National Center for PTSD

Organizing is almost never just about the stuff, never just about living in a part of the country with, routinely, WORD OF HONOR, the weirdest sized and shaped closets of anywhere I’ve ever been. It’s about our emotions around the stuff, and the foundations of those emotions, whether developed through lived experience, neurodivergence, or some combination. Organizers are not therapists, with some treasured exceptions like Debbie Stanley and Karen Kruzan. I can’t diagnose or treat clients.

But I fervently believe it is my responsibility to find resources for my clients which might help them with their emotional challenges. Karen Kruzan led me to the National Center for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Quoting from the Center’s home page:

“We are the world’s leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress.

PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. The good news is that there are effective treatments.”

PTSD is not simple. But its “simple” effects – for example, disrupting sleep, causing someone to avoid objects which remind him/he/them about the trauma, weakening concentration – can undeniably obstruct a person’s ability to get and stay organized. PTSD is thought to sometimes contribute to hoarding behaviors.

If you think there’s ANY chance you are suffering from PTSD, PLEASE look for help. This National Resource Directory is an excellent place to start.