Hello, everyone:
As noted in my first post, hoarders often have issues with procrastination in getting things accomplished. The last time JZ and I met, we were very productive in cleaning out his kitchen cabinets. The excitement evidently faded quickly, because JZ called me the day before our next weekly appointment and cancelled due to issues with his telephone and computer.
When we meet this week, we will discuss in depth his procrastination and how it negatively affects the momentum needed to get this job done. For me, it is a bit frustrating, as I am one of those individuals who likes to 'just do it' and get things done quickly and completely in a short amount of time.
Obviously, this is a learning experience for both JZ and myself!
Monday, August 1, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Pictures and some progress
JZ and I have met approximately 4 times for two-hour sessions to actually work on sorting, organizing, discarding and decision-making regarding his hoard. We agreed during our first meeting that we would utilize his second bedroom as our staging area to sort things into categories: discard, donate, or sell. We have worked a total of 6 hours so far on clearing out the second bedroom. This is the room that had no space to walk into at the beginning.
So far, JZ and I have discarded unusable or outdated items and have filled the big dumpster at his condo complex 2 times!! We have also donated clothes and other items to a local charity. We continue to work on the second bedroom.
JZ and I were unable to meet for a few weeks due to some health issues that took precedence for both of us. We met again yesterday, and when I arrived JZ told me that he had started some things on his own. He decided that he liked my suggestion last time we met to clean out the kitchen and get that room in usable order. He spent the morning before I arrived moving items INTO the staging bedroom to clear space in the kitchen so we could work there. Because JZ does not have the best organizational skills, we worked together first to try to at least organize the items that he placed in the staging bedroom. Most of the items are small appliances, pots & pans and the like.
We decided together that we would work on cleaning out the kitchen cabinets to discard outdated items and organize things into categories that will make it easier for him to determine just what he has or doesn't have on hand. We spent our full two-hour session doing this task and we still have the bottom cabinets left to work on next time.
JZ and I agreed that we were very happy with our progress in his kitchen. We also agreed that he may have to invest in a cabinet to store extra canned goods, as he has always bought in bulk and he has a small kitchen with minimal storage space.
JZ expressed disappointment and amazement at how many canned goods and other items we had to discard because they were outdated. He said quite a few times "this is such a waste of money that I don't have." I have inserted a photo of the dining/kitchen area below. As you can see through the window, the kitchen is stacked with items, leaving no counter space to work on.
Today, I am posting a photo of the second bedroom when I first saw it. This is the bedroom that we have worked with in order to set up a staging area for sorting items into categories.
So far, JZ and I have discarded unusable or outdated items and have filled the big dumpster at his condo complex 2 times!! We have also donated clothes and other items to a local charity. We continue to work on the second bedroom.
JZ and I were unable to meet for a few weeks due to some health issues that took precedence for both of us. We met again yesterday, and when I arrived JZ told me that he had started some things on his own. He decided that he liked my suggestion last time we met to clean out the kitchen and get that room in usable order. He spent the morning before I arrived moving items INTO the staging bedroom to clear space in the kitchen so we could work there. Because JZ does not have the best organizational skills, we worked together first to try to at least organize the items that he placed in the staging bedroom. Most of the items are small appliances, pots & pans and the like.
We decided together that we would work on cleaning out the kitchen cabinets to discard outdated items and organize things into categories that will make it easier for him to determine just what he has or doesn't have on hand. We spent our full two-hour session doing this task and we still have the bottom cabinets left to work on next time.
JZ and I agreed that we were very happy with our progress in his kitchen. We also agreed that he may have to invest in a cabinet to store extra canned goods, as he has always bought in bulk and he has a small kitchen with minimal storage space.
JZ expressed disappointment and amazement at how many canned goods and other items we had to discard because they were outdated. He said quite a few times "this is such a waste of money that I don't have." I have inserted a photo of the dining/kitchen area below. As you can see through the window, the kitchen is stacked with items, leaving no counter space to work on.
Next week, I will take new photos after we finish up the kitchen area and post that for you to see the progress we have made so far......
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Clutter, clutter, clutter
Since moving to Florida, JZ has exacerbated his hoarding behaviors. His small condo has two bedrooms, one bathroom, a living/dining combination and a kitchen. He also has an outdoor screened patio.
His entire living area, including the outdoor patio, is filled with boxes, books, tapes, DVDs, food cans and a multitude of other things.
JZ and I met at his home on June 8, 2011. Pictures were taken of every room in his condo, and we sat down to make a plan about how we would attack this major project. JZ is very willing to "get it done" as he says. We discussed beginning with the extra bedroom, which is filled floor to ceiling with items. We will clean out this room and set it up as a sorting area for donations, items to keep, and sale items. JZ readily agrees to the plan.
JZ and I set a schedule to meet every Wednesday for two hours of work on the clean-up. He is unable to commit to more than this amount of time and the cost associated with it. We agree that JZ will have "assignments" to get through during the period between our joint clean-up meetings.
His entire living area, including the outdoor patio, is filled with boxes, books, tapes, DVDs, food cans and a multitude of other things.
JZ and I met at his home on June 8, 2011. Pictures were taken of every room in his condo, and we sat down to make a plan about how we would attack this major project. JZ is very willing to "get it done" as he says. We discussed beginning with the extra bedroom, which is filled floor to ceiling with items. We will clean out this room and set it up as a sorting area for donations, items to keep, and sale items. JZ readily agrees to the plan.
JZ and I set a schedule to meet every Wednesday for two hours of work on the clean-up. He is unable to commit to more than this amount of time and the cost associated with it. We agree that JZ will have "assignments" to get through during the period between our joint clean-up meetings.
Monday, June 20, 2011
A Hoarder's Decision to Change
This is the story of JZ, an admitted hoarder who has worked with a psychologist for several years to try to overcome some personal issues and, now, to begin to deal with his hoarding behaviors.
Hoarding is the collecting of excessive items that seemingly have little to no value, such as newspapers, trash, books, papers and even animals, along with the inability to discard these items. Sometimes, hoarders have emotional attachments to things that can cause them great anxiety if they are asked to discard these things.
Hoarding is thought to be connected to obsessive-compulsive disorder, but there are still many unanswered questions about compulsive hoarding and each person who hoards is often different in their own ways about the disorder and how it affects them.
Hoarding can affect emotions, thoughts and behavior. There are different levels of hoarding, and for those of you who have watched some of the TV shows on hoarding, you have seen some extreme hoarding behaviors. Hoarding can be a safety issue, as hoarders run the risk of harm due to unhealthy living conditions, fire hazard and the like. In addition, people who hoard can find their compulsion to be a detriment to their socializing with others.
Hoarding symptoms can include the following:
Acquiring unneeded items. Inability to discard items. Keeping stacks of newspapers or mail. Saving trash or used food containers. Cluttered living spaces. Procrastination. Trouble with decision-making. Difficulty organizing items. Finding comfort in being surrounded by 'stuff.'
JZ says that he began hoarding behavior when he owned a large home in the Northeast United States. He says his stuff was stored in his attic then, so he did not have such a cluttered living area as he does today. JZ moved to Florida several years ago
Hoarding is the collecting of excessive items that seemingly have little to no value, such as newspapers, trash, books, papers and even animals, along with the inability to discard these items. Sometimes, hoarders have emotional attachments to things that can cause them great anxiety if they are asked to discard these things.
Hoarding is thought to be connected to obsessive-compulsive disorder, but there are still many unanswered questions about compulsive hoarding and each person who hoards is often different in their own ways about the disorder and how it affects them.
Hoarding can affect emotions, thoughts and behavior. There are different levels of hoarding, and for those of you who have watched some of the TV shows on hoarding, you have seen some extreme hoarding behaviors. Hoarding can be a safety issue, as hoarders run the risk of harm due to unhealthy living conditions, fire hazard and the like. In addition, people who hoard can find their compulsion to be a detriment to their socializing with others.
Hoarding symptoms can include the following:
Acquiring unneeded items. Inability to discard items. Keeping stacks of newspapers or mail. Saving trash or used food containers. Cluttered living spaces. Procrastination. Trouble with decision-making. Difficulty organizing items. Finding comfort in being surrounded by 'stuff.'
JZ says that he began hoarding behavior when he owned a large home in the Northeast United States. He says his stuff was stored in his attic then, so he did not have such a cluttered living area as he does today. JZ moved to Florida several years ago
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)