Collector Care Series: Hoarding Around the World: MEXICO featuring Nacho Eguiarte

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.

 

As Mexico has become more and more consumerist, population have now the opportunity to buy things for the sake of buying. So, houses become more stuffed and the necessity of having those possessions in order has become clear. Also, since we watch shows on cable or satellite TV about renovations, interior design and organization, we slowly realized that are different areas of expertise new to us and want to try some of them in our homes.

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.

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.
 

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. 

Thank you for visiting and if you would like to read this blog in Spanish, please select "translate" on the bottom left of this page. 

Collector Care Professional Organizers

925-548-7750 rachel@collectorcare.com

Collector Care Book Review: Buried in Treasures

Collector Care Book Review: Buried in Treasures
Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving, and Hoarding.

By David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost, and Gail Steketee.

Buy through Amazon using the ICD affiliate link (help ICD!)

Buried in Treasures can be read by an acquirer, a saver, a hoarder, a loved one, or a professional wanting to learn more about beating hoarding. If self-help books usually work for you, or self-help is the route you want to take at this time in your life – read this book. It offers practical methods to beating clutter with realistic timelines that work. The key point is that you are dedicated to helping yourself, and that you do not give up. Backsliding is normal, so keep on chugging. This book will help. It is easy to read, and the authors are engaging. They will cheer you along the way. These are the some of the most elite professionals in our field, this book is a gold mine. Trust in them and trust in yourself. 

If you are a family member or concerned friend, just know that hoarding can be treated! Don’t give up on your loved one. By reading this book, you might begin to understand what your loved one is actually going through.  You will be given methods to help relieve YOUR concern, anger, sadness and anxiety about your loved ones disorder. Buried in Treasures will open your awareness on how to address this issue with your loved one in a manner that works.

As a professional organizer I find this book helpful as a way to help my clients beat hoarding. The questions at the end of each chapter are much like the ones I use with my clients, in addition to many new ideas I plan to use going forward. This book is a mandatory read if you want to be an ICD Hoarding Specialist. I recommend this book to any professional organizer who is interested in hoarding.

Below are five topics from this book that I picked out and commented on. There is a TON of info in this book and I only begin to scratch the surface of all the "buried treasures" within this book.

1. What is hoarding? This book is an excellent resource for the answer to this question.  A side note states “One of the key features of compulsive hoarding is that the clutter is so bad that portions of the home are unusable.” It also goes in to the three criteria that are thought to be present in hoarding disorder.  Chapter 2 explains hoarding thoroughly.
2.  Hoarding is treatable. “Compulsive hoarding is recognized as a diagnosable (and treatable) behavioral syndrome.” This is coming straight from leading experts. Believing this is a key role in conquering hoarding.
3. “Whereas most people define themselves by what they do, people with hoarding problems often define themselves by what they have. “ Being aware of this will help you win your battle. No one said this is easy work. The more aware you are of yourself, and your identity, you will begin to define yourself in healthier ways.
4. “Try scheduling your organizing sessions during the time your brain is most likely to cooperate.” This is a huge key to organizing success. If you are not a “morning person”, a “night owl”, have ADHD, TBI, physical disabilities, etc. Plan to organize at a time when you are at your best. Get a good night’s sleep, eat and drink plenty of water before during and after your organizing spurts! Take care of yourself and do not overdo it. 
5. “If you are hooked on Saturday morning yard sales, find something else to do”. You cannot beat hoarding if you are bringing more stuff in. There are so many other things you can do with your time. How about finally reading one of the hundreds of books you own? Finally taking in that charity bag, cleaning out your car, taking your dog on a walk, taking your recycling in, etc! Enough is enough folks. If you are a shopper, you have got to take yourself out of those situations until your hoarding is under control. 

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. Please feel free to leave a comment on this blog about Buried in Treasures, or feel free to ask any questions about this book or hoarding.  If you are looking for other good books on Hoarding I suggest reading Digging Out by Dr. Michael Tompkins, any book by Judith Kolberg,  the ICD Guide to Challenging Disorganization, or visit the ICD website.

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder and we work side by side with our clients to improve their living standards. If you know of someone who hoards, or if you are a hoarder please don’t hesitate to give us a call. 925-548-7750. Not ready yet? Check out our website, Facebook,or Twitter.

Rachel Seavey, Professional Organizer (and blogger) For Collector Care

Collector Care specializes in hoarding disorder, chronic disorganization and professional organizing. We  love what we do, and  provide realistic expectations and timelines. Please visit our website at

www.collectorcare.com  or call 925-548-7750

Collector Care Interviews Linda Samuels - Organizer, Author and New President of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization

Hello Collectors! I am very excited to bring you this interview. In some of my other blog posts I have mentioned the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD)  and what a wonderful resource it is for those with clutter and for professionals like myself. If you have not subscribed to ICD yet - I suggest you do!  http://www.challengingdisorganization.org/. In addition to her work with the ICD, she is a hands on organizer, amazing blogger and author!

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting Linda Samuels, new ICD prez elect a couple of weeks ago at a convention. She is an absolute ray of sunshine inside and out. Dressed in vibrant ICD colors and a sparkling personality, I was immediately drawn to her. As a fairly new organizer I am always humbled to meet our veterans - and was even more humbled when Linda asked me to join her in an ICD commercial/interview! The ICD is a true collaborative of professionals, that all support each other and Linda Samuels is proof that even the most experienced and savvy organizers are kind and helpful to us "newbies".

http://www.ohsoorganized.com/

So now on to the interview! I hope you enjoy!

Rachel: I love that you still work hands on with clients. What is your favorite thing about working hands on with someone who is chronically disorganized?

Linda:Whether my clients are chronically disorganized or not, what I enjoy most are the wonderful relationships that develop. Particularly with my CD clients, these relationships are long lasting. I feel very lucky to be invited into my clients’ lives and be partners with them as they navigate change and witness the “ah-has.” Since I tend to work with my clients for an extended period, I experience many life transitions with them. I love the variety, the challenges, the connection, and the creative aspect of my work.

 

Rachel: What was one of your biggest mistakes as a new organizer?

Linda: Perhaps the biggest mistake I made as a new organizer was that I didn’t have clear enough boundaries. I found myself in uncomfortable situations too many times. It took me a while to establish guidelines so that there would be no unwelcome surprises for my clients or myself. I used the difficult situations as learning experiences, but it would have been better if I had anticipated at least some of these issues ahead of time. One of the most valuable classes I took to help me think about these issues was “Boundaries and Ethics”, which was co-created by my colleagues Sheila Delson and Terry Prince for the Institute of Challenging Disorganization (ICD).

Rachel:  The ICD has the most fabulous classes.  Thank you so much for this information! Setting boundaries has been one of my biggest challenges. It's nice to know that there are resources for new organizers that address this, and that even the best have gone through this challenge.

Rachel: What advice do you have for new organizers wanting to work with the chronically disorganized?

Linda: The best advice I can share for any organizers, new or veteran that wants to work with CD clients is to seek out education. Without knowledge and training, organizers run the risk of doing more harm than good. The best source for information, education, and strategies for those that work with the CD population is ICD. This association attracts experts that share their resources, strategies and research about chronic disorganization. The ICD website has info including free fact sheets, teleclasses, publications, and conferences.

Rachel: When you aren't organizing, writing books, speaking or blogging, what do you do for fun?

Linda: I love to have fun! This includes taking Comedy Improv classes, dancing in our living room or at Zydeco gigs, taking walks by the two rivers and in the woods, laughing with my husband and daughters, baking, getting together with family and friends, going on road trips, watching movies, and having adventures with my wonderful husband of almost 30 years.

Rachel: I love your website, and of course read your bio. I wanted to ask you - why a purple front door? What does this mean to you?

Linda: From early on, I always loved the color purple. I enjoy other colors too, but have a special “thing” for purple, which has only intensified as I’ve grown. Embracing all that we’re passionate about whether that’s color, people, or work, is essential to living joyfully. Let the things you love surround you. Let the work you love be part of your days. Let those you love know it. Embrace your passions.

Rachel: My favorite color is purple as well,  it started when I realized that the amythest was my birthstone. I love your doorway idea, what a beautiful way to celeberate this marvelous color. Thank you so much for this interview.

About Linda:

 

 

Linda Samuels, CPO-CD^® is a compassionate, enthusiastic professional organizer and coach, founder of Oh, So Organized! (1993), author of The Other Side of Organized and blogger on organizing and life balance. She has been featured in The New York Times, Woman’s Day, Bottom Line Personal, Westchester Magazine, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and Enterpreneur.com. Connect with Linda on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, blog, or website. Sign up for a free monthly e-newsletter with bonus tips at ohsoorganized.com.

Linda’s Contact info:

Email: linda@ohsoorganized.com

Phone: 914-271-5673

Website: http://www.ohsoorganized.com

Blog: http://theothersideoforganized.com

Twitter:  @LindaSamuels

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Oh-So-Organized

Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/ohsoorganized/

Shout Out To The Institute For Challenging Disorganization



I am very proud to be a member of and want to continue my education with the ICD. This is an institute that I hold dear to my heart.

The ICD offers a variety of resources to help both people who are challenged by chronic disorganization and the professionals who work with them.

To learn more about the ICD or become a subscriber please click here.

What is challenging disorganization?

The term challenging disorganization describes disorganization that poses a problem for an individual. For many people challenging disorganization may be a lifelong problem. But for others, it may be a problem brought on by circumstances. The Institute for Challenging Disorganization provides strategies to help anyone who is challenged by disorganization.

Rachel Seavey and Heidi Shulz
Creator of Clutter Hoarding Scale

Prior to 2011, the ICD was known as the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. The term "challenging disorganization" was selected to replace "chronic disorganization" because it was seen as less clinical sounding, less confusing, more inclusive and more hopeful. For more information on how the name change came about, see the Name Change FAQ page.

The Code of Ethics provides guidelines for professionals and also helps potential clients know what to expect of an ethical organizer.
The Useful Links section provides links to outside organizations that offer information and assistance to chronically disorganized people.
The ICD Clutter-Hoarding Scale is a free assessment tool to help professional organizers and related professionals evaluate the health and safety aspect of clutter/hoarding situations.
The FAQs section provides answers to questions the public might have about chronic disorganization and the ICD.
The ICD is involved in collaborative research projects relating to chronic disorganization. The Research Projects section describes that work.

Rachel Seavey and Val Sgro
Current ICD President

I am so excited to be attending their 2013 Annual Conference!