ADHD, Hoarding Disorder, or Both: Strategies to Manage Clutter and Disorganization 2026 IOCDF Conference

ADHD or Hoarding Disorder: Strategies to Manager Clutter and Disorganization at the 2026 IOCDF conference was the marvelous contribution of Michael A. Tompkins, Ph.D, ABPP, San Francisco Bay Area Center for Cognitive Therapy. I’ve seen Dr. Tompkins present this topic before, and I will again, because he will always reveal a new finding, a new insight, and I’ll have my “AH HA.”

If I could summarize Dr. Tompkins’ presentation, the summary might be “It’s all about the clutter.” What causes the clutter, who defines the clutter, what difficulties the clutter causes, what emotional and mental states the stuff and clutter evoke, and therefore “What do you do about the clutter?”. He reinforced my belief that skills-building around the sometimes-intimidating efforts of categorizing, keeping/letting-go decision-making, acquiring, storing,  and using stuff is a critical tool for controlling any kind of clutter. Doesn’t matter if the ADHD “causes” hoarding behaviors, the hoarding aggravates ADHD, you ain’t got ADHD OR hoarding disorder but you didn’t learn organizing as a kid, whatever. Learn the “hows.” Toss in time management techniques, anxiety remediation, memory- strengthening exercises, a little bit of competence in how to use spaces/spatial awareness – YES ALL OF THESE CAN BE TAUGHT AND LEARNED – and give yourself the best possible chance for success.

But it is critical nonetheless to piece out all the factors influencing the clutter as possible, because the the clinically-oriented treatments for the different elements contributing to someone’s clutter are different: ADHD medicines are not directly effective for hoarding disorder, but may help depression and may improve executive function; OCD treatments are NOT prescribed for hoarding disorder, etc.

OOOO, and my “AH HA.” Quoting Dr. Tompkins: “People with ADHD have a very sensitive ‘alerting response.'” Something for me to learn about A LOT more.

Keep learning, keep experimenting, keep trying. Find help. All progress is good progress.