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Helen Sanderson, The Clutter Therapist

Is clutter connected to how you feel about rejection?

Published 4 months ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader,

Does any of this sound familiar?

  • A friend doesn't reply to your message for a few hours, and you're convinced you've upset them.
  • Someone gives you gentle, well-meant feedback, and you can't shake it off for the rest of the day.
  • You ask for a favour, and the pause before they answer fills you with shame before they've even said a word.

If you recognise yourself in any of that, there may be a reason: it's called Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD), and it's a common trait linked to ADHD.

Here's something that helps in the moment: when that wave of shame or anxiety hits, try naming it rather than believing it. Something like, "This is RSD talking, not the truth." It sounds small, but putting a name to the feeling creates just enough space to stop it running the show.

RSD doesn't just affect how you feel about people, it affects how you feel about your home too. It's often behind why letting go of a gift feels like rejecting the person who gave it, or why a cluttered room quietly fuels the sense that you're not good enough.

I've written a full article on this, including where RSD comes from, why it gets tangled up with clutter specifically, and some practical scripts for the conversations that come with letting things go.

​Read the full article here​

Speak soon,

Helen

Working with clients in London and all over the UK.

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Helen Sanderson, The Clutter Therapist

Supporting you to create a beautifully organised, clutter-free home and live a more mindful life

Author of The Secret Life of Clutter, psychotherapist, designer and one of the UK’s most well-respected clutter experts, Helen works with her clients holistically to uncover what their homes reveal about their psyches and what is blocking them. And then, with compassion, take positive action to clear those obstacles. This leads to life-changing shifts, which leave people with a new-found clarity and homes that support them to live their best lives

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