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Chronic Disorganization |
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We all have had times in our lives when we have suffered from an illness or other event that has put us behind on our organization. When the quality of your life suffers on a daily basis and you feel completely overwhelmed or feel like you are sinking deep, you might be more than simply disorganized; you might be chronically disorganized. |
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Successful Before and After Story
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What is Chronic Disorganization? |
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How do I know if I suffer from Chronic Disorganization? |
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Do you feel like you are drowning in clutter, surrounded by piles of newspapers, catalogs, paperwork, clothing, bags of items you have bought but have not put away, and the situation is only getting worse? |
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Have you been disorganized for as long as you can remember? |
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Have you tried many different systems, continually changing them because you are not satisfied? |
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Are you constantly late for appointments? |
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Do you run from one calamity to another? |
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Do you have many projects going on at once and nothing has been completed? |
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Do you feel guilty and/or angry about often working late and missing out on being with family
or friends? |
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Do you panic at the thought of having anyone over? Are you living in C.H.A.O.S. (Can't
Have Anyone Over Syndrome)? |
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Are your children ashamed to ask their friends to come over to visit? |
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Do you long for organization, but it seems like a far away dream? |
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Do you own it ten times over, but can't find it when you need it? |
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If you answered yes to many of these questions, then you are not suffering from simple disorganization, but from chronic disorganization. A Helping Hand can help you! |
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What Causes Chronic Disorganization? |
There are many conditions and situations that can lead to chronic disorganization. The most common cause is Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), which is a chronic neurobiological disorder that is characterized by degrees of impulsivity, hyperactivity and inattention.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders, and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Some hyperactive-impulsive or inattentive symptoms must have been present before seven years of age.
The CDC states that approximately 9.5% or 5.4 million children 4-17 years of age have ever been diagnosed with ADHD, as of 2007. They also state that the percentage of children with a parent-reported ADHD diagnosis increased by 22% between 2003 and 2007.
The American Psychiatric Association states that “ADHD is a real, and treatable, medical condition that affects about 8 million adults–that’s 1 in 20 adults in the United States.”
Chronic pain is another common cause of chronic disorganization. If you hurt all the time, you do not feel like organizing. Are you battling with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia or arthritis? These conditions might be contributing to your disorganization.
People living with depression also have an extremely hard time being motivated to organize or stay organized. They are tired and feel hopeless and helpless. It takes all their energy just to wake up in the morning, let alone stay organized.
Chronic disorganization can also result from a TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). You could have experienced something as minor as a mild concussion or as serious as major brain trauma.
Do you have short-term memory loss, or are you suffering from the beginning stages of Alzheimer's disease? You could have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or even something as simple as an allergic reaction.
The most extreme form of chronic disorganization is that of compulsive hoarding. |
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Compulsive Hoarding Defined |
Most clinicians and researchers have grouped compulsive hoarding with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some aspects of hoarding seem consistent with OCD and can range in severity from mild to life threatening.
How do you know if you have a problem with compulsive hoarding? Compulsive hoarding is thought to be present when all three of the following criteria are met: (1) You accumulate, and then have great difficulty discarding objects that most other people would consider useless or of limited value; (2) The clutter is so severe that it prevents or seriously limits the use of living spaces in the manner for which those spaces were intended; (3) The clutter, acquiring or difficulty discarding causes significant impairment or distress.1 |
1. Dr. Randy Frost, Ph.D., Gail Steketee, Ph.D. and Dr. David F. Tobin Ph.D., define compulsive hoarding as a diagnosable behavioral syndrome and is part of a psychiatric disorder. This excerpt was taken from Buried in Treasures, Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding, David F. Tobin, Randy O. Frost, Gail Steketee, Oxford University Press, 2007.
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Collaborative Therapy Defined |
When working with clients with mental health conditions, including but not limited to compulsive hoarding, the Collaborative Therapy process is highly recommended.
This process can involve psychiatrists, psychotherapists, clinicians, professional organizers, family members, state and local agencies working side by side with the client to facilitate interventions that help to create and maintain long-lasting environmental changes in the home, as well as lasting change within the client. This is a challenging, yet supportive effort to assist clients in removing excessive items to which they feel extremely attached.
The Collaborative Therapy model was first developed and applied by my colleagues and friends Dr. Roland Rotz, Ph.D., and Heidi Schulz, CPO-CD® in Santa Barbara , CA.
Through the use of Collaborative Therapy , my clients have been able to identify emotional and physical connections to their "stuff" while being offered corrective alternatives that lead to long-term solutions.
I am currently working with psychiatrists, psychotherapists, clinicians, local and state agencies in Austin and San Antonio, Texas to provide collaborative services to all of my clients, if requested and needed. |
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How Can A Helping Hand Help You? |
At A Helping Hand, we focus on helping all of our clients gain control of their lives, no matter what their life circumstances are. We work in a hands-on teaching and coaching format alongside our clients. This method allows our clients to make small changes over time, which leads to long-term success. We help our clients to define their organizing problems, and we help them find solutions that will work for their individual needs. We discuss realistic goals and expectations, along with changes in behavior.
The final outcome is a much more effective plan that is based on strategies and goals that correspond to the development of our clients new habits. We offer real-life solutions for our clients real-life needs.
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