OVERCOME HOARDING AND TRANFORM YOUR LIFE:

How to Choose Hope and Life Instead of Things

Gloria Valoris

Table of Contents
I. Before We Begin
Introduction                                                               
Getting the Most from this Book
Sharing
Hoarding on Television
A Final Note about Language
Chapter 1 – WHAT’S GOING ON – DESCRIBING HOARDING
Definitions, definitions – Who’s Got a Definition?
Differentiating between Clutter and Hoarding
Differentiating between Collecting and Hoarding
Differentiating between Accumulating Art Materials and Hoarding
What We Learn From Differentiation
Who                                                                                        
What                                                   
When
Where
Effects of Hoarding on Hoarders                   
Effects of Hoarding on Others
EXERCISES:
- Am I a Hoarder?
- What Am I Hoarding?
- What Risks Am I Running?
Chapter 2 – How Does This Happen?                                       
Causes of Hoarding    
Understanding Hoarding as Addiction 
Why Organizing Fails Hoarders
Common Issues in Hoarding
EXERCISE:
- My Addiction to Hoarding
Chapter 3  – Changing from Hoarding                                        
Change Requirements 
Basics of Change
Change Process 
Change Ramifications
Change Resources
EXERCISE:
- My Readiness for Change
Chapter 4 – Mental Processes
Our Divided Selves
Health Realization                                                                                          
Understanding Thoughts                           
Understanding Emotions         
Sanity and Insanity
The Role of Emotions
Effect of Negative Emotions
EXERCISE:
- My Life Post-Hoarding
Chapter 5 – Transforming Thoughts That Perpetuate Hoarding             
Impact of Our Thinking
A. I might need it.                   
B. I can use this for a project.                               
C. Making decisions is difficult.
D. I can’t stop myself.                               
E. My things represent me.         
F. I have to keep inherited things.  
G. These things would be wasted.   
H. My things are valuable and I want to sell them.
I. Giving up my things is upsetting.                                                     
J. My things make me feel safe.   
K. Without my things I would forget something important.     
L. I have to clear things out correctly.
M. Being spontaneous is important / I have to be in the mood.
N. I don’t have the energy.             
O. I have mixed feelings.
P.  I’m too depressed.                                                        
Q. I don’t want to do this work.    
R. These are my things.                 
S. I just need more space.              
T. Getting new things is exciting.     
U. My things make me feel rich. I want to impress people.
V. I acquire so I can give to others.
W. I want to save money by stocking up during sales.
X. I like to stay in fashion.
Y. If I miss getting this item, I might not have the chance again.
Z. I deserve to have a lot of things because I have suffered.
AA. I can’t get rid of this until I have finished using it.
BB. I might be interested in it.
EXERCISES:
- Why Do I Acquire and Keep So Many Things
- Analyzing Your Own Thoughts
Chapter 6 – Understanding Emotions            
Characteristics of Emotions
Role of Emotions in Hoarding
Emotional Spectrum
The Messages of Hoarding Emotions
Changing Negative Emotions                                                                                     
Planning for Change                                                                         
EXERCISES:
- My Feeling States
Chapter 7 – Transforming Emotions That Perpetuate Hoarding   
Transforming…
Ambivalence
Anxiety, Fear
Avoidance, Inertia
Compulsions
Confusion
Control Issues
Depression
Distractibility 
Excessive Responsibility
Feeling Overwhelmed
Identification/Excessive Attachment
Impulsivity
Magical Thinking
Perfectionism
Resentment
Self-Pity                                      
Sense of Deprivation 
Other Help 
Moving Forward 
EXERCISE:
- Taming My Emotions Plan
- Analyzing My Emotions
Chapter 8 – Getting Ready to Transform Your Space 
Identify the Process
Stop the Influx
Assemble Your Supplies
Identify Your Priorities and Starting Points
Identify the Best Time(s) for Working on Clearing Out
Identify Helpers
When and How to Hire a Professional Organizer
Get Started and Keep It Up
EXERCISES:
- My Clearing and Organizing Priorities
- Time and Money Costs of Hoarding
- Life Cost of Hoarding
- Instead of Acquiring… Plan
Chapter 9 – Transforming Your Space
Decide What to Keep and What to Discard                                        
Sorting Process
Clearing Out
Keep vs. Discard Decisions                                                               
Creating Systems
Creating Categories and Organizing 
Principles of Creating Categories and Organizing
Organizing Books
Organizing Papers
Organizing Clothes
Organizing vs. Churning
Systems for Daily Life
The Perils of Creativity
EXERCISE:
- My Essential Systems
- My Essential Files
Chapter 10 - KEEPING YOUR GAINS
Living in Freedom
Support for Self-Discipline
Managing Your Time
When Can You Buy Things Again?
Coping with Lapses
Preventing Hoarding in the Next Generation
Recovery on All Levels
Moving Forward
EXERCISE:
- My Maintenance Plan

Hoarding Index

Author Background

Exercises Index

Appendix Index

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