HOARDER? Staying home to stay well is also a chance to put our house in order – or at least that’s the theory.
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By Diane Cooke
or some people pruning wardrobes and clearing cupboards can be emotionally overwhelming. So we don’t do it.
Professional declutter expert Sian Pelleschi understands how clutter can easily become a burden. Her company Sorted! helps anyone from busy young families to older downsizers. But she says true hoarders may be living with depression, anxiety, grief. “Looking after a house has simply become too much. They know there’s an issue but don’t know how to resolve it and that adds to their anxiety.” She recalls a client who was distressed after being forced to move to a smaller home after her parents died. “The furniture completely filled the rooms. It was essential to create space for her to live in but it had to be done with understanding and empathy. We began by tackling the lounge and went from there.”
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Hoarders know there’s an issue but don’t know how to resolve it.
Mersey Care psychiatrist Fabian Devlin (right) agrees that sensitivity is key. He’s a book collector and has around 100 that he’s yet to read. But Fabian is keen to make the distinction between collectors and hoarders. “Collectors catalogue items and put them in order. Hoarders simply collect,” he says. Some people are more inclined to collect, such as those who grew up in austere times, or refugees who left their countries with few possessions. Others may have a physical problem but are reluctant to ask for help so struggle on. Fabian feels it’s a personal decision with reason. “Everyone deserves to have their choices respected, and for their home to be safe and healthy.”
Fabian Devlin
Professional declutterer Sian Pelleschi
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