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 on recognising it and making a start. You’ve achieved 2 hard things there already.

Well done op.

You are absolutely not alone. I don't drive so getting rid of stuff tricky when driver has similar issues! However, want to have house that people can visit and be a better role model for my teenagers. I have done 2 cupboards in the kitchen....sounds so little...now need to do 2 more cupboards. I have a huge list and my approach tends to be a pruning exercise...but I have started. I do have undiagnosed adhd I am sure and my dh is worse than me but baby steps...if I think too hard I just freeze and do nothing. Well done op...you are inspiring.

Living alone is hard, and it sounds like you’ve been through a tough time. Big hugs 💐

What a lovely post!! So much stuff on here is so depressing to read. Your strength and courage to post it has made me cry, dont know why - keep going, yr amazing and keep us updated x

Brava OP! Amazing start, you should be really chuffed with yourself 🎉

Great work, well done! Just keep looking at it like that but positively…you’ve cleared a good chunk and can now see some floor. Break it down into small bits and that’s all you need to achieve each time…a little bit more floor.

Well done! Pace yourself though. You probably can't do it all in one day, so keep doing it every day, as much as you can handle and yiu will get there. Then do a bit every day to keep it nice. It will be so lovely when its done!

I'm decluttering, and discovered that there are some fantastic facebook groups for people who are doing everything from just trying to sort out their loft, to people in your position. And I have to say that it's people like you who seem to get benefit from the group most. Sometimes they've just managed to get rid of a single carrier bag of rubbish, but it's recognised by all as an achievement.

They're private groups, too, so no-one is judging. One of them is called Clear the clutter and breathe, but I'm sure there are others.

Good luck OP. I would say the key thing is to not allow sorting to mean it gets temporarily worse - so either take stuff to the tip today or tomorrow or order a skip as someone above suggested.

I think "a slob comes clean" used to be a blog and is now a podcast that you might find helpful to listen to if you wanted.

Sounds like you're making amazing progress already. How many rooms does your house have?

THIS! In bucket 🪣 loads. Been there and I know how hard it is. Keep going OP. You are amazing.

Brilliant OP-you’ve got this!

You can absolutely do it and I am so rooting for you!

My mum is a hoarder and I know how difficult it is and how much it takes to tackle it. But your life will be so improved by doing it.

Well done!!! I can completely relate to your feelings of being overwhelmed. Sending you all good wishes x

Cheering you on from the sidelines too!
when you run out of steam and you’re tired, remember be kind to yourself. You’ve done an amazing job so far!

Wow-keep going!! You’ll feel so proud of yourself when you start to see areas getting better. You can do it!

Good for you! The photo progress idea is a great suggestion. Every one of us has far too much stuff and it’s easy to let it run away out of control. You will begin to feel so much better as you do this! All the clutter and garbage really weighs down your spirit - chucking out is cathartic.

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!

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 👏

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!

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

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.

You've got this OP 💪

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

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