Complete the ICD: Clutter Quality of Life Scale (CQLS) Questionnaire
Please make sure you enter your email address in order to get a copy of your responses along with the scale description and scoring information.