http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-serious-is-your-clutter-problem-quiz.html
How Serious Is Your Clutter Problem? Quiz
By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Healthy & Green Living
Some of us collect things, come of us clutter, and a few of us may hoard. Cluttering is self-diagnosed, but more extreme forms of cluttering can sometimes be tied to to diagnosable conditions such as hoarding and ADHD (attention-deficit disorder and hyperactivity). If your cluttering falls into these realms, you can look into treatment, remedies and support groups that address these specific conditions.
The Mayo Clinic defines hoarding (also called compulsive hoarding and compulsive hoarding syndrome) as the excessive collection of items that seem to have limited or no value, such as newspapers or trash, along with the inability to discard them. Meanwhile, ADHD has traditionally been associated with children, but it is now known that the symptoms continue into adulthood for 60 percent of children with ADHD. According to the Mayo Clinic, clutter-related symptoms of ADHD include difficulty following through on instructions and often failing to finish chores or other tasks, problems organizing tasks or activities, the dislike of tasks that require sustained mental effort, and frequently lost needed items.
The non-profit Clutterless Recovery Groups has this quiz to help determine how seriously cluttering may be disrupting your life. This is not intended to be a diagnostic tool, but if you find that your answers lean toward ADHD or hoarding, it’s might be very helpful to visit one of the websites below for more information and support.
1. Do you feel overwhelmed when thinking about your clutter?
2. Have you tried to “clean up” or “organize” yourself repeatedly, with no lasting results?
3. Are you ashamed to have anyone come to your home?
4. Do you feel more confused in your home than in the outside world?
5. Do you find yourself buying more of everything because, “you never know when you will run out?”
6. Do you have multiple copies of books, software, clothing or any other items because you couldn’t find what you already owned when you needed it?
7. Has your spouse or partner expressed dismay about the way you live?
8. Do you flit from one task to another, feeling like you never get anything done?
9. Do you find that you concentrate better in noisy situations?
10. Do you find yourself getting distracted easily?
11. Do you feel like, “What’s the use, it will just get messed up again,” when you begin to declutter?
12. Do you hold onto broken items because “they might come in handy someday,” or “I’m going to fix them someday?”
13. Do you hold onto relationships that do not serve you because, “This is the best I can do?”
14. Do you feel like there will never be enough for you? Do you believe that you do not deserve any better than what you have?
15. Do you feel more “lack” than prosperity in your life?
16. Do you find it hard to decide what is worth keeping and what is not?
17. Do you obsess about saving food? Do you have enough canned goods to feed the neighborhood?
18. Do you save garbage–fast food boxes and wrappers, obvious trash, things that smell bad, etc?
Four or fewer “yes” answers:
You probably are not a clutterer–unless you feel so overwhelmed that you are paralyzed.
Five or more “Yes” answers:
You may be chronically disorganized: a clutterer. Visit Clutterless Recovery Groups for more information and support.
“Yes” to numbers 8, 9 and 10:
These are more typical of ADHD tendencies–although many clutterers have some ADHD without being diagnosed with ADHD, it’s worth looking into further. Visit the Attention Deficit Disorder Association website for more information.
“Yes” to numbers 17 and 18:
These are symptoms of hoarding. Visit the the Compulsive Hoarding Website of the Obsessive Compulsive Foundation for more information.
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24 comments
add your comment »Hi Li,
Nothing wrong with being an "organized clutter." As a professional organizer I don't like to throw things, but rather donate them. I usually say to my clients, what is the worse thing that would be happen if you let go of something (not sentimental) and you might need it again? You can probably borrow it from a friend, re-purchased it again from a consignment or a regular store. I have worked with many clients through the years and most of them are not sorry they let things go and let someone else use and get joy from them.
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Yes, I am a clutter-bug, I admit it! I hate to throw anything (and I do mean anything!) away, but do know exactly where everything is, within a couple of inches. So I guess I'm an organized clutterer. The only problem with keeping things until you just HAVE TO throw them away is...the very WEEK you throw them away, you need it...AFTER you you finally managed to get up the courage to throw it away!! So at the end, everything is still around, waiting to be put somewhere (even if there's no more place to put it) or to be fixed or glued together (probably never)...
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No I do not have ADHD or any of those things. I just have -0- organization skills. Most of the stuff that I purchase I end up giving away anyway. Because I love to see the smiles on peoples faces when they receive the gifts. Before carpool tunnel took over I use to put out an affgan a week so you can imagine the amount of yarn I had. Right now I am working on a baby shower, the theme is poodles, so I have pink stuff everywhere, drives my husband crazy, he will be fine. Organization and accessability is what I need badly because of my MS.
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Oh My Gawd.. not sure there is any hope for me :(
Answered NO to Q.5 & Q.14
both Y & No to Q.17 (No to feed the neighbours)
both Y & No to Q.18 (No to keeping bad smelly stuff)
A big YES to the rest!!
I Love craft, gardening, cooking, recycling, my computer (for countless things incl craft, garden, games, chatting etc) & esp my Daughter who also loves craft, cooking & my computer LOL
and yes I have ADD/ADHD sigh,
would love someone to help me organise things.. my clutter/hording makes me want to 'leave running' (re Sherry's post) LOL
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If they came into my home they would leave running. I am a crafter, so just use your imagination. I can use everything that I have, but because of MS it is hard to put everything in it place. I have the room, but no organization. My problem also is that I continue to add due to more projects!
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Good article! I am a Certified Professional Organizer and am a member of NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) and NSGCD (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.) Check out both websites for information about clutter. www.nsgcd.org www.napo.net
Thank you,
Vickie Dellaquila, CPO
www.OrganizationRules.com
Author of Don't Toss My Memories in the Trash
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I don't think my case in particular is hopeless (no professional help needed). The thing is that I used to live alone, and I started cluttering since my parents are here with me. They're usted to it so most of the time I get desperate. I need space, my house needs to breathe!! And sometimes it gets difficult because they want to supervise everytime I want to get rid of things. I already advertised some objects for sale but nobody seems interested.
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In my case it's hopeless - two pack-rats should never marry :-)
Our joke is that we're a 'pilot family' - we pile-it here and pile-it there.... actually, we're both making an effort, lately - we've decided that enough is enough, but it takes time to sort through 30 years accumulation and get rid of stuff we will never use.
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I agree with Past Member 100%!! Check out www.flylady.com. Amazing!!
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Check out Flylady.
She will help you declutter & keep your creativity :-)
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