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Conquer the Clutter

Strategies to Identify, Manage, and Overcome Hoarding

Elaine Birchall and Suzanne Cronkwright

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How to take back your life when your things are taking over.

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...

How to take back your life when your things are taking over.

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. Over 40 pages of additional resources are available online at jhupbooks.press.jhu.edu/title/conquer-clutter.

Reviews

Reviews

Warm and big-hearted... The real-life case studies in part two bring the book alive, offering inspiration for change... [Birchall's] common sense and compassion come across loud and clear.

Beautiful book, accessible to everyone and absolutely interesting. Highly recommended.

When does a messy house cross the line into a mental health crisis? [Birchall] identifies the tell-tale signs—and explains how to safely intervene.

A great, accessible resource for anyone touched by hoarding—sufferers, family, friends, and therapists.

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About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
7
x
10
Pages
296
ISBN
9781421431512
Illustration Description
70 halftones, 5 line drawings
Table of Contents

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

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

Author Bios
Elaine Birchall
Featured Contributor

Elaine Birchall, M.S.W., R.S.W.

Elaine Birchall, the director of Birchall Consulting and founder of the Canadian National Hoarding Coalition, earned her master's degree in social work from Carleton University. A hoarding behavior specialist and clutter coach for more than 16 years, she provides training, consultations, and counseling to individuals and organizations.
Suzanne Cronkwright
Featured Contributor

Suzanne Cronkwright

Suzanne Cronkwright, a technical writer and editor, earned her honors bachelor's degree in psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University.
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