Most ordinary disorganized people keep too many belongings. Hoarders have a much more serious problem than ordinary disorganized people. This site does not intend to deal with the usual problem of keeping too much. It site is only for those for whom hoarding is a very significant problem who want to change.

We encourage those who struggle with serious hoarding to do several things as a part of recovering from this disorder.
1. Learn all you can about the problem. Find books on Google on the topic of hoarding. Check out the authors Frost, Tolin, Steketee, or Neziroglu among others. Order the 24 page booklet, I've Got to Get Rid of This Stuff by Sandra Felton on http://www.messies.com ($7 with free postage.) Education is the first step in change.
2. Cling to a big dose of hope and desire. You can change. I did. I found a picture that inspired me. I admitted to myself how much I hated living in clutter. I wanted beauty and to be able to have friends in.
3. Commit to a plan to declutter whether from The Messies Manual by Sandra Felton or elsewhere. Quit bringing excess into the house. Stick with the plan. It may be hard. And even frightening. But you can feel the fear and do it anyway. The booklet by Sandra Felton gives a lot of help in that area. You'll be glad you kept going.
4. Get outside help, whether medical doctors, mental health practitioners, professional organizers, or understanding friends or family. You alone can do it but you can't do it alone.

This site is for hoarders only. In your postings, please focus on changes you need to make in your attitudes, habits, and behaviors. Friends of hoarders should log on to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Friends-of-Hoarders.

I'm Sandra Felton, The Organizer Lady®, founder of Messies Anonymous. Check out all of the organizing helps we have on http://www.messies.com.