Clutterers Anonymous
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Clutterers Anonymous (CLA) is a twelve-step program for people who share a common problem with accumulation of clutter. CLA does not exist to provide housekeeping hints, tips on sorting and filing, or lectures on time management. Rather, CLA focuses on the underlying issues made manifest by unnecessary physical and emotional clutter. As of 2005 CLA was active in over fifty cities in America across seventeen states.[1] The only requirement for membership is a desire to eliminate clutter and bring order into one's life.[2] Clutterers Anonymous replaces "powerless over alcohol" in the First Step of the Twelve Suggested Steps originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) with "powerless over our clutter."[3] CLA was founded in May of 1989 in Simi Valley, California.[2]
Cluttering can be symptomatic of deeper mental and emotional problems. Problem clutterers are more likely to have depression, mania, OCD or ADHD. Any of these disorders can be comorbid with compulsive hoarding.[4] Others attribute cluttering to the human desire to hunt and gather, while still others describe it as a consequence of over-consumption.[5][6] Some members of CLA describe the inability to let go of objects as a consequence of spiritual emptiness.[2]
Cluttering is not lethal like alcoholism, addiction, or depression, but it can have devastating consequences. Many clutterers have been evicted from their apartments, lost custody of their children, or have literally gone to jail for violations of building, health and fire codes.[7]
The CLA approved literature includes the two fundamental texts of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Alcoholics Anonymous[8] (the so-called "Big Book") and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions[9] as well as eight CLA specific pamphlets. At meetings, CLA members read directly from both books replacing the word "alcoholic" with "clutterer."[10]
Clutterers Anonymous is not associated with Messies Anonymous, a support group founded by Sandra Felton, utilizing her copyrighted publications, and is not based on the Twelve Steps of AA.[11]
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[edit] References
- ^ Morford, Mark. "Clutter cure begins with garbage bag", San Francisco Chronicle, 2005-11-04. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ a b c Randazzo, Angela. "Help Clearing Clutter is a Call Away", Los Angeles Daily News, 1999-10-01. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Nazario, Sonia. "Self-help: We can't help it", Chicago Sun-Times, 1999-08-08. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Chard, Philip. "Eliminating clutter can unburden the mind", Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2006-01-02. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Verrengia, Joseph B.. "U.S. material wealth leads to clutter", USA Today, 2005-10-24. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Murphy, Caryle. "By Removing the Clutter, Many Find Path to Clarity", Washington Post, 2004-10-03. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Chollet, Laurence. "By Things Possessed", The Record (Bergen County, NJ), 1994-01-02. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (1976-06-01). Alcoholics Anonymous. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services. ISBN 0916856593. OCLC 32014950.
- ^ Alcoholics Anonymous (2002-02-10). Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions. Hazelden. ISBN 0916856011. OCLC 13572433.
- ^ LaPeter, Lenora. "12 steps lead to a support group for every human flaw", St. Petersburg Times, 2004-03-15. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
- ^ Boodman, Sandra G.. "The Hidden World of Hoarders; Those who suffer from this little-understood psychological problem distress families, confound therapists and frustrate public authorities", The Washington Post, 2002-12-12. Retrieved on 2007-06-24.
