Clearing Piles of Clutter

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Clearing the Piles!

Clearing the Piles!

Hoarding – ADHD – ADD

10 Steps to Help

By: Lori Peniston

Are you tired of the piles of stuff lying around your home and office?  Have you considered hiring a professional or even tackling the organization job yourself?  It’s time organize the piles of clutter and make your life more manageable and initiating calm and simplification.

Hoarding Disorder

People with hoarding disorder excessively save items that others may view as worthless or garbage. Many people with hoarding disorder also experience other mental health disorders, such as:

· Depression

·  Anxiety disorders

· Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

· Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Hoarding disorder occurs in an estimated 2 to 6 percent of the population and often leads to substantial distress and problems functioning.

Steps to help!   

  • Encourage the person to seek professional help

  • Take the time to learn about hoarding and look for credible sources

  • Help them with their belongings if they ask for help

  • Listen to your loved ones

  • Recognize the positive changes that are achieved

  • Hire a professional who works with hoarders

  • Be sure aftercare is set up for the hoarder

  • Start with sorting out the belongings

  • Find an organization to donate items to

  • Acknowledge the progress

ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a controversial diagnosis that has gained considerable attention in recent years, symptoms include:

· Difficulty managing behavior

· Hyperactivity

· Difficulty paying attention and/or staying on track

· Chronic disorganization

Adults with ADHD are 4.4 percent of the adult US population but less than 20 percent of these individuals seek help for it. 41.3% of adult ADHD cases are considered severe.

Steps to help!  

  •  Getting organized is a key step toward reaching your goals

  •  Hire a Professional Organizer that can help you and is aware of ADHD

  •  Set time limits for decision-making – literally set a timer

  • Keep your to-do lists brief

  • Have a friend or family member hire a professional to help

  • Stop agonizing over insignificant items

  •  Create a place near the front door for items or have bins labeled

  • Simplify your wardrobe

  • Take on one project at a time

  • Use sticky notes to stay on track

 ADD

ADD (attention deficit disorder): ADHD is a common condition that affects children and adolescents, while ADD is more common in adults, symptoms include:

·  Easily Distracted

· Disorganization

· Forgetfulness

Impulsive behavior  

Steps to help!  

  •  Check your planner 2 times a day

  • Make “To Do” lists

  • Start organizing one room at a time and hire a professional organizer

  • Make organization a daily habit

  •  Meditate

  • Take a 100-percent multivitamin and mineral supplement every day

  • Eliminate caffeine and nicotine

  • Exercise daily for 30-45 minutes 

  • Limit television, video games and cell phone

  • Food is a drug so being mindful what you put in your body. Most people with ADD do best with a higher protein, lower simple carbohydrate diet, but this isn’t true for all types of ADD

I have worked with hoarders, clients with ADD / ADHD and OCD. Together we created a plan that worked for them! I invite you to call or set up an appointment for a consultation.