For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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Jasmine Sleigh is a professional declutterer and has spent the past decade helping people to free up space. She focuses not only on physical belongings but also on the emotional and psychological aspects of decluttering. In today's episode, Jasmine likens her role to a dance, where she carefully navigates through uncertainties and potential triggers for her clients and stresses the importance of providing support and encouragement throughout the decluttering process.

We also discuss Jasmine's book, Being Owned: A Decade in Professional Decluttering, where she expands on the concepts discussed in this episode. Let's dive into the world of decluttering with Jasmine Sleigh.

• Facilitating crafts and donating unused items.

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In today's episode, we're diving into the topic of when you feel like giving up. We'll be exploring the struggles, frustrations, and moments of doubt that can arise during the journey of overcoming compulsive hoarding. We'll uncover strategies to stay motivated and find the strength to keep going. Join me as we navigate the highs and lows of this challenging process and discover the power of perseverance.

So, grab a cup of tea and press play!

For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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Reminder: Why was change important? Self-examine motivation for new things.

Stay present, take care of yourself, embrace failure.

Challenges and triumphs in a long journey and a big project.

Setting expectations based on order rather than timings is preferable for someone who finds it difficult to predict. Learn from experience and set realistic expectations. Consider the burden of letting others down if you communicate expectations to them.

Setting milestones helps celebrate small wins. Clearing the kitchen table can be a goal, leading to a sense of accomplishment and motivation. Having compassion for oneself is crucial.

A Facebook comment inspired compassion from children of hoarders, encouraging someone to not give up and be a hero for their kids.

Change up your habits, shift timing, remember why you started.

Remember why decluttering was important to you. Reflect on your motivation and discover new reasons, like enjoying extra space, treating yourself, or flexibility while working from home.

Taking breaks and finding inspiration from others helps prevent burnout during long-term projects. Look to successful people for motivation, even outside of your specific field.

Applying mindset to various areas of life, replacing unproductive habits, assessing and making adjustments, and the potential benefits of visualizing success.

Acknowledging slow progress is better than no progress

Feelings of frustration and impatience with the current situation

Be patient and work with circumstances

Mindful Approach to Avoid Feeling Overwhelmed

Being present in the moment instead of rushing to the next thing

Appreciating and being present in small tasks

Practicing mindfulness and avoiding constant engagement with everything

Importance of physical, mental, and emotional self-care

Maintaining motivation through scheduled and unscheduled breaks

Viewing failure as a learning experience, not a reason to give up

Importance of setting specific goals and milestones in decluttering

Celebrating accomplishments as motivation

Breaking tasks into manageable chunks to reduce overwhelm

Replacing rigidity with a more gentle and careful approach

Doing a bit, assessing, and making adjustments

Changing Environment and Finding Motivation

Changing environment or time of day to make decluttering feel new

Reflecting on initial motivation to stay motivated

Various sources of inspiration, including social media, podcasts, and books

Unrelated endeavours like trekking the Appalachian Mountains as a source of inspiration

Flexibility and Adaptability in Pursuit of Goals

Emphasizing the importance of flexibility and adaptability

Overcoming rigidity and perfectionism through adjustment and starting multiple times

Taking breaks and weekends off to prevent burnout

Failure as a Motivator and Opportunity

Understanding failure as a setback in life plans

Validating the feelings of discouragement and wanting to give up

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In this episode, we explore decision making and its connection to hoarding. I dive into neuroscience research, exploring the neural mechanisms of decision making in hoarding disorder, discover how individuals categorise their own possessions versus those of others, and how this impacts their ability to make decisions. I talk ways to improve decision making skills. From flipping a coin to considering our values, setting priorities, and seeking advice, I explore practical techniques that can help anyone struggling with indecisiveness. Along the way, I tackle the fear of uncertainty and how it can hinder decision making. I delve into the different decision making styles that researchers have identified and how understanding these styles can help.

For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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• Hoarding OCD patients struggle with decision making.

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In today's episode, we'll be delving into things that look like hoarding but aren't. Joining me is the incredible Dr. Jan Eppingstall, a specialist in hoarding disorder.

For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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We explore the how to determine if someone has hoarding tendencies, shedding light on hoarding and its connections to other mental health conditions, such as OCD and OCPD. We'll discuss the criteria for these disorders and how they relate to hoarding behaviors. But hoarding is just the tip of the iceberg. We'll also explore the relationship between hoarding, autism, ADHD, and depression, uncovering the common symptoms and challenges in these overlapping conditions.

So, join us as we discuss things that may look like hoarding but aren't.

Understanding the cause of hoarding behaviours

OCD and OCPD are mental disorders characterized by anxiety and rigid personality traits. Hoarding was associated with OCPD

Overlap of symptoms

Depression makes daily tasks exhausting and meaningless

Autism and ADHD: understanding and terminology

Often mask to fit in

Recognise sensory needs, respect neurodivergence, ask questions

Rejection sensitive dysphoria, impulsiveness, and addiction in ADHD

Understanding the causes of hoarding behaviours is important

OCD and OCPD are mental disorders. OCD causes anxiety and impairs functioning. OCPD is a personality disorder with rigid traits

Hoarding was considered a subtype of OCPD

People with OCPD may not see their behaviours as problematic and may exhaust themselves trying to meet unrealistic standards

Do individuals feel responsible for the welfare of objects, are they emotionally attached to them, do they experience distress from clutter or the act of saving?

A potential opposite extreme of compulsive minimalism

Feeling exhausted and worthless, maintaining a tidy house becomes unimportant. A depression nest forms

Hoarding often starts at a young age. Time and untreated depression can worsen it

Bipolar disorder

Increased understanding and awareness leading to more assessments.

Women are often overlooked

Understanding and accommodating individuals with neurodivergence is important

Sensory needs and routines may vary

ADHD is highly heritable but can also be influenced by environmental stressors and trauma

Variable attention stimulus trait

Creating your own options and not being afraid of failure in self-help

ADHD, depression, and hoarding often co-occur

Other conditions like OCD, anxiety, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, bulimia, binge eating, gambling, and personality disorders can be linked to hoarding

Treatment is challenging but not impossible

Definitions and criteria for hoarding tendencies

Compulsive spartanism

Differences and similarities between OCD and OCPD

Criteria for OCPD based on Freud

Hoarding originally considered a subtype of OCPD

Labels and understanding underlying needs

Focus on purpose rather than the diagnosis

Unrealistic standards and exhaustion from trying to meet them

Sensitive dysphoria and euphoria

Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted in daily life

Accepting help without distress or shame

Depression nests

Relationship between ADHD, depression, and hoarding

OCD, generalized anxiety, bipolar disorder, social anxiety, eating disorders, addiction, and personality disorders

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I speak to Tracy McCubbin, an expert in decluttering, organising, and overcoming the emotional attachment to our belongings. With years of hands-on experience and a deep understanding of clutter, Tracy helps people reclaim their spaces. Tracy shares invaluable insights into the psychology behind stuff and the challenges that arise when inherited items become emotional burdens. She challenges the notion that objects hold inherent meaning and encourages listeners to question the attachment they have to their possessions. Tracy also provides practical advice on how to approach decluttering and organising. She dispels the myth of overnight transformations often portrayed on social media, reminding us that real progress takes time and effort. She shares anecdotes, including the story of the infamous painting of dogs playing poker and its unexpected journey to a new home. Join us as we explore clutter blocks through six items of mine,

For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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Introduction to the clutter blocks and their origin

Birthed from hands-on work with people and their experiences with hoarding disorder

The struggle of inheriting items from deceased family members

Difficulty in letting go of things due to sentimental attachment or financial value

Objects hold no inherent meaning, we assign meaning to them

Example of the speaker's wedding dress and societal pressure to hold onto sentimental items

The changing importance of objects over time

Acquisition of things becoming easier, questioning the need to hold onto them

Tackling decluttering and organizing separately

Not expecting immediate results

Unrealistic expectations created by social media

Working at your own pace

Time and energy limitations due to work and family

The initial chaos before improvement during the decluttering process

Hiring professionals for cleaning services if deep cleaning is not enjoyable

Selling or giving away unwanted items to avoid clutter

Celebrating progress by hiring a cleaning company and taking a break

Resisting pressure to do things one doesn't enjoy

Letting go of items and finding them in the hands of those who need them

Separating decluttering, organizing, and cleaning as separate tasks

Avoiding overwhelm and making the process more manageable

Replacing reminders of painful memories with positive ones

Not feeling obligated to keep crafts made by others

A client with a collection of birdhouses made by their father

Reflecting on the concept of regret and the things that are never thought about again

Choosing cash over a sale purse

Declutter, organize, and clean separately for success

Decluttering takes time and patience, but it's worth it

Feeling obliged to keep handmade crafts made by others

The meaning we attach to objects

Beautiful gift that's not my style

Dogs playing poker painting given new home

Father hoards baby strollers, never gives them away

Disaster relief donations often miss the mark

Hiring help for tasks you dislike

We make mistakes, let's learn and move on

Decluttering takes time and effort; it may get worse before it gets better

Psychological attachment to objects and challenges the belief that everything must be kept

Focus on good memories

Putting a time limit on completing tasks

Donate money, not random items

It is okay to not enjoy certain tasks and celebrate hiring help

We all make mistakes, but holding on to them is unnecessary

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For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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Today, I dive into the importance of setting up systems to make dehoarding easier and less resistant. We'll discuss how examining the structure of our lives can help us determine what can be done to make the decluttering process more manageable. Plus, we'll explore the concept of choosing realistic timings that fit with our individual lifestyles for successful decluttering. We'll also explore the idea that the path of least resistance is often seen as negative, implying that someone isn't trying hard enough. In the realm of dealing with hoarding, however, the path of least resistance can be a gift. I'll explain how taking this approach doesn't mean avoiding challenges altogether, but rather making the overwhelming task of decluttering more manageable. Join me as I navigate the intricate world of compulsive hoarding, exploring the strategies and mindsets that can help us overcome this challenge. Get ready to uncover the path of least resistance.

• Choosing the simplest option to overcome challenges

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In this episode, we will be tackling the really gross and icky bits of dehoarding. It's not the most glamorous topic, but it's an essential part of the journey to a clutter-free life. We'll be discussing everything from dealing with unpleasant smells to handling sticky or disgusting substances that can accumulate over time. I've got some practical tips and strategies to help you navigate these challenges.

• Dealing with gross things is important, but don't beat yourself up about it

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With therapist Dr Jan Eppingstall, I look at the scarcity dilemma, uncovering the complex relationship between fear, control, and hoarding. We explore the link between scarcity and compulsive hoarding behaviours and how marketing tactics manipulate our emotions and behaviorus, leading us to accumulate more than we need. We look at strategies and discuss the psychological reasons behind the urge to hoard and the challenging process of letting go.

For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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• Importance of being aware of marketing tactics and their influence on emotions and behaviors.

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In today's episode, we're exploring the power of turning your chair round and embracing different perspectives.

For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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• Imagining advice from different perspectives

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For the transcript for this episode, visit http://www.overcomecompulsivehoarding.co.uk

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Join me as I delve into wishcycling and the connection between hoarding and sustainable practices.

On this episode of Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder, I dive into the topic of wishcycling and how it relates to hoarding. I explore the concept of repairing and upcycling as effective ways to extend the lifespan of items, discussing the difference between repairing and intending to repair. I learn about the importance of following through with repair plans and setting deadlines.

Wishcycling, the act of putting non-recyclable items in recycling bins, is the main topic of discussion. I explore common items that are often wishcycled, such as plastic bags and crisp/chip packets, and the negative impact it can have I highlight the recycling initiative TerraCycle, which offers recycling programs for difficult-to-recycle items.

I emphasise the 5 Rs and how hoarders can focus on reducing consumption to tackle overwhelm in their homes. I also discuss the potential distractions these can pose for hoarders and the importance of prioritising oneself, the home, and the people we live with over broken or damaged items.

I also look at the uncertainty surrounding recyclable items and the complexities of the recycling process, emphasising the need to question if we really need something before acquiring it.

Topics:

• Definition of wishcycling and its negative effects

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