HealthyLife Articles

Tag: organize

Overcoming Hoarding Disorder

WELL-BEING

Many people have seen TV shows or articles about hoarding disorder. It’s a very real mental disorder that makes it hard for people to throw anything away.

What is hoarding?

When a person has hoarding disorder, things may pile up in their home. This can lead to fire hazards, pests and problems with a job and relationships. Symptoms of hoarding include:

* Not being able to throw anything away

* A strong emotional attachment to everyday household items

* Severe anxiety when trying to throw something away

* Feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed about all the things in their home

* Strong fears about running out of things

* Losing living space because of too many things

* Becoming isolated or losing relationships because of too many items in the house

How is hoarding treated?

The only proven treatment for hoarding disorder is cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is a type of talk therapy. It helps a person learn how to change their thought patterns and reactions to situations.

Some people with hoarding disorder also get help in support groups. They can connect with others who understand and who are also trying to get better.

Getting help for hoarding disorder

If you think you may have a hoarding disorder, you can seek help from a mental health professional. You can start with your primary care physician.

You can also go to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) resource page at:

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.

Sources: American Psychiatric Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, National Institutes of Health

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Overhauling Your Medicine Cabinet

Medication

Take everything out of the medicine cabinet.

* Check expiration dates. Throw out all outdated medicines. If you’re not sure about a certain item, call your pharmacist. Ask what the shelf life is.

* Discard old tubes of cream that are hardened or cracked. Throw out any liquid medicines that look cloudy or filmy.

* If medications are not in original containers and clearly labeled, throw them away. Some medicines come in tinted glass, for example, because exposure to light may cause them to deteriorate.

* Every medication is a potential poison. If there are children in the house, keep all medicines and vitamins locked in a high cabinet, well out of their reach.

* Activated charcoal and syrup of ipecac are not advised for home use for swallowed poisons. Call the Poison Control Center at 800.222.1222 for advice.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Make Your Kitchen A Healthy Eating Zone

Healthylife® Weigh

Part 4

You walk into the kitchen and see a box of cereal sitting out. You fill your cereal bowl and eye the leftover pie next to a bag of chips on the counter. It’s been a long day and you deserve a treat, right? When you are hungry, tired, bored, or stressed, food choices can be influenced by what is around you.

First, learn about your kitchen. Your kitchen may be a place where you socialize with family and friends. It may be a place where you cook or pack lunches for children. Or, you have to walk through the kitchen to get to other rooms.

* How many times do you walk into your kitchen each day? If you aren’t sure, keep track for a day.

* List a few reasons you go into your kitchen.

* Without opening any doors (pantry, fridge, etc.), what foods can you see?

* If you were to select a snack right now, what would you choose? Why did you choose this snack?

The kitchen can be one of your biggest allies in managing your weight. A kitchen can also be a battle zone that trips up your goals.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Do-It-Yourself Spring Cleaning Guide

WELL-BEING

Germs grow and invade your privacy. Bathrooms are one of their popular spots. They gather in the bathtub, shower, toilet-just about everywhere.

“People these days just don’t take time out from their busy schedule to clean,” said Donna Duberg, lab science and germ expert at Saint Louis University. Duberg offers some simple ways to do your spring cleaning and make your bathroom germ-free.

Simplify cleaning:Engage in basic cleaning such as disinfecting and removing visible dirt regularly, to make spring cleaning less cumbersome. As spring sets in, brace yourself to clear the scum and lime scale-mostly found on your shower curtains-and mold stuck in and around your bathtub. They hold on to bacteria and can cause fungi to grow.

Don’t overkill:If you use too many cleaners and don’t dilute them, you risk the chance of inhaling the fumes of the cleaners, which can affect your lungs. Keep the windows open while cleaning or plug in fans to avoid breathing in the chemicals. Read the label carefully to understand how to use a product.

Instead of harsh chemicals, use the magic ingredient:Vinegar, when mixed with water can do wonders for the surfaces. Spray a mixture of one part white distilled vinegar mixed with 9 parts water to see a nice shine on your bathtub or floor. Undiluted white distilled vinegar mixed with baking soda can be used to remove scum. The fewer the cleaning products, the better. Vinegar is inexpensive, is not harmful to kids and pets, and always leaves a shine.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026