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 you! Letting go of things can be very emotional. Enjoy your lovely fresh bed later. Keep us updated on your progress. You can do this!

The hardest part is getting started and you've smashed that, big well done OP. The past can't be changed, so try not to be too hard on yourself. (I know easier said than done!).

Keep going! We're rooting for you.

@SoEffingOverwhelmed you are the breath of positivity I needed today. You absolute superstar. Just be careful you don’t get addicted to chucking stuff out!! Call yourself a hoarder in recovery. Addressing the problem and then tackling it all in one go is utterly amazing.

Can I just say, you would be surprised just how many people are in the exact same boat as you. You are not alone 🫂
If I could, I'd like to make a recommendation. Sometimes people (myself included) find it really helpful to watch cleaning videos on YouTube for motivation! I find it really helps. One I can recommend is Aurikatariina - a very kind girl who cleans peoples' filthy homes for free and is so positive and inspiring! Uses simple products and gives tips on what to use etc too.

Or you could just type in 'cleaning motivation' and any of those that come up are worth a watch! You might find it gives you a huge boost of motivation! 🩷 good luck, one room and one step at a time, little by little ☺️

You're doing amazing. You have recognised your problem but not only that but you're already doing something about it.
I think tackling the bedroom first is a great idea as how wonderful will it be to wake up refreshed to a tidy space!
As others have said - I would tackle manageable bits at a time. its so very easy to loose momentum if you bite off too big a job to start with.

When I have a clear out I always make sure I allow time at the end of that day to take the rubbish to the tip/recycling centre. Anything useful that I dont needs goes to the charity shops - and again allow time to drop these items off. Otherwise you just end up with more piles of "stuff" waiting to go somewhere.

Well done OP ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Do you have a therapist OP? You're doing an amazing thing, a little support might help you a lot going forward.

That's a great start Effing! You've done one of the hard parts - getting started. My suggestion would be that you don't pile up too much stuff that needs to go to the tip/charity shop/recycling or wherever; take it where it needs to go as you move along, otherwise you're going to have to shift it about as you clean and clear. Adopt the OHIO principle; Only Handle It Once.

Good luck!

Well done OP! You’re going to be buzzing after sorting that lot!!!!

My friend has got an excellent strategy of sorting 5 things per day. They can be big or small. It keeps it manageable when you’ve only got a little bit of headspace for it.
Today I’ve recycled some paperwork from the front of the fridge and from the kitchen worktop. Have rewarded myself with a cuppa in the shade in the garden.

We’re on your shoulder. You will get good advice here. Just know we don’t judge and this could be any one of us. Keep going.

You're doing so well! You've got this. ♥️

Well done! You should feel very proud of yourself for what you’ve achieved today.

As the child of a hoarder, I can only say a massive WELL DONE! It’s an impossible task to get my hoarder parent to recognise the problem, so the very fact that you are acknowledging the issue is legendary in itself.

Be kind to yourself and don’t let moments of distraction get you down. Progress to recovery won’t be a linear path, but every small step is a step in the right direction.

Well done OP! Maybe take the bin bags and cardboard to the tip today so they’re really gone.

I’ve found it’s helpful to treat these things like an actual job, with a start time, tea breaks and a lunch time so you don’t get too tired and have to stop. I’ve only ever done other people’s houses, I expect it’s very different when it’s your own stuff.

Fresh bedding. Fresh PJ. Freshly washed hair.

OMG OP, sounds like a dream!

Keep going, you've got this and you will get your house back, one room at a time.

Here's to you and your treat of all things fresh this evening

It'll be worth it x

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.

Well done @SoEffingOverwhelmed - you've taken the first and most difficult step! 👏

I’m determined to have my bedroom finished so at least tonight I can treat myself to fresh bedding, fresh PJs and washed hair.

You've got the right idea - treat yourself after your hard day's work.

Tomorrow is another day, and you can do this bit by bit.

I'd agree with the pp who suggested taking photos as you complete each section - and perhaps, if you can afford it, treat yourself to help from a professional cleaner.

Congratulations! Making a start is really hard. You can do this. Before and after photos really help you to see what you have achieved.

Remember, it doesn't need to be perfect. Dont let perfection be the enemy of the good. You will hit slumps along the path, and that isn't failure just a set back. Take a deep breath, take a break and then crack on.

Agree with this. I do this for housework which I find very tedious and pick three things to do a day. So for example, wipe down surfaces in the kitchen, wash kitchen floor, clean out fridge. None of these are enormous tasks so are achievable in a couple of hours tops.

I also keep a carrier bag on each floor of my house so I can put things for the charity shop in as and when I find something rather than thinking it can go in my next clearout. It is amazing how quickly the bags fill and then can go out.

If you haven't got one already OP invest in a handheld vacuum cleaner. Much more portable than dragging a full sized one about and not nearly so much hassle to scoot round with each day although you do need to keep it charged up ready to use.

So very very very well done 👏👏👏👏 keep going a half an hour per day and everything will be perfect in a few weeks time.

I have mental health problems too and life can be so hard 👍

Maybe you should read the thread called ive just had a massive de-clutter by miss december i dont know how to do links.
But the poster go down and brutal with it none stop untill she was done.

Well done @SoEffingOverwhelmed! You are an inspiration.

And yes I agree small steps if you can’t manage the big things. When my MH was truly atrocious I couldn’t even get out of bed so all small steps really does work!

You've done amazingly well for Day 1.

Rome wasn't built in a day and clearing the clutter and deciding what you're keeping/recycling/binning/donating won't be done in a day either.

Give yourself a pat on the back for starting to tackle this.

Can I make a suggestion to you - if you have a picture of a living room that you'd like your living room to get close to resembling and it's from a magazine, rip the picture out of the magazine and blutack it to the back of your living room door so that you have a target to aim towards. It'll take time but you'll get there.

Do the same with the kitchen and any other room you want. Tackle them room by room.

Also, if you buy new cushions or anything new for the house, make a deal with yourself that something old has to go. One in, one out!

Keep going!!!

Wow that’s amazing that you have made a start!! Well done OP! Take it room by room and think how amazing it will feel will you have decluttered! Keep reporting back and we will all keep encouraging you!! 🙌

Brilliant. Well done OP. The fact you have even started is progress. You've got this.