While most people find it relatively easy to manage their possessions,
some find it extremely difficult. If you have a problem resisting the
urge to acquire and you find your home cluttered and filled to capacity
with items many people would find useless and unnecessary, you may
suffer from a condition known as hoarding disorder.
Hoarding is a behavioral problem consisting of clutter, difficulty
discarding items, and excessive buying or acquiring. Hoarding is often
associated with significant reduction in quality of life, and in extreme
cases, it can pose serious health risks. If you or a loved one has
hoarding disorder, this book can help.
This fully updated Second Edition of Buried in Treasures outlines a
scientifically based, effective program for helping those with hoarding
disorder dig their way out of the clutter and chaos of their homes.
Written by scientists and practitioners who are leaders in studying and
treating hoarding disorder, this book outlines a program of
skill-building, learning to think about possessions in a different way,
and gradual challenges to help people manage their clutter and their
lives. It also provides useful information for family and friends of
people who hoard, as they struggle to understand and help.
Discover the reasons for your problems with acquiring, saving, and
hoarding, and learn new ways of thinking about your possessions so you
can decide what you really need and what you can do without. Learn to
identify the "bad guys" that cause and maintain your hoarding behavior
and meet the "good guys" who can help motivate you and put you on the
path to change. Useful self-assessments will help you determine the
severity of your problem. Training exercises, case examples, organizing
tips, and motivation boosters help change the way you think and behave
toward your possessions. This book provides easy-to-understand
strategies and techniques that anyone can use.
