The Hoarder in You: How to Live a Happier, Healthier, Uncluttered Life [Paperback]

From the hit A&E showHoarders,psychologist Dr. Robin Zasio shows readers how to take control of their stuff and de-clutter their lives.

Recently, the once little-known condition of hoarding has become a household phrase-in part due to the popularity of the Emmy Award-winning television showHoarders,which has captivated audiences with its stark and heartbreaking look at the people who suffer from this paralyzing condition.

Contributing expert toHoardersDr. Robin Zasio believes that our fascination with hoarding stems from the fact that most of us fall somewhere on the hoarding continuum. InThe Hoarder in You,Dr. Zasio shares behind-the-scenes stories from the show, including some of the most serious cases of hoarding that she's encountered-and explains how readers can learn from these extreme examples. She also shares psychological and practical advice for de-cluttering and organizing, including how to tame the emotional pull of acquiring additional things, make order out of chaos by getting a handle on cluter, and create an organizational system that reduces stress and anxiety.“I would say that Dr. Zasio's book is about the best self-help work I've read in my 46 years as a health and science writer. She seems to know all the excuses and impediments to coping effectively with a cluttering problem, and she offers practical, clinically proven antidotes to them.” —Jane Brody, The New York Times

“An easy to read, well-organized guide to improving your life and reforming the way you look at the mundane.” —Publisher's WeeklyROBIN ZASIO, PsyD, LCSW, is a featured doctor on the hit A&E seriesHoardersand specializes in treating hoarding and other anxiety-related disorders. She lives in Sacramento, CA.CHAPTER 1

PACK RATS, CLUTTERERS, AND COMPULSIVE HOARDERS

YOU WOULD NEVER HAVE SUSPECTED that Joan suffered from compulsive hoarding. When I first met her at my l3+