So so overwhelmed ☹️☹️

@SoEffingOverwhelmed I’ve done five (4 me and 1 my dad) car trips to the tip this week and my son’s box room is still piled high with crap! You’ve done a much better job than me. I don’t know how I’ve allowed myself to accumulate so much tosh.

Well done on making a start. Remember, it will take a while to get it done, so try not to be too hard on yourself - you won't complete it in a day, the important thing is to start and keep going. Have you sought help with your mental health or the underlying issues that have led to you hoarding in the first place?

I am a hoarder - discovered I have inattentive adhd which was driving my hoarding because I struggled to work out how to sort through stuff. BUT people with adhd have hyper focus ie if we can get our shit together under pressure. I am wondering if you also have inattentive adhd

Fan Bloody Tastic, bite sized pieces. You will get there😘

This is amazing!!

Remember you deserve to live in a nice home. You will never regret cleaning up but you will regret leaving it.

Sounds like you’ve made great progress!

Literally everyone has certain issues they consider to be shameful. Congrats on getting on here and beginning!

Stop judging yourself about this clutter. Everyone gets "cluttery" now and then. There are times I leave a room and it looks as if a hand grenade has been tossed into the room. 😂

My husband is a "collector" (likes to horde things and can't figure out why he insists it is important to keep things) but as he gets older he is more able to discern what to toss and how. His thing is that he "paid money for it!" and therefore he wants to "sell it" rather than just take it and dump it or donate it. But he never gets around to selling because that takes energy and time from his rather do list/hobbies. He does not need the money - as in selling to get money - but he feels guilty tossing things due to his Depression Era (1920s) parents.

Looking at the whole big clutter can be overwhelming. Break it down. Make a to-do list with a date for it to be done by to keep you organized and then find some reward when you have done one to do to completion.

Other posters here have said listen to music and take photos and show us your progress...please DO! Working with headphones and good music often keeps me focused on tidying, sorting, organizing, and doing housecleaning.

Go for it!!

Have you watched Stacy Solomons 'Sort your life out'? It's really inspiring and motivating with plenty of tips. Also, have you had CBT for your mental health? You can self refer on the NHS. They have lots of ideas about how to motivate yourself which then lifts your mental health. I found it really helpful. Well done though! Keep riding this wave of motivation. Look at what you have achieved rather than what you still have left. Rope others in too if you can.

Agree music or if you’re like me an amazing audiobook!!! Pick a classic favourite. Or some nonsense. I’m thinking Harry Potter. True blood. Bridgerton.

Somehow it’s easier when your mind is partially distracted.

You can do it! Xx

That's incredible OP. You've done the hardest part which is making a start. Keep going, one bin bag at a time. 💪❤️

Keep posting and let us know how you're getting on so we can be your cheerleaders (but only if I can have pom poms 🤣)

Cheering you on - sounds as if you've made a brilliant start!

Well done!

The local authority will have people to help you, talk to them if you need help.

Seek some time for me counselling via Relate.

Talk to your GP to help to seek out the why so it can be controlled.

Best of luck xxx

Oh well done, I bet you feel really proud of yourself for making a start. Have a good nights sleep in your freshly made bed. X

Well done OP. 💐💐💐

Great work OP. Get a good night’s sleep and then tackle some more tomorrow.
Put on an upbeat playlist whilst you clean and treat yourself to a nice lunch/coffee out so you can have a midday break. Each day will get easier ❤️

Well done op!! I know how hard it is, I look around and get more and more depressed and then do less and less! Congrats on making that start and do come back and tell us how good it feels as you move through the house.
Here's rooting for you!

🥳🥳🥳 fantastic, keep us posted so we can keep encouraging. The longest journey starts with one small step 🥰🥰

Take some pictures as a reminder to yourself especially before and after.

Set yourself a reasonable target per day - even on cupboard or one tip trip makes a difference.

Play some music and the time goes faster!

Don’t forget to eat and drink and keep your energy up!

Keep going!

Well done, you've made a start.

We all get overwhelmed from time to time and many of us - this definitely includes me - let housework pile up. If it's not your 'thing', if you don't enjoy it, it's hard to stay on top of.

DH and I are both people who hate housework, I think equally though I actually DO more than him but I'm absolutely sure if I didn't have kids I'd let it deteriorate more!

As so many others have said, don't waste time feeling ashamed. These things happen. Do please be kind to yourself.

Absolutely agree about it being easy to declutter for other people. I have a friend who is a professional cleaner and her house is always incredibly messy. She says it's a totally different thing when it's someone else's mess (and she's getting paid)!

Whoop! Well done OP! Huge step in the right direction, you will feel amazing when it's all done!!

I like this.....someone else is responsible for the mess.
I'm in a similar process, started a couple of weeks ago, in preparation for selling and moving. The clutter started when I was suddenly widowed....'things' were a comfort, perhaps. I'm taking all the lovely, kind, supportive comments on here vicariously, and I think the lack of judgement of OP is really rather heartening; such understanding........it's life affirming. Well done indeed, OP. X

good luck op. Its amazing that you’re doing something so positive ❤️ you’ll feel amazing at the end!

I watched some Marie kondo and she said if everywhere is a place for something, instead of find a place for everything then that helps.

So when the junk corner gets full you know you need to have a clear out. I want to get a keep clear/yellow box road marking rug for parts of my house to help with this! Or 'well done it's tidy' on a rug lol

Just wanted to add my voice and say a huge well done. I can only imagine how massive this must seem, so congratulations on making the big start today. You can go from strength to strength. I wish you well. Be proud of yourself.

Don't be too hard on yourself.
I remember watching a TV programme about a man in the US who clears houses for hoarders. Clients were hugely relieved as walls and floors became visible once more.
The programme makers became suspicious about their hero, followed him to a warehouse where he hoarded the goodies too good to throw out that he'd removed from clients houses.
De-cluttering is very easy when it's pontificating about other's mess. Well done for making a start, if you keep some of your newly-virgin territory clear and work outwards, you can get boost from the enormous effort you've made to start the process.
If you feel yourself flagging, return to this thread and I'm sure you'll get some motivation.

Hang in there, OP. One bag at a time, I'm sure you're doing great.