It’s Not About the Stuff: A Mental Health Conversation on Hoarding and Healing
We sit with Melanie Cohen to unpack the human side of hoarding—how trauma and OCD shape clutter, why trust matters more than trash bags, and how tiny goals build real change. We share language for hard family talks, safety-first priorities, and ways to give belongings a second life.
• early signs of hoarding masked as productivity and space mismatch
• divorce, bankruptcy, and trauma as drivers of escalating clutter
• OCD, depression, perfectionism, and executive function hurdles
• the failed doctor-room reveal and rebuilding trust over time
• mental clutter vs physical clutter and why both matter
• “ridiculously simple goals” that create momentum
• safety triggers for change and emergency access needs
• donate, sell, recycle strategies and second-life framing
• talking to a hoarding partner without blame
• aging parents, paper mountains, and shred-or-scan decisions
• digital hoarding patterns and small, weekly rituals
• coaching options via Zoom and sustainable wins
Free 30-minute discovery session—find me at thoughtfullycoaching.com
Thank you for being here, for listening, and for holding space for conversations just like this. If this episode made you feel seen, understood, or reminded you that you're not the only one walking through hard things, I'd be so grateful if you'd leave a review, share it with a friend, or just reach out and let me know you were here. And if you want more support like this, real talk, soulful tools, and reminders that you are not alone, you can join my newsletter at advancingwithany.com
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