Hola Coleccionistas!
As you all know I have a passion for helping those with Hoarding Disorder. What you might not know is that I was born in Mexico, and have a passion for helping this culture as well.
I have always wanted to know about the prevalence of hoarding in Mexico. Do people hoard? What is hoarding disorder called? What are the treatment plans available? So who better to ask than Mexican Professional Organizer Nacho Eguiarte?!
I met Nacho online via social media about 6 months ago. He was interviewed by Geralin Thomas, Linda Samuels, and Helena Alkhas. I started following him, and really enjoy his posts in Spanish about organizing. When I read he was going to go for his certificate in Chronic Disorganization - I knew he would be perfect for this article.
Rachel: How popular is Professional Organizing in Mexico? Who are some
Mexican Professional Organizers that you look up to?
Nacho: Professional
Organizing is not that popular, talking about organization. You can
separate people in two big groups; those who like being organized and
have either an organizing routine or an iron discipline to keep
things in control. On the other hand you have people who just work
and live, in a way that they don’t want to worry about how things work meanwhile they function the way they are supposed to. That could
apply to politics, health, house, etc.
Big
stores like Wal-Mart, The Home Depot or Department Stores, are now
aiming to the organization market, offering anything from boxes,
containers and storage systems. So, in the short time would be like a
“Trendy Activity”, organizing your home will be the new
Tupperware Party, then people will realize organization is not just a
trend is an actual way to live better and healthier. That is the
point we will see in Mexico, happening sooner than later.
About
Mexican Organizers according to NAPO, there are four P.O registered
in the whole country, two of the in Mexico City, one in Monterrey
(third largest city) and myself in Guadalajara (second largest city).
But, there are maybe half a dozen who don’t belong to NAPO. Some of
them have or had web sites at the time I started blogging about
organization; the funny thing, is most of them are more focus to tell
the ladies the ways of domestic economy or others talk about office
productivity, the organization side is more collateral than a main
topic.
ClaudiaTorre NAPO member from Organizarte and I, are collaborating in
Spanish Organizing Connection at Helena Alkhas’ blog “A Personal Organizer”. I post 3 times a month and Claudia once on Sundays.
Funny thing is, I have more communication with fellow Organizers in
USA, like you, Geralin Thomas, Helena herself (great mentor) and
Linda Samuels.
Rachel: How prevalent is Hoarding Disorder in Mexico? What is the word for
"hoarding" in Spanish? Are Mexican people aware of this
disorder? What are some resources for people in Mexico who suffer
from this disorder?
Nacho: “Acumulación
Compulsiva” is the equivalent to Hoarding. Diogenes Syndrome is the
way the disorder is know. There’s a tendency to believe that is
just a senile people’s problem, and the hoarding behavior is
studied as part of the syndrome not in particular.
I
think the misconception about hoarding being an old people behavior
is because our nation, always have lived under the shadows of
scarcity, inflation, and economic crisis. Since I remember our
grandparents or parents always taught us about being modest, having a
good use of things, fixing everything when went broken, not tossing
something you could use in the future, mending your clothes, not
wasting food or resources, and we grew up with those thought very
well imprinted in our memories.
So
you can see, in some ages having a hoarding behavior could be read as
a person who is foreseen futures necessities. And when you get old
enough to qualify as and old person, you’ll become instantly a
crazy old man or woman, because you like to have any kind of trash in
your place. There is no awareness about the hoarding behavior, and
knowing the disorder is not just about senility, is about an
education we had and the overlapping of sad or dreadful episodes
As
awareness is not clear and there’s no government project or aid
specifically aimed to hoarding behavior, rather than seniors with
mental disease or those who have no resources or pension. In some
cases seniors and their families could access to professional help
but as I told you, just as mental health issue in general, not in a
specific fashion. If the family has economic resources would pay for
a Psychiatrist or Therapist, but in the best of cases will be just
about addressing the mental issue, neither the things nor the space
filled with all kind of stuff.
I feel
blessed and grateful, you invited me to this interview, because
someday, I want to achieve the qualifications to become a Chronic Disorganization specialist, having proper classes with the Institute of Challenging Disorganization and being
a subscriber.
Thank you so much for having me in your blog.
Thank you so much for having me in your blog.
Rachel: Nacho, thank you for stopping by and for your detailed answers. Good luck with your certification, and thank you for sharing all about Hoarding Disorder in Mexico.
I hope that more resources are made available in the future so that Mexican people are formally educated on this matter.
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| Rachel Seavey, blogger for Collector Care |
Are you a Spanish speaking Professional Organizer? Please list yourself on this blog.
Are you a related professional with tips and advice for Hoarding Disorder in Mexico? Please leave a comment on this blog.
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Collector Care Professional Organizers
925-548-7750 rachel@collectorcare.com
