So so overwhelmed ☹️☹️

This is one of the most lovely topics I’ve seen in ages. Hope we aren’t derailing OP progress but what a star to a) speak up and b)crack on. Sometimes MN is such a helpful place.

Well done on starting! Obviously, loads have already given really good advice but I would definitely not keep stuff aside, with the assumption it would be useful to you in the future. X

Cheerleading OP in their efforts like mad.

You can do this!

Well done you!! I hope you are very proud of yourself as you should be!
as others have said I would take some photos to try and remind yourself how bad it got.
Keep it up!! You can do this!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Well done you! I have moved many times due to husband's job so am a bit of a 'clearer outer'. You are doing fantastic. I suggest that you make regular trips to the tip, recycling centre and charity shop as you go. I find that quite cathartic and when you get back it will be noticeable how much you've cleared.
Also, keep stuff that might be worth selling, get it washed, take photos and put it up on vinted. You might make a few £££ along the way.
Keep going and enjoy the sleep in your clean and tidy bedroom XX

You can do it 💪
Today I'm painting an area that I started on a year ago!

I just wanted to add to the messages of encouragement and say a huge well done to you @SoEffingOverwhelmed being so determined to get a grip of this and actually make a start on it.

It is very, very hard but keep going it will be worth it.

Another who would as a friend be more than happy to pitch in and help out with no judgement at all, it is very easy for things to slide and then before you know it it is at overwhelming levels. I would hope you have friends you could ask.

Be proud of yourself.

@SoEffingOverwhelmed

Well done, well done.

Well done. Do you know how you managed to motivate yourself to start today ? Maybe try to keep tapping on to that motivation to keep going (with rest ) until it is done

You are amazing! Well done for making a start.

No matter how hard it is you have made massive progress today, hold on to how significant that is.

Just wanted to add to the chorus of people saying well done! You should be very proud of yourself.

OP, you are an absolute legend. The amount of motivation it takes to tackle a task like this, and all on your own? You're bloody amazing!

I echo those that say well done! I hope making a start gives you the motivation to keep going.

Stick an audio book on, or pod cast, and plough on.

You're inspiring me to sort out the shit show that is my wardrobe tomorrow!

I don't know where you are in the world, but if you were near to me I'd come and help. I love cleaning, I find it hugely therapeutic - though ironically a bit shit at keeping my own stuff clean and neat. But other people's? no problem.

But silently cheering you on because YOU'VE STARTED and that's huge, its the worst bloody bit of any big task! so you should be really proud.

Well done OP. I have these tendencies and we have hoarders in the family. It's part of OCD. It's so so hard to do what you have done. You should be so proud of yourself to take that first step.

Fantastic OP, even starting on it is a huge achievement. My daughter struggles with hoarding and I know how difficult it is to get yourself to the place where you can even think about tackling it. Everyone here is rooting for you!

You're doing amazingly.

Been doing something similar at home with the jungle garden and my partner's hoarding of books and DVDs etc. Couple of things that have helped:

1. Congratulate yourself for everything you achieve. At the moment we've cleared all the ivy that was affecting the neighbours and the garden now just looks scruffy and a bit neglected rather than completely overgrown. So I'm just congratulating myself on that rather than thinking about how it doesn't look like a Chelsea Flower Show entry.

1. This may not be possible but if you have stuff that's usable by other people can it just go in boxes outside your front door? This has made a MASSIVE difference to my partner's willingness to get rid of books etc - there's something so much nicer about knowing they're going to people's homes and not in the tip. Of course Freegle's another option but a lot more work!

Best of luck!

This is so so lovely to read, I’m so happy you were able to tackle it

Starting is the hardest part - you got this ✨✨✨

You've got this OP 💪

I really feel for you but I know you'll be able to do this if you take it gently. I'm a terrible hoarder so although I've been in my current house for more than 20 years, I still had the whole top floor of the house taken up with boxes and piles of things that had never been sorted through since I moved in. It was a crazy amount of stuff, jumbled randomly into boxes and bags - clothes, photos, letters going back years, children's books and toys, my books, sewing and knitting stuff, sheet music, old magazines, vinyls, CDs - including some precious things but also a lot of tat that I really needed to get rid of. I felt completely overwhelmed by it for years - and I sympathise deeply with how depressing it feels when you don't think you can deal with it - and then, last summer, one day I just decided I had to tackle it. I worked out how many boxes and piles of things needed to be sorted (84!) - and then tackled one box or pile each day. It was hard at first but once I'd cleared a few piles and there was a bit of space on the floor I felt ridiculously pleased with myself. Taking the first step is the hardest part but you've already done that and I'm sure you can do it now you're under way. I wish you the best of luck with it - I know you'll feel completely liberated and proud of yourself once it's done.

That's really good to hear. Hope its going well for you😁

You’re doing so well OP, honestly getting started is the hardest part. I’ve been there, had a complete breakdown and was living in an awful mess, I would just shut myself away from it and ignore. I now have a cleaner commence a fortnight which forces me to keep on top of it. And I feel so much better for just getting rid of all the crap! Here to support you, you’ve got this!

Just a quick note to say, I don't know you but I'm so proud of you for making a start. I know how hard it is.

This was me following a bout of depression. I have ADHD and that doesn't help either 😬

But. Keep at it, don't lose heart. I found it easier to say "if I've not used it, worn it or consumed it in the last year it goes in the bin". Tomorrow I'm having my first guest in my spare room in 10 years which is a big thing for me.

I wish you the best of luck and WELL DONE 👏

Amazing! Well done you. Only advice would be to concentrate on one area at a time to clear in case the whole house is too overwhelming. You've got this girl. Onwards and upwards!