295 | Strategies to Identify, Manage, and Overcome Hoarding with Elaine Birchall

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Eric’s guest on this episode of ADHD reWired is Elaine Birchall. Elaine Birchall is a social worker, a hoarding intervention specialist and a certified social worker. Birchall Consulting is her company’s director. She helps hoarders learn how to manage their belongings and vulnerability. She was the founder of the Canadian National Hoarding Coalition, hosted Take Back Your Life when Things are Taking Control and many other programs.

Elaine defines hoarding as an illness that causes excessive accumulation of stuff. This means that some or all your living space is not usable due to stuff and stress. People might think I’m a hoarder. But if the symptoms are consistent and persistent over a period of time, then it is unlikely that you are hoarding. The better chance of recovery for the disorder is the younger the person.

Some people find it difficult to declutter a room. Elaine shares some tips and tricks that will make it less time-consuming. It is important to keep a list close at hand. Otherwise, you may get distracted and lose sight of it.

Elaine advises us to set three goals each day in order to declutter and still have the time to do what we want. Elaine talks about her scale system to help you decide how to classify the items that you want to get rid. Is it possible to take apart your entire house and do it all in one day? Elaine suggests that you find out your energy level and choose a task that suits it. Don’t have the power to do a 15 min job, but try to handle an hour’s situation. It will not work.

This conversation is so fascinating, you may find yourself in it. It’s possible to have an “ah-ha” moment. You won’t regret this episode.

You’ll Learn: [03: 04] Elaine, welcome to the show! [03: 47] They chat about hoarding confoundedness and vulnerabilities. [04: 21] Elaine, how did you get into specializing in hoarding? [07: 52] There are three criteria of hoarding. Elaine explains and defines them. [12: 21] Hoarding and ADHD can have very similar rules. [14: 35] It needs to be repeated, consistent, and extend over some time before you can call it hoarding. [15: 53] When diagnosed early, it is easier to recover than if you wait, and the groove gets more profound, then you can only manage it. [22: 32] What triggers the hoarding disorder? What is the Path to Hoarding Disorder? [27: 33] Being in control of a part of your life gives you peace like a clean. [29: 51] Don’t put it down, put it away! [30: 19] Catch yourself when you say I’ll pick it up later. Do it now. [31: 58] The trick is to take a second, hold the thing in your hand, and ask yourself if I was looking for you where you would be? [32: 44] Two ways to remediate the clutter is the swiss cheese method or pick a spot and start in a corner and work your way around. [35: 27] Externalize the message so that it occupies time and space. You can use a chalkboard list or your phone’s list. [38: 01] Set three goals every day (1) Have joy, fun, and play (2) remind yourself that you are a developing human being (3) Legitimate work. [41: 48] Elaine explains her rule of three. [42: 27] Elaine talks about her scaling system around clutter. [44: 02] Can you rip your house apart and do the whole thing in one day? [44: 48] Gage how much fuel you have and find a job that matches that. [49: 24] Elaine runs two support groups for hoarding, but she is preparing to do an online group also. [51: 32] Elaine gives us some tools to use on how to approach someone with this disorder. [52: 06] Get Elaine’s book, it is designed to fill the gap if you aren’t getting help. [54: 31] If you’re a regular listener, consider becoming a patron and on our Patreon at www.ADHDreWired.com Links and Resources Elaine Birchall Website Elaine’s Book – Conquer the Clutter: Strategies to Identify, Manage and Overcome Hoarding Elaine on Linkedin | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

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