Chronic Disorganization Resources for Those Who Struggle
As a professional organizer, I work with many kinds of folks. That includes those with ADD/ADHD or neurodiverse brains, hoarding disorder, a traumatic brain injury, or physical and mental handicaps. Some also struggle with Chronic Disorganization (CD).
A great resource for those who want to learn about Chronic Disorganization is the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. The video below was produced by them and there are lots of great resources on their website.
What is Chronic Disorganization?
Chronic Disorganization is a term that was first coined in 1992 by Judith Colberg (a Veteran Professional Organizer) to describe someone that struggles with:
Persistence of severe disorganization over a long period of time.
The daily undermining of one’s quality of life by disorganization.
A history of failed self help attempts.
Colberg has since written a variety of books on many subjects related to organization, as well as a pioneer books on CD: Conquering Chronic Disorganization.
How CD is different from Hoarding Disorder?
All people with Hoarding Disorder are affected by CD, but not all people with CD exhibit true hoarding behavior. Hoarding Behavior is sub-sect of CD.
Source: ICD®
How do you determine whether you or someone you know is affected by Chronic Disorganization?
Ask these three questions:
Has getting organized been a challenge for you for most of your adult life?
Does being disorganized negatively affect your life in some way every day?
Have you tried and failed to get organized on your own?
The common characteristics of someone affected by Chronic Disorganization are:
Needs visual cues
Is easy distractible
Has multiple unfinished projects
Is chronically late
Many interests and hobbies
Talkative, intelligent and emotional
Some common phrases you will hear from someone who is affected by CD are:
“I want to get it together.”
“I can’t seem to get enough time.”
“I keep meaning to finish this.”
“I lose things all the time!”
For tips on tools that work for people with Chronic Disorganization, watch the video from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization!
7 min. into the video she beings to mention specific tips.
It is my goal as an organizer to approach every job with education, knowledge and compassion, and this is also true when I work with clients with! If you suspect that you yourself or a loved one have Chronic Disorganization, I hope this resource has helped you gain some clarity on the topic, as well as tips to move forward. Please reach out if you are in the Portland, Oregon area and would like more hands-on help from a professional organizer.
Happy Organizing,
