For some people, clutter manages their lifestyle and to break the cycle they must seek the help of a professional. Offering advice for dealing with this condition is Mike Nelson, author of Keep Clutter From Wrecking Your Life (figure A) and founder of the support group Clutterless Recovery Groups.
Q: What defines the difference between a messy person and a clutterer?A: Everyone is messy at times, but if the mess overwhelms you to the point that you can't deal with it, then you are a clutterer (figure B). Cluttering is a manifestation of either depression or anxiety and elements of the condition can also be found in people suffering from Attention Deficit Disorder and/or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). The condition of cluttering is the act of expressing outwardly what is going on inside the body. Clutterers hide behind clutter to keep from dealing with the people in their lives, and can sometimes use the clutter as a way of totally isolating themselves from family or friends.
They basically replace people with things (figure C). Hiding behind the clutter becomes a way of escaping from the inability to deal with the core issues of depression or anxiety in their lives. It also serves as a conversation topic to keep friends and family from becoming aware of the internal conflict the individual is facing.It can get to the point where people won't leave their houses or won't allow people inside the home. They literally have paths or trails that allow them to move among the clutter and boxes in their homes (figure D). This behavior is usually considered to be hoarding, an obsessive compulsive condition.
An organized person has a hard time comprehending the problem, especially if the clutterer is a spouse. They simply don't recognize the emotional attachment to the things or that the clutter has become such a part of the person's life that they no longer know how to rid themselves of the objects. The clutter is also an embarrassment to the organized person and puts them in the situation of not wanting to invite people into the home.Support groups can be beneficial to the clutterer because they work as non-judgmental peers who understand each other and encourage each other to declutter. Support groups also focus on the psychological principles behind the need for clutter. Often psychiatrists and psychologists refer patients to these groups for additional help.Support group founder Mike Nelson helped break his addiction to clutter with the help of a clutter "buddy." He made a commitment to doing 15 minutes of organizational work each day, then called his buddy to let her know what the work had entailed.The problem is usually recognized only after it is pointed out by a friend or family member. Clutterers are usually intelligent, educated individuals who, on a deeper level, are aware that they have a problem, but do not realize they have to deal with the emotional issues for hanging on to the clutter before they can address the problem.
Remember, clutter isn't just hanging on to stuff you don't need. It is a way to hinder having a productive life. Tip: Carry room measurements with you when you shop to avoid impulsively buying furniture that doesn't fit the measurements of the room.
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