What Is Chronic Disorganization?
Most of us, at one point or another, are faced with a room, a closet, or even much of our house that is cluttered. There might be things on the playroom floor, maybe the coat closet is jam-packed, maybe the garage is starting to overflow. And while you may put off dealing with these issues for a while, eventually you figure out which coats to donate or you gather your family and tackle the garage project a weekend or two. Once the project is done, you’re able to maintain the clear space fairly well on your own.
But chronic disorganization is different. The Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), one of the national organizations of which I am a proud member, defines chronic disorganization this way:
Chronic disorganization persists over a long period of time.
Chronic disorganization frequently lowers the quality of life.
Chronic disorganization keeps happening despite repeated attempts at self-help.
The ICD notes that this condition may go hand in hand with brain-based challenges such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, hoarding disorder, PTSD, and more. It can also develop when dealing with health issues, aging, grief, and trauma.
If this is sounding all too familiar, what next? Change is possible but you need to be ready. If you have started to recognize the ways in which your clutter is negatively affecting your daily life, that’s an important step! As you begin to consider reaching out for help, you may feel paralyzed. Actually having a conversation about something that perhaps you’ve kept hidden from most people can be scary. But emailing or talking with someone (a friend, a therapist, a professional organizer) is the next step in realizing that you need help to make lasting change. It won’t happen overnight. And the other challenges that may accompany your chronic disorganization, from ADHD to aging, will bring their unique bent to your organization project. But help is available and change is possible with time and appropriate support!
So if you are feeling overwhelmed with too much stuff in your house, whether you feel like you’re dealing with chronic disorganization or not, please allow Grace In Cycles to help. I have taken multiple courses through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and bring education, empathy, and experience to your situation. I offer free phone consultations and will be happy to discuss your decluttering projects and organizing needs. Please call, email, or use our contact form.