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Post by andrea on Oct 27, 2015 0:46:04 GMT -5
Just took the survey and it really opened up my eyes to where I still struggle with hoarding especially in relation to my numerous medical and mental health issues. I would love to see your results after you are finished.
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Post by lostchild on Oct 28, 2015 12:10:57 GMT -5
Took survey. I had interesting results.
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Post by joyinvirginia on Oct 30, 2015 16:49:13 GMT -5
Did it!
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jayune
New Member
Joined: October 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by jayune on Nov 1, 2015 20:02:53 GMT -5
Jayann, I took your survey and would like to make a few comments. I don't hoard because I see things that I absolutely want and really don't need and collect them every chance I can. My problem with my clutter (hoarding?) is that I buy projects to make for myself or others as gifts. BUT, I never follow through on making them. All the good intentions are there, but I cannot start and completely finish a project. This adds to my depression, seeing all the stuff that needs to be finished. For example: my granddaughter loves ballerina outfits. I went to the fabric store and got all the necessary fabric and notions to make a tutu. I brought the stuff home, was excited to be doing this for her. So, I can see my sewing machine amidst the rubble of "stuff' on my dining room table (it has been years since I have sat there and eaten a meal). But, the pedal and power cord is nowhere to be found. I don't feel like digging through a mountain of stuff to find it, so another project has been put on hold. I wonder if other members on this site have the same problem - starting something and never finishing. Not going to throw out the unfinished project because that would be wasteful and of course a guilt trip for me. lulu1949 it's interesting what you say about not finishing projects. I have read in the literature that this has been observed with people who have a clutter (hoarding?) problem. I can't say if you do (nor am I qualified to either) but this particular issue has been reported by other people with hoarding problems. I'm wondering if this is associated with difficulties with planning and organisation. There is now sufficient evidence supporting a difficulties with cognitive/information processing pathway with people who over accumulate. If you want a summary of what I know around this, let me know and I'll post something here for you.
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jayune
New Member
Joined: October 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by jayune on Nov 1, 2015 20:23:00 GMT -5
jayune i took the survey. I thought it was very interesting and would love to see a summary post of your results. I undestand why you didnt do open ended questions, you need quantifiable data for statistics. I understand that the survey is a snapshot in time. I wonder though if it might be useful to know if participants are actively working on overcoming hoarding and squalor. Ive been working on these issues for a few years in individual therapy and here on the forum for about 15 months. I found that the recovery work i have been doing has influenced some things like my willingness to part with things. Its not denial on my part to have a house with living areas that are unusable due to hoarding and yet say i am willing to let things go. It takes time to develop the "letting go" skill and to sort through a hoard and let things go. I hope that when you come across these seemingly inconsistent answers, that they arent discarded due to inconsistency. I think you will find that people in recovery from hoarding will tend to have some inconsistent answers. Your questions gave me alot of food for thought, and alot to talk about in therapy. I think emotional regulation, complusive acquistion and hoarding are linked together. Thank you for your interest in this topic and i hope that your thesis is successful. Thanks for doing my survey and for your feedback swampedbystuff! Other people who have been working on their issues have mentioned similar things. You and others might be interested to know I recently spoke with a lady who runs a decluttering business and she is interested in also doing research in this area if she gets into honours next year. She actually wants to look at outcomes as a result of interventions. This would allow us to explicate these inconsistencies. I'm glad I have been a source of stimulus for thinking about these different factors involved - awareness is critical for creating improvements in your life. When I'm finished (which will be around March) I'll post a summary for everyone. Thanks for your help.
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jayune
New Member
Joined: October 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by jayune on Nov 1, 2015 20:27:11 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone else who has done my survey in the interim and to fivecat (love your picture by the way) for her tip to contact the mods.
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Post by Fivecat on Nov 2, 2015 3:46:06 GMT -5
Thanks to everyone else who has done my survey in the interim and to fivecat (love your picture by the way) for her tip to contact the mods. Thanks, and you're very welcome And I'd LOVE an intervention! Can you get me one? !
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Post by ridoutrubbish on Nov 2, 2015 7:08:34 GMT -5
I just completed this. Thanks for your interest.
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jayune
New Member
Joined: October 2015
Posts: 11
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Post by jayune on Nov 7, 2015 18:31:35 GMT -5
Thanks ridoutrubbish! Fivecat... it's funny, university really changes the way you express yourself. You start sounding like a textbook! !
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Post by Ally on Nov 14, 2015 13:42:49 GMT -5
jayune, Thank you for your interest in this disorder. I have a tendency to purchase items that I think will be useful or make my life easier. Sometimes if I see a bargain, I have a hard time passing it up, because the item might be worth more than what it is being sold for, and who knows, I might be able to use it or give it to someone who can use it in the future. I also have a creative side. I might see an afghan, or scarf, or clothing that I'd like to make. I purchase the supplies, but then don't have time to finish, or might lose interest in the project if it takes more than a few days/weeks. (I have completed a few quilts that each took nearly one year to complete, so the time factor isn't the only thing at work here.) When I come across half finished or unstarted projects, it brings up feelings of failure, and then I have a harder time deciding where to go from there. Will I finish it in the future? How much money did I waste? What do I do with this? I can't just throw it away. There are feelings attached to the object. Feelings. I have talked with counselors in the past, and if they ask me about how I am feeling right now about something, I usually have trouble expressing that feeling. Sometimes I know I am upset, but to put that feeling into words can be difficult for me. I have been a member here for nearly 6 years, and can say that even though I still have a lot of clutter, I am acquiring less than I used to. (I learned that buying more cleaning supplies does not lead to a cleaner house. I just need to get stuff OUT, and that is the hard part for me.
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Post by hiding on Nov 21, 2015 23:53:16 GMT -5
Jayune,
I would like to see a brief summary of your results when you complete your work. Is there any chance of that?
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Post by creativechaos on Nov 22, 2015 22:57:10 GMT -5
I hope it's not too late to complete the survey - even if it doesn't get included in the results. i think doing it would be eye opening and helpful for clarification purposes.
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Post by catherina on Dec 21, 2015 18:20:24 GMT -5
I've just taken the survey, although I'm sure it's too late. It's given me a lot to think about though, and I'm left feeling quite positive. Thank you.
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Sunrise
New Member
Joined: August 2008
Posts: 75
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Post by Sunrise on Jan 9, 2016 1:37:14 GMT -5
I realise this may be too late, however I completed your survey
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