Customer Reviews

Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding: Why You Save and How You Can Stop

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is no other book like this. I have seen people who suffer from compulsive hoarding and how hard it is for them to even recognize what affects them and their families. This short book was long overdue. The authors are certainly knowledgeable. They enlisted some of the best authorities in the field. Yet this book is a major disappointment. The ingredients were all there but all is lost. They miss key points about the nature of hoarding.

They do mention well-known cognitive strategies (all or nothing thinking, overgeneralization, jumping to conclusions and others). They try to apply them in "flash cards" of the kind "I am a loser because my house is such a mess". Yet most hoarders do not feel this way. They feel attached to their possessions, they can't throw them away. They do not see themselves as losers per se, but strangely attached to things that they know they must depart from but that they can't.
The authors use "flash card" with statements such as "I can't throw away these plastics bags" to be put against "should statements" and "jumping to conclusions". Yet the real thing behind what hoarders feel is not what these techniques show. The real thing is called fear. These techniques do not address them.

Later in the chapter, "cleaning the clutter", a lot of time is devoted to tell hoarders that they should separate their stuff in the categories "save", "discard" and "handle immediately". A typical hoarder will put most of his/her stuff back in the "save" category! The authors ask them to apply cognitive strategies explained in an earlier chapter without actually going through them for each type of possession and addressing the fear that hoarders feel. A great technique used by psychologist Foa (E/RP, exposure with response prevention) is only later applied to acquiring and not to discarding. So anxiety levels will still be high while discarding since the fear is not directly addressed by the typical cognitive strategies. Decision making is a key issue and apart from the general cognitive strategies, little else is done in this to book to help.

There are clear contradictions as well:
- In page 116, it says "if a magazine was printed six or more months ago, you should probably recycle or discard it. Obviously, there are exceptions to the rule, like a newspaper that features a story about something dear to you" (a hoarder will certainly find that 95% belongs to this category!).
- In the next page it says, "it is better at the beginning to go to an extreme and discard all magazines and newspapers until your hoarding behaviors are under better control. Then, if you can throw out newspaper daily, there will be no need to keep them around for six months."
--> To keep it for 6 months or not to keep it?? To discard all or not to? Two pages are devoted to newspaper and magazines, things that most hoarders keep. And in two pages, a few contradictions are offered to whom can't make a decision easily.

What is most sad is that this book could be of great help since there is simply no other book in the market devoted to compulsive hoarding alone. But, with these serious flaws, little hope is unfortunately there.

Overcoming Compulsive Hoarding saved my life! It's the first book I have read that accurately addresses why I hang onto things and why I can't let them go. I have had to deal with clutter all my life. I have felt shame and been hard on myself until I read the book. The invaluable insights in this book have helped me to clear the clutter. Once I know why I'm hanging onto something it's much easier to let go of it! Other organizational books have not worked for me because the books assume I have no emotional obstacles to becoming organized. This book is a must-read! I am very pleased with this book and recommend it to anybody, hoarder or non-hoarder, who has difficulty with clutter and organization.

A few months ago, I was given 30 days to get my apartment to the point that it was not a fire and health hazard. I have struggled all of my adult life with hoarding and compulsively buying everything imaginable. I could barely even walk around in my place. I have read many other books, had professionals come in and "organize me", taken medication, been in therapy and nothing worked until I got this book. Not only have I gotten the physical clutter under control, my life is less cluttered and my quality of life has drastically improved. A must read for hoarders and friends and relatives of hoarders

ok so did anyone see Oprah like me or at least heard about it.. the woman who was a hoarder was the subject. well that was the first I ever heard of this disorder. I thought my boyfriend was just a slob. I have done everything. bought him organizational books one after the next, bought cleaning products for him, and even tried to organize his house myself. I have even cleaned it ! However until this book was recommended ( I called the doctors who wrote this book, their office recommended the book) it clicked ! he immediately felt understood.I cannot believe that this book can change someone so drastically, but it has.. if you even think someone you know has a hoarding problem, this book is a staple you must have. My boyfriend is 27 and this book saved him from years of what could have been a disaster.He was on his way.. he was afraid to even throw out take -out wrappers and garbage! He now has a clean house and is not afraid to throw things out. I hope if you are even considering this book, I can make a difference with this review and help someone too !! By the way, you should still see a therapist to totally fix the problem.but this is priceless !!

This book is what I needed years ago. I finally understand why I have too much clutter and where to start undoing it. I'm glad there is a name to put on my problem, and not just feel like I'm a slob.(which I am a perfectionist instead) I highly recommend this book for anyone who lives with clutter, who collects everything and can not throw anything out, or knows a person like that.

This book has been very helpul, I've gotten rid of 420+ books, several stacks of old newspapers, 150+ magazines, hundreds of pounds of metal, boxes of bills from 10 years ago, bags of clothes, etc.

If you're not a hoarder, then this book won't be very useful to you because you just won't relate to the reasons they present as to why you save stuff.

They also don't list all the reasons why people save, but you can apply their techniques and insights to whatever reasons you have for saving. I didn't go through the flashcards exercise (too cumbersome) but the method is useful if you just remember and apply the reasons.

The Exposure with Response Prevention (E/RP) technique was new to me and I've found it very useful to prevent the acquisition of new stuff, mostly magazines.

In conclusion, if you hoard and save stuff, then this book is highly recommended. If you're not a hoarder, then this material will just seem foreign to you.

This book is amazing. I am not a compulsive hoarder...BUT, what I did not realize is... I have ALL of the behaviours of a compulsive hoarder. I am a messy, disorganized pack rat! I didn't realize that there isn't one particular reason I am messy. There are at least six reason for everything I do! Now that I know all of them, my life is changed! I actually enjoy cleaning up the house. (Before reading this book, it made me feel suicidal) I read this book on one Saturday afternoon. My life was changing every time I turned the page. I know you are having trouble believing this. It's true! BUY THIS BOOK! You have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain!

Compulsive hoarding is a dirty little secret in America. If you have a friend or family member who will never allow you into their home, that is a big red flag warning you that they are afflicted with this disorder.
Someone who cannot bear to part with anything someone else would consider minor, such as junk mail, twist ties, broken pens and pencils--to the point there are literally hundreds or thousands of such items and it affects their ability to walk through their living space is a compulsive hoarder.
Everyone has a bit of the pack rat in them, this book helps the person, and especially the families of such individuals, identify this disorder and gives a method of dealing with the consequences.

As someone who hoards along with her mother, this book is a tremendous help in understanding the problem, and provides assistance in helping to alleviate the compulsive hoarding.

As advertised within the book, THE BOOK NEVER MAKES YOU FEEL BAD about your problem.

I higly recommend this book to anyone who has a compulsive hoarding problem or is a packrat of sorts.

My living situation is improving based on my reading this book. Soon I'll have the whole coach cleaned off and will be able to enjoy sitting and watching TV for once in years.

I grew up in a dysfunctional family where we never had any company because you could not walk through the house and it was so embarassing. I can remember as far back as age 13 (now 46), when the house was a mess thanks to my mother. How depressing. Never had friends over, never had a birthday party for me or most of my other siblings. We, as children, were miserable and had a rotten childhood because of my mom's problem which I inherited or learned to some degree.

Again, this book never makes you feel like you're an idiot or psychotic for having a problem. The book is supportive and very informative. I haven't finished reading it yet, but an half way through and already I am empowered to clean up and do the right thing. I hope I can keep the house clean from now on and not hoard anymore. I use to be a dumpster diver - literally.

I bought this book to help me diagnose and treat a family member who I believed had a compulsive hoarding problem ... after the first few chapters I realized I myself was falling victim to many of these compulsion. Not surprising, since as this book points out, the syndrome is often hereditary. I've been using this book and some of its techniques to help stop the cycle of hoarding in my home. Some instructions do come off a little simplistic but sometimes starting simple is necessary.

I don't think anyone with full on OCD, who has been a hoarder for years, would or could take this book to heart - the compulsion is just too strong, and denial is a main component - but if you fear for someone else, or feel yourself developing a problem please pick this book up.

Less than a month later I'm already changing my life - and I've realized that all those attempts I made to change that family member were bound to fail. I now have real tools (from the psychological theories of Cognitive thinking to a list of things I should and should have stashed in my nightstand) at my disposal to help them and myself.