Clutter as a Trauma Symptom (Podcast Ep. 25)

[@jejrstans]

I'm so glad you're talking with Anna! I've had such a challenge with the sometimes unintentional flippant, "just get rid of it, you can get another one" comments. If only it were THAT easy. I'm SO glad Anna explained dysregulation for folks!

[@lucyblum3456]

Finally a clutter theory I agree with! Someone said “outer order, inner calm”. But I have felt like my clutter was due to my inner chaos (from stress, anxiety, overwhelm, depression). Just decluttering doesn’t remove the stress! And often I can’t declutter because of my stress levels. Anna talks about trauma. And trauma can be many things, not just childhood neglect - a failed marriage, losing your job, medical issues, financial struggles, etc! I look forward to trying her techniques.

[@oishikaray2767]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@katwellkaye996]

I didn't know how much I needed this conversation until I unexpectedly burst into tears in the middle of it. Thank you Dawn for introducing your audience to the Crappy Childhood Fairy (LOVE the name!!)! ❤

[@Heather.C.ButterflySage]

Amazing! Love Anna Runkle so much! Crappy Childhood Fairy & Minimal Mom. Outstanding.

[@lovinglife3954]

I love The Crappy Childhood Fairy! So much wisdom. (She's so thoughtful, did you notice that she has The Minimal Mom on her shelf?) This is why we can't just say "just do it" to everyone. Thanks Dawn for recognizing that decluttering is not as easy for everyone else. I love your channel and it's inspired me so much. Keep growing in your understanding. People need this!

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

Is it a yt channel?

[@MegInASheathDress]

​@@FrogeniusW.G.yes

[@lovinglife3954]

@@FrogeniusW.G. yes channel name is The Crappy Childhood Fairy.

[@lauranewman564]

It wasn't easy for Dawn, either! I totally agree with you!

[@tinadaniel5937]

This is bringing me to tears…thank you for validating the trauma I experienced as a young girl & the fact that we can’t change how parents handled that…I do feel way better when I have decluttered over the last few years, I just need to release the weight that my body & mind has held onto no matter how much I eat right/workout…thank you for all this great info 💕💕

[@debbiev.1311]

In my personal experience, healing CPTSD & decluttering do go hand in hand...thank you Anna & Dawn!! 🙏🏼❤️🤗❤️🤗❤️🙏🏼

[@jhjln8712]

I so appreciate you covering this topic. Decluttering is *not* easy for me, nor is any kind of self-care, which I strongly believe is due to trauma. Anna’s personal story is inspiring and I look forward to checking out her program.

[@roxanes43]

This was a podcast made in heaven, so to speak, with two of my favorites addressing the overlap of clutter and trauma! Mental, emotional, and physical decluttering are all so intertwined. Thanks for this collaboration.

[@soulexplorer76]

Thank you for this interview Dawn! I do believe that clutter can be related to mental, psychological and/or emotional unwellness: anxiety, depression or simply feeling overwhelmed by life (maybe after having gone through a rough patch). I would like to add that a dysregulated nervous system is not only linked to "crappy childhoods". We can have had loving parents but something along the way left an unseen wound in our system. Maybe a difficult birth or early childhood surgery, an accident, chemical toxicity... For those interested in learning more about the nervous system, I highly recommend to also check out Irene Lyon here one KZbin. She provides a ton of information through her videos as well as free resources (exercises etc.) on her website. I find that having different resources is helpful as we all resonate with different people, techniques, exercises etc. 😊🌺

[@lisam5744]

I have PTSD and live with my trauma brain daily. I know how easy it is for me to slip into that nesting-too-much issue. That saving for the future and becoming overwhelmed by it. I work hard at minimalism and keeping my space decluttered because it helps me keep my brain decluttered. Keeping my spaces under control helps to keep my anxiety under control. I never thought it would work until I did it. Dawn, thank you for your videos...they honestly help me keep myself in a better place.

[@arikaGME]

I’ve been following Anna for a while, and recently found Dawn. I’m finally able to tackle the mess. I’m accepting personal responsibility for the condition of the space around me and downsizing. I need to step up and become the stable adult that I’m intended to be.

[@cyndyfabian7555]

Hi. Grannie Cyndy from South Australia here. I've been a follower of Anna for some time now and totally agree that clutter is often a symptom of cptsd. I'm 72 years old, the daughter of narcissistic parents (only learned this in the last few years). I raised 6 sons, mostly as a single mother after 2 marriages and divorces.

[@Deedee-es3yy]

Both your parents were narcissistic? I can't imagine that. Glad you found Anna

[@natashyas4149]

This is one of the most powerful segments I've heard. Thank you to both of you!

[@toriahennesey]

No way! Two of my favourite youtubers combined! What a treat, thank you both so much x

[@erikahyman8611]

This interview hit so close to home. I’ve been through a similar journey & I took pretty much the same steps & the healthier my perspective got, the clearer things became. I was spiritually lost & opening my mind to the possibility that I wasn’t in complete control of my life because God was, helped me survive & thrive in tough times. Faith is so important. Faith brings hope & we all need that.❤

[@kimberlymagleby7835]

What a phenomenal podcast! Dawn, thank you. This is so applicable no matter where you are on your journey. She is so relatable and knowledgeable. I cried over and over again listening to this as it spoke to my soul.

[@daniellenunez185]

This was wonderful as someone who probably has PTSD but undiagnosed. All my scans are normal but I have unexplained neurological symptoms- however, now I think they’re explained. ❤

[@juliehowman3912]

I’ve been trying to declutter for two and a half years. Last year I bought your take back your house course and I’m no further forward. I’m no worse either. This means the course does work. I lived at 23 addresses before I was 18. My hoarding is definitely nesting in overdrive! I found this out by accident, however my therapist disagreed with me. She said it was a symptom of my childhood trauma - the Asperger’s and my general lack of organisation, and the lack of follow through. Whilst these may be contributing factors the crux of the issue is disregulation. Since self regulating progress albeit slow is happening

[@inthetwinklingofaneye]

very few formally trained therapists I would ever trust at this point. I've seen quite a few myself. Good for you that you took your health into your own power to change.

[@asher_oak]

Wow, thank you for sharing that, it actually just brought something to light for me I’d never put together. I also moved dozens of times in my youth and so never felt like anywhere was ‘home’. Hoarding/clutter as nesting in overdrive because we never had a secure landing place in our formative years makes so much sense.

[@juliehowman3912]

@@asher_oak I know, once you see it you just cannot unsee it. My stuff is my safety rug, my way of saying to the world, this is my space and you cannot take it from me. Recognising that I can keep my home, even if I let go of things was a whole lot easier than owning and believing that truth. I still have a long way to go, but I will get there, one little space at a time. Recognising that my hoarding is due to nesting, has helped me stop buying stuff. I have a long ways to go, but my kitchen is 1000% better, and I can actually access my back door now! Little by little I’m finding my way forward through the quagmire. I’ve elected to do it by myself, only because otherwise people rush my decision and because I don’t truly believe in it, it fails. I allow those who want to “help” to do it from the sidelines, through asking me how I’m doing fixing my problem. They are starting to understand now why it is so crucial for me to clear up my own mess at my own pace. I like Dana’s no mess method and can honestly attest that it does work. I’m no longer just stuff shifting, I’m getting rid of stuff.. I am making headway, no one but me. I’m making decisions to let go of stuff because I’m asking those two decluttering questions, and answering them honestly. I no longer have food in every room of my house because I recognise that as an adult, I’m not going to be going to bed on an empty belly, I know that even if I do find myself back in food poverty, I have the ability and the power to get help through food banks etc. I had food everywhere, even in the bathroom, a lot of it went to waste, tins had corroded, dried foods had become damp thereby spoiling it. Now all my food is in the kitchen - or at least all the food I could see is. The course does work, but you have to be in control of your behaviour, regulating your mood and operating from a place of neutrality. In that place I can reason with myself, no one is making me make the choices I make. There is no one throwing out my stuff because they think it’s rubbish, unwanted or unneeded. I have taken back my power! I have had to acknowledge that the only choice I have is to throw it away or keep it. None of those wanting to”help” want to collect stuff and take it to donate and I’m unable to take it there myself due to my physical limitations. If I keep the stuff I’ve released to let go of in my home, I tend to start second guessing my decisions.

[@Deedee-es3yy]

My psychologist sent me this. Already followed Anna, and looked at MM. Great talk. Things are really clicking for me finally. Always knew my mess indicated the mess in my brain. Both are doing baby steps thanks to these ladies who are such a gift to the masses

[@jamie.8525]

This was the most profound video I have ever seen on KZbin. I didn’t know I needed it. But it was eye opening. I love everything you create and because you brought the crappy childhood fairy to my attention you have helped me even more than I ever thought possible. I actually feel more empowered to let go of material possessions than I did before. It’s like understanding the effect that a traumatic experience has had on me shines light on to why I hold on to certain things. Thank you! I also have more compassion for others and why they might not be ready for decluttering.

[@faithisrising]

Thank you so much Dawn for bringing Anna onto your channel! I subscribed to her emails over a year ago but it wasn’t meant for me then…this video is right on time for me. God’s perfect timing! I’ve been in trauma therapy for over a year and recently found out I have complex trauma. I’ve commented on your videos many times and other wonderful motivators as I desperately want to take back our spaces in our home but my situation was different…and I’m not alone. That is so comforting. I have been making progress and donated a lot of boxes…but it’s shocking how much more there is. But I will do it! Thank you again!

[@Fireschild0506]

Anna, I love that you met a woman from AA who could laugh with love at what you told her because she could totally identify. I will be forever grateful to one of my first Alanon sponsors, Kathy, who laughed and laughed when I did my fourth step with her because she TOTALLY got it and me. She’d been there and done that and then some. And the whole time that she listened and laughed I felt so loved and supported by her - because I knew she was laughing at herself and what she’d done as much as she was laughing at me and what I’d done. And I knew that she really loved herself and that she really loved me. And she got me to laugh at myself. And I needed that release. I needed to take myself less seriously so that I could really look at myself, without the absolute fear and belief that I would either explode or implode if I couldn’t contain “all of it”. And maybe also the absolute fear and belief that if anyone really knew me they’d confirm that I really was a black sheep and totally unlovable. She was also in AA and recommended some open AA meetings to me, as well as recommending which ones not to attend, at least at first. Hurray for all of the people who save our lives at one time or another, whether they know it or not (she knew it because I told her). I get such good things from both you and “The Minimalist Mom”. I’m glad you did this podcast together. Keep on keeping on!

[@ninamaria1339]

This was a blessing to come upon. I identify with this lady in many respects and I am blessed and encouraged by witnessing the grace she has navigated and overcome tremendous trauma. I treasure that she acknowledges how God was on her journey all along!❤

[@denisesanders499]

Very powerful!! This resonated with me so much. When she said- when a family member dies-"i kept everything and every six months went through the stuff and slowly started getting rid of items til it was weeded down to a box of memories"

[@rachelt727]

WOW! I’ve seen her videos popping up in my feed but just kind brushed her off as another “just love yourself and cut everyone out of your life “ KZbin “therapists” guru. Thank you, Dawn for sharing this conversation with us! I relate so much to everything she’s speaking about. I’ll definitely be checking her channel out!

[@HannahMitchell-Art]

Wow, no Anna is definitely not like that! You have a massive wealth of resources to dive into ❤❤❤

[@maggiebates3941]

We talk about scarcity mindset and I think it goes hand in hand with a traumatic history in childhood. C-PTSD is a real and very complex issue and decluttering is one layer of healing that goes along with nervous system regulation and reprocessing and reparenting

[@amnerisjacobucci6067]

Just 13 minutes into this episode and it on two major issues I am having! WOW!! I need to listen to the message has to share. WOW!! THANK YOU Dawn!

[@shaynaformity1384]

Thank you! I easily got rid of about 50% of my stuff, then hit a wall a few months ago and the letting go of literal things became a slow trickle and was frustrating. 16 minutes into the video, I popped over to Anna's website and started the daily practices. I appreciate the very specific phrases and structure of the writing exercise, and that it gets torn up. The next 7 days are going to be very interesting.

[@Modadaone]

Dawn! You so often quote Monica on friends. "This is new information!" And it is. Thanks so much for this.

[@PatriciaCarrier]

Wow! same here two of my favorite persons. I get it decluttering and ptsd, have much in commun. 🙏❤🙌

[@dianetesta659]

Wow, Dawn thank you so much for introducing Anna to me. I related so much to everything she talked about.

[@flonotflow]

Agree completely with the clutter link to trauma! Listening to this has made me understand my mom, grandmother and several siblings and their clutter compulsions so much better. There used to be a show in the UK called "Life Laundry" where they addressed severe hoarding situations and the common issue with all of these people was there had been a serious traumatic experience that triggered the behavior. Very interesting subject!

[@lisas3692]

Dawn, thank you for introducing me to Anna. I’ll be looking in to her programs as this podcast hit several raw nerves! I’m so thankful for the resources and people you share with us. I feel so blessed to have stumbled across your podcast a couple of years ago.

[@annoravetz5908]

Anna! This is a great collaboration. You’re talking about God! I know doing this is on your other channel might turn people off who really are searching for help. But it shows through with all of the good help you give. I’ve got my kids’ things down to a very stuffed milk crate. I’m going through their school papers now, because I was mentally absent then, partially because of a divorce, partially because this was the way our mother was with all of us growing up. But I’m contacting my son, about some of the things, and he’s responding and reminding me how I neglected them, which is painful. The most painful thing was finding an order slip for tickets to a school play my daughter had filled out. I never saw this, we never went to the play, she probably asked me for the money and I probably said, “No, I don’t have it.”

[@suec8179]

Oh my goodness!!! Two of my very favorite KZbinrs together with so many amazing insights in how to deal with ME, my clutter, my trauma, etc.!!! I love you guys! Thank you so much for your support and insights helping me along my path to healing. Both of your channels are such a blessing to me, and then mentioning Huberman on top of it all!?!? YESSS Ohhh my goodness, now if you team up with “how to ADHD” and Laura Doyle /the empowered wife helping me get on my own page and deal with MY clutter rather than resenting my husband for HIS…I might just get this all figured out!😂 Thank you thank you thank you

[@toocooltobeold]

Dawn, Thank you for sharing this. Her videos keep coming up in my feed but I kept ignoring them. I don't know why but I just didn't want to cope with anything. I am so excited now to go watch more. I think this will be very helpful.

[@HannahMitchell-Art]

Definitely try out Anna’s Daily Practise! It can help a lot 😊

[@dianajones1334]

Dawn thank you so very very much for having Anna on your channel I find things that I relate to and I have a dear friend that I haven't known how to help her and I think Anna's Daily practices may pave the way to her healing.She had a terrible childhood and is very much alone in this world.

[@lauriepowell3959]

Good Morning! How wonderful to wake up to you two gifted ladies just when I needed a breath of fresh air and compassion. 🦋

[@JRManess]

Great video Dawn. And Anna rocks. Very funny, sunny and real.

[@mbmiller1956]

This is such an important conversation. I have been watching both of you for quite some time, and have grown daily in my appreciation of each of you. Just listening to ‘concepts’ gives me hope … it’s akin to going to church! I believe each of you are anointed by God to do this very special, important work!! God bless you both for surrendering you lives to it ❣️

[@annaread3829]

Two of my favorite ladies together!!! Dawn, this is your best interview so far! I think it will help so many people!

[@anniewho4655]

My research on trauma led me to the minimalism videos. Who knew they were so related? All these are good things for helping your quality of life. Appreciate both of you!

[@Downbacksawmill]

I love this. Very helpful, we’re doing so much than just decluttering houses

[@janieclaypool9842]

OMG, what an amazing video! There’s hope for me yet!

[@30Hotline]

Thank you Dawn, you have amazing guests, so appreciative ❤️

[@JoyfulHope115]

So grateful for the two of you who have each helped me separately, and now, together! WOW what a big smile I have on my face after this video! Just WOW!

[@rebeccaross1715]

After my grandmother passed away (whom I was very close to), my house was a mess for two years afterwards. It didn’t bother my husband at all (of course), but sometimes I’m glad about that because I wasn’t emotionally able to keep up with the house, and him being upset with it would’ve made me feel even worse. After two years, I started in on cleaning and organizing and decluttering things, and I started to feel more like myself again. And deal with depression on a regular basis, and always have, but you could really tell it in our house by the way it looked for those two years.

[@BodilWandt]

Two of my absolute favourites on the same screen. Love it! ❤❤

[@andrearoose5919]

This was great! I'm glad she mentioned Huberman.

[@Oceangirl1234]

I can't wait to watch this tomorrow.

[@tammischmorleitz5415]

Super interesting! Anna needs to come back for another podcast. :) I'm Norwegian and I understand her appreciation for her ancestors. Those big trunks are valuable and she is lucky to have one. My daughter had "brain spotting" in her therapy and it helped her with trauma so much! Highly recommend.

[@suzanneosborne2238]

WOW! I think you both have spoken to and helped more people than you will ever know. I've already shared this link with a friend.

[@zuzu2416]

Dawn - this is a wonderful podcast! - especially as a follow up to what we were all doing last Saturday during your Take Your House Back day! I hope your immensely helpful programs continue to reach others and expand our understanding of finding the light in our own lives through decluttering! Thank you for introducing us to Anna! ❤

[@planningwithnanny326]

Oh how I love this video! I have a loved one that is going to benefit in every way from this video! Thank you Dawn for all your wonderful content. I always love your interviews with others.

[@teriegoodmiller6243]

Yes, “there is a wound there” is good recognition.

[@tracybishop7792]

Thank you so much for interviewing Anna Runkle! She is awesome. I’ve been following her, and you, for a long time. Terrific interview. Recognizing and acknowledging CPTSD on your channel feels like the missing piece, for me anyway. Love you both.

[@Cat-ik1wo]

Thank you Dawn. This is another layer and understanding of how our invironment manifest into the material overload around us.

[@terrypoff2651]

I am crying listening to you. You are speaking my life. 😢😢

[@danarzechula3769]

Love that Dawn is sensitive to this and has helped to make this video. I think quite a few people will be helped.

[@sxwrtr918]

Wonderful video. I've been a big fan of both of these ladies for quite awhile. What a treat to see them together imparting their down-to-earth wisdom and experience with their trademark candor, humour, openness and genuine caring on such an important topic

[@jinglesh1398]

This makes total sense. Thank you for making all these podcasts.

[@dorisr8890]

Oh Anna, here I sit alone with my dog and my gate is always locked. I know it is time to start showing up for myself. Thank you for everything you share.

[@samanthacostello3792]

I love your podcast so much! I almost didn't listen to this episode because I thought that it wouldn't apply to me because I haven't gone through any terrible trauma, but I'm so glad I decided to listen. I'm really looking forward to following her channel and taking her free course. I feel like this practice of writing your feelings down in this way can be helpful to anyone! Thanks so much for sharing this message ❤

[@teriegoodmiller6243]

I SO much understand and agree!!

[@peachpathfinder]

Wonderful interview! Well done, Dawn! I love Anna Runkle. I live in Berkeley, where she is from. Hoping to attend her Sonoma Retreat in May.

[@sarahouser3100]

What a great introduction to Anna, I will find her channel thank you.

[@CookingwithCatLover0330]

Wonderful video. Thank you both for sharing. We all touch lives and many times we don't know how. This video touched my life in a positive way. Thank you. I hope I can pass some of these positive things along. "I came through" she said. That reminded me of one of my childhood theme songs. "I made it through the rain". Lots of "stuff" is under my belt but I came through, I made it through the rain with the help of my dad, other family members and some positive friends. Great video ladies! I will check Anna's channel out. Thank you, Dawn!

[@mel1234513]

Oh wow!!! Two of my favorite people in one video! LOVE it!!!

[@kd33d]

Whattt??? Two of the ppl I watch on a show together! I'm so excited

[@jheniferjohnson7487]

This is brilliant. So many insights.

[@Susq15]

Oh, I am glad to see these two channels collide.

[@hoflandmm]

Whoa mind blowing collaboration. I look to both of you for sanity in this overwhelming world. My home is pretty decluttered. I'm proud of that :>

[@jessicaleighdargaclark4536]

I'm sending this to at least 6 people!! What a wonderful conversation and I absolutely love how talking about something isn't necessarily the best way to acknowledge that it happened. I think I also know someone who is the reverse of clutter due to this trauma. The isolation is somewhat there, but the ready to throw everything he owns into a garbage bag and move along still remains from childhood. The opposite of me who is very sentimental and doesn't even want to ditch old photos that barely mean anything because it was from a "big life event" like prom or senior school vacation or whatever.

[@redstarz898]

I had an extremely traumatic childhood and have been a compulsive declutterer since early childhood. It started with stealing things of my mother's and sneaking them into the trash; then I started to surreptitiously discard my own things. I've lived alone for almost 50 years and still roam my home looking for things to declutter every time I am dysregulated. This problem is just as financially disastrous as hoarding is.

[@anncastanon2191]

I have been watching both of you for several years - this was so helpful !

[@kennethbailey9853]

Thank you.

[@safeharbourofscripture]

You girls rock!

[@ellie448]

This is soooooooooo good!!!! I’m going to share this with SO many people!!!

[@iamphoenix5376]

What a beautiful story. It’s so much like me! My counselor told me that I had trauma! I also know that I have PTSD! Great that I came across this vid. Thank you and keep going. You’re an inspiration!

[@danarzechula3769]

I'm old school. Stop. Talking. Start. Doing. Blame nobody give nobody power over you. Be free and take the reins of your own life. Because you are so worth it!

[@teriegoodmiller6243]

Yes I see myself protecting, providing, etc, haven’t heard this (me) described like this👍🏼

[@jessalynhardy5465]

I couldn’t stop listening! Wow. Thank you for sharing this. ❤

[@mayflowerlace]

Thank you, Dawn, for this interview!!!!! Excuse me; I need to go listen to The Crappy Childhood Fairy!

[@spunkysagittarius87]

What a wonderful discussion. Thank you Anna! 😊

[@shelleykapp9637]

O.M.G I am so happy this is being addressed!! I fall into this category and often wonder how to push through the depression.

[@simmiedavissimmiesings8185]

I'm so glad to see the Crappy Fairy! Good collabo!

[@gj1695]

What an insightful conversation. Incredibly enlightening. Thank you.

[@Coachingwithjess]

This was outstanding! Both of you just make the listener feel so comfortable. And Anna shared so much good information!! Thank you! ❤

[@NoelleAm]

My two favorite KZbinrs!! Excited for this one.

[@kimperfect2295]

This is terrific! Thank you for this lovely video and the work you both do. ❤

[@deborahcoyne1894]

This was an amazing episode, Ty.

[@incapable911]

Wow,I’m hearing this thanks so much.

[@teriegoodmiller6243]

And yes, I already knew and described some reactions as ptsd. So insightful.

[@cynthiahunter6588]

Can't tell you both how much this discussion and information resonates with me. Thank you so much

[@Elizabeth-490]

Excellent guest!So well expressed!

[@susanoutler1724]

Thank you❤✨… this was very helpful in clarifying all of the different reasons why we hold onto our clutter!

[@ehlucky13]

I love The Crappy Childhood Fairy! So glad you had her on!

[@cosecho-musicanddogs6994]

This is amazing. A work along video for dealing with traumatic clutter would be so so so helpful. I understand if that might be more difficult but even just things like, why am I avoiding deciding what's in this box/etc??

[@Leomoonmom5]

💗💗💗 both of these ladies!!!

[@dancepanther2]

Love both of you! Wonderful that you have Anna on your podcast Dawn!