Clutterers anonymous
Encyclopedia
Clutterers Anonymous 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
, but instead focuses on the underlying issues made manifest by unnecessary physical and emotional clutter. CLA has active meetings in about 70 cities in 24 states in the US, and several in England, German, and Iceland, as of June 09, 2011. CLA Tradition 3 states, "The only requirement for CLA membership is a desire to stop cluttering." 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." CLA was founded in May of 1989 in Simi Valley, California
.
Some believe that cluttering behavior can be symptomatic of deeper issues. Problem clutterers are more likely to have depression
, mania
, OCD
or ADHD
. Any of these disorders can be co-morbid with compulsive hoarding
. Others attribute cluttering to the human desire to hunt and gather, while still others describe it as a consequence of over-consumption
. Some members of CLA describe the inability to let go of objects as a consequence of spiritual
emptiness.
Unlike alcoholism
, addiction
, or depression
, cluttering is rarely lethal (although serious injury or death can occur from clutter-related accidental trips, falls or fires), but it can have other devastating consequences. In extreme cases, clutterers have been evicted from dwellings, lost custody of children, or have even been jailed for violations of building, health or fire codes. (However, this has tended to become more a thing of the past, with more awareness and exposure on various TV shows.).
The CLA-approved literature includes the two fundamental texts of Alcoholics Anonymous
(AA), Alcoholics Anonymous (the so-called "Big Book") and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
as well as eight CLA-specific leaflets, and a 28-page booklet, "Is CLA for You? A Newcomer's Guide to Recovery. At some meetings, CLA members read directly from both books and may replace the word "alcoholic" with "clutterer."
Clutterers Anonymous is not associated with Messies Anonymous, a support group founded by Sandra Felton, utilizing her copyrighted publications and not based upon the Twelve Steps of AA.
Twelve-step program
A Twelve-Step Program is a set of guiding principles outlining a course of action for recovery from addiction, compulsion, or other behavioral problems...
for people who share a common problem with accumulation of clutter
Clutter
Clutter may refer to any of the following:*Excessive physical disorder** Clutter , a confusing or disorderly state or collection, and possible symptom of compulsive hoarding** A type of light pollution...
. CLA does not exist to provide housekeeping
Housekeeping
Housekeeping is the act of cleaning the rooms and furnishings of a home. It is one of the many chores included in the term housework. Housecleaning includes activities such as disposing of rubbish, cleaning dirty surfaces, dusting and vacuuming. It may also involve some outdoor chores, such as...
hints, tips on sorting and filing, or lectures on time management
Time management
Time management is the act or process of exercising conscious control over the amount of time spent on specific activities, especially to increase efficiency or productivity. Time management may be aided by a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific...
, but instead focuses on the underlying issues made manifest by unnecessary physical and emotional clutter. CLA has active meetings in about 70 cities in 24 states in the US, and several in England, German, and Iceland, as of June 09, 2011. CLA Tradition 3 states, "The only requirement for CLA membership is a desire to stop cluttering." Clutterers Anonymous replaces "powerless over alcohol" in the First Step of the Twelve Suggested Steps originally developed by Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
(AA) with "powerless over our clutter." CLA was founded in May of 1989 in Simi Valley, California
Simi Valley, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Simi Valley had a population of 124,237. The population density was 2,940.8 people per square mile...
.
Some believe that cluttering behavior can be symptomatic of deeper issues. Problem clutterers are more likely to have depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, mania
Mania
Mania, the presence of which is a criterion for certain psychiatric diagnoses, is a state of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, arousal, and/ or energy levels. In a sense, it is the opposite of depression...
, OCD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Obsessive–compulsive disorder is an anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry, by repetitive behaviors aimed at reducing the associated anxiety, or by a combination of such obsessions and compulsions...
or ADHD
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a developmental disorder. It is primarily characterized by "the co-existence of attentional problems and hyperactivity, with each behavior occurring infrequently alone" and symptoms starting before seven years of age.ADHD is the most commonly studied and...
. Any of these disorders can be co-morbid with compulsive hoarding
Compulsive hoarding
Compulsive hoarding is the acquisition of possessions in excess of socially normative amounts, even if the items are worthless, hazardous, or unsanitary...
. Others attribute cluttering to the human desire to hunt and gather, while still others describe it as a consequence of over-consumption
Consumption (economics)
Consumption is a common concept in economics, and gives rise to derived concepts such as consumer debt. Generally, consumption is defined in part by comparison to production. But the precise definition can vary because different schools of economists define production quite differently...
. Some members of CLA describe the inability to let go of objects as a consequence of spiritual
Spiritual
Spiritual may refer to:*Spirituality, a concern with matters of the spirit*Spiritual , an African American song, usually with a Christian religious text...
emptiness.
Unlike alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, addiction
Substance dependence
The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders does not use the word addiction at all. It explains:...
, or depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, cluttering is rarely lethal (although serious injury or death can occur from clutter-related accidental trips, falls or fires), but it can have other devastating consequences. In extreme cases, clutterers have been evicted from dwellings, lost custody of children, or have even been jailed for violations of building, health or fire codes. (However, this has tended to become more a thing of the past, with more awareness and exposure on various TV shows.).
The CLA-approved literature includes the two fundamental texts of Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous
Alcoholics Anonymous is an international mutual aid movement which says its "primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics achieve sobriety." Now claiming more than 2 million members, AA was founded in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in Akron, Ohio...
(AA), Alcoholics Anonymous (the so-called "Big Book") and the Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions
Twelve Traditions
The Twelve Traditions of twelve-step programs provide guidelines for relationships between the twelve-step groups, members, other groups, the global fellowship, and society at large. Questions of finance, public relations, donations, and purpose are addressed in the Traditions...
as well as eight CLA-specific leaflets, and a 28-page booklet, "Is CLA for You? A Newcomer's Guide to Recovery. At some meetings, CLA members read directly from both books and may replace the word "alcoholic" with "clutterer."
Clutterers Anonymous is not associated with Messies Anonymous, a support group founded by Sandra Felton, utilizing her copyrighted publications and not based upon the Twelve Steps of AA.