The hoarding "Buried In Treasures" book by David F. Tolin, Randy O. Frost and Gail Steketee is an excellent resource for those who want help regarding compulsive hoarding (or as the book says, you might use the term "pack rat" or "clutterbug". I would also add the term "clutterer").
There is a wide spectrum to this disorder, from those who have a few cluttered rooms, yet their life functions overall just fine, to those who have an entire house or office impacted and life is disrupted in a very severe way.
The book suggests when it might be time to seek professional help:
"There's no hard and fast rule...(a) if the problem seems too overwhelming to manage on your own or with the help of friends or family, "b" if the strategies in this book don't seem to help; or "c" if other mental health concerns such as anxiety or depression seem to be getting in the way of beating the hoarding problem." (p. 6)
I first learned about this book awhile back while attending a national conference for the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) It states how PO's are helpful:
"We think professional organizers can be a very useful addition to your team...The subgroup...who specialize in dealing with this kind of problem is called the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. Professional organizers, particularly those with this specialty, are great at helping you figure out ways to organize and manage possessions in your home. In fact, some of what we do in treatment is borrowed from the work of professional organizers." (p. 8).
I am the only Professional Organizer in North Central Florida to have the NSGCD certificate in hoarding. (FYI, a partial listing of my national credentials is in the left sidebar of my blog home page.)
This book is a very useful resource for those wanting to either get help or understand more about compulsive hoarding.
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