I'm Right Here: 10 Ways to Get Help for Hoarding and Chronic Disorganization

In every neighborhood in every city, there is someone living in a home packed with possessions, perhaps spanning floor to ceiling as in the extreme cases we've seen on TV. There are times we all grapple with household clutter and feel disorganized. But when chronic disorganization or hoarding behavior seriously impacts the quality of our lives or the lives of people we care about, compassionate, professional intervention can help.

In "I'm Right Here: 10 Ways to Get Help for Hoarding and Chronic Disorganization," Jill Yesko, a Certified Professional Organizer(R), explains the difference between chronic disorganization and hoarding disorder and the multiple ways to access resources for help. Some people develop a hoarding disorder after experiencing a traumatic life event. Others accumulate items due to brain-based challenges such as depression, anxiety, or attention deficit disorder. Whatever the underlying reason is, Yesko outlines the resources available to those experiencing extreme organizing challenges with their environments. She explains the advantages of collaborative therapy and the importance of effective communication and support during the decluttering process.

Yesko shares her colleagues' strategies and her own experiences, including her work on the TV show Hoarders. Her sensitive, nonjudgmental approach offers hope and healing to people suffering from CD and hoarding disorder. This guide can also be used by therapists, case managers, social workers, and any other helpers to find and access appropriate services and achieve successful outcomes for their clients.