So so overwhelmed ☹️☹️

[SoEffingOverwhelmed]

Sorry posting for traffic. I need motivation and well god knows what else.

My mental health is rock bottom. I am a hoarder. I live in absolute squalor.

Today is the day I need to blast through the clutter. The junk. The piles of clothes. The piles of rubbish. The empty packaging and empty boxes. Empty cups. Some mouldy. I know how gross this is.

I am overwhelmed I’ve allowed it to get to this point. I can’t see my floors. Dust is everywhere. No wonder I’m constantly run down and have allergies.

It’s all m fault. Everything is filthy. I’m so ashamed and embarrassed.

It’s just me though. No kids. No pets. No partner. So im not putting anyone else through this hell. My friends don’t know. They’ve never seen it.

I’ve made a start. I’ve almost filled a roll of bin liners up to take to the tip. Cardboard boxes ready to be ripped up for the recycling box. I can now see a fraction of my wooden floor.

But by God. It’s hard. So hard. This is just a quick break to write this and have a drink. (Of tea) now I’ll be back to it and hopefully finish one room by this evening.

I don’t even know why I’ve posted here. But if you’re this far, thanks for reading.

Well done. Keep us updated on your progress!

Well done for making a start.

Well done OP! 💪💪💪

Yes! Well done! Future you will thank you for all this hard work. Just try to think if the person who left this mess as the previous lodger—not you but someone who got overwhelmed and moved out. You are cleaning and polishing this place for future you.

It sounds like you're having a breakthrough. Don't lose momentum, you're doing so well. Xx

Cleaner here... I have helped a couple of hoarders. Also have customers with ASD /adhd. Their mh team suggested they got a cleaner to help out. Would you consider such help?

Proud of you. One room at a time, perhaps one corner of a room at a time. Garbage out first. Any food waste. Then cardboard boxes. They take up an insane amount of space. You'll feel better once that's all done. Sounds like a great start. Keep going. You'll get there.

Well done @SoEffingOverwhelmed !!

Take pictures so you can see how much you have done, and look back and compare them at the end of every burst of sorting.

It may take a while, but you will get there 100%

Audiobooks are fab to listen to while you are working btw!

Well done, keep going.

I'd suggest taking the cardboard to the tip too if you're going to do a run, don't waste energy ripping it up or storing it..

Maybe this thread can be your accountability? Keep you on track? There was another lady I remember doing that a year or so ago - the motivation really helped her.

I'm proud of you. Slow steady keep moving forward. It took time to get here so it will take time to fix it x

It’s amazing that you have made the effort to start. Don’t worry about getting it all done. Sometimes placing an unrealistic expectation on yourself can mean you feel disappointed rather than acknowledging the progress you’ve made.

And yes - before and after photos are so satisfying!

If you want share some unidentifiable ones here... a mountain of full bin bags for example!

Well done, you've done the hardest part which is starting. I agree with @WhereDoWeGoFromHereBill a good audio book will help make it seem less like such a mountain.

Take photos!!! That way you can see the progress and have a reminder on your fridge of what you don't want.

Be utterly ruthless. Throw stuff out. It's just stuff. People are more fun and rewarding than stuff!

Keep going!!!

You absolute fucking legend. Look at what you've achieved! That's huge and you should be really proud of yourself right now. I know this fight and how it feels like a whole mountain range. Keep going bit by bit, and don't forget to reward yourself too, because you deserve to.

Well done! You have inspired me to make my own start on my hoarding! I know it's getting bad again so now is the time to join you in throwing out!

There are professional organisers who understand hoarding. They are not trained in mental health but they recognise hoarding as a mental health problem, not as laziness or any of the other names you may call yourself and they will work with you, without judgement, at your pace, to help you reclaim your space.

The shame and embarrassment narrative in your head will sabotage your efforts. Focus on what you have accomplished rather than what you still have left to do. For whatever reasons you are where you are now and you are making a start, be proud of yourself, it's not easy to do that when the task seems overwhelming.

If you can't get additional help then set yourself small, doable targets for each day. It doesn't matter if it's a whole room or a single drawer, progress is progress. Maybe you decide to declutter before you clean and target specific items each day, things for rubbish one day, clothes the next, out of date food cupboard items after that.

However you do it be kind to yourself.

The progress you've made is absolutely amazing, op, and you really can change your life. Every little bit is progress, and every day is a new opportunity to forge ahead.

Oh wow thank you so so much everyone. I wasn’t expecting so many nice comments so soon.

I’m trying not to get side tracked, but throughout the rubbish I’ve found a wedding invitation to a friends wedding which was just over 2 years ago, and for some reason got me emotional. Had to just stop and cry for 5 minutes. It’s been bad for over 2 years. 2 fucking years I’ve allowed myself to suffer and live in filth.

Right back to it. I’m determined to have my bedroom finished so atleast tonight I can treat myself to fresh bedding, fresh PJs and washed hair as I am covered in dust, cobwebs and stink.

I can’t thank you all enough for the encouragement.

Sounds like you've done absolutely amazing today!

I second what some of the other posters have said about taking progress so you can see how far you've come.

You can do this!

Amazing 🙌

Go you - what a fabulous start you’ve made!

sometimes doing one room at a time can help. Bedroom done today sounds great .

Well done OP. I also think maybe you should consider professional help - someone who understands that this is a mental health issue.

Also, if you were my friend, I would love to help you out with this. I love organizing/cleaning/sorting. This would be my ideal favour to do a friend.

Well done, OP, fantastic.

Keep going xx

Well done. I get overwhelmed with a lot less than what you’re contending with so I really admire that you’ve got stuck in. Just keep getting those bags filled and sent to the dump.