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,, just keep going slow and steady. It's hard work just cleaning.outba cupboard sometimes so you are doing great.
You will feel so much better when you've made a dent in it, and it will be so much easier to keep tidy.

Well, well done.

In haste, so haven’t read the full thread.

But I recommend:

TOMM - the organised mother method (also for non-mothers!)

on Facebook - the Neuridivergent Cleaning Crew, etc

There are lots of resources out there.. you are not alone!

Well done xx

I am going to try to do this tomorrow. I only have one room to do so it should be easy, should be........

Congratulations on taking steps to improve your life! It takes a lot to make big changes, and it sounds like you've gotten of to an amazing start!

Bless you you're doing great. Don't beat yourself up either it's an illness and it's fantastic you are pushing yourself to sort it

Keep up the good work and don't lose sight of how absolutely amazing you are going to feel afterwards, in a much easier, uncluttered, environment.

Cheering you on here, you have done so well already! I hope you get your lovely clean bed and self today!

Well done , proud of you and you've turned a corner in making a start, don't give up now ,
We're all here willing you to see this through bit by bit , you deserve to treat yourself tonight for what you've achieved 😊

Congratulations on making a start, that really is fantastic! Now congratulate yourself (be kind to yourself) and use the positive thoughts to keep going, just a small area at a time and hopefully it won’t be just so overwhelming.

This is a great post! Well done you - you have made an amazing start and you can continue this process just filling those bags one by one.

Well done for making a start.

My Mum and Dad divorced, and my Mum had to sell the house and move to a flat.

She had never been any good at organisation/housework, and we didn't have particularly good relationship. I was an older mother at 42, working full time with two toddlers and she did used to come to us for lunch on a Sunday. One day I went round to surprise her and she wasn't home, so I let myself in - OMG. I cried my eyes out. The veg rack absolutely stunk with rotten carrots and potatoes with food long legs, and there were about twelve milk bottle in different stages of decay with dead blue bottles floating in the milk. I rang my aunt who came round to help me sort it all out and clean - when my Mum came home she admitted to being depressed and couldn't care less. I used to go round once a week after this to help tidy/clean.

Well done. Take it one small step at a time. Taking photos is a good idea, you can look back at the progress you've made.

One room at a time. You can do it.

Every bin bag filled is one chunk of the load lifted. You are doing great. I'm proud of you for persevering. It's hard and you have stuck to it! Well done. Reward yourself with a long hot soak later x you got this x

Well Done!! Keep us updated 🥰 you’ve done the hard part in starting, now you need to keep going. We’re all with you xx

To do that much all on your own is a fantastic achievement. Put your favourite music on and continue. Well done 👊

What a great start. You've already found the kind of treasure that remind you of happy times. I'm sure there will be more!
Do you use Vinted? Perhaps when you go through your clothes you can sell things you no longer need/want on there and use anything to make to buy some nicer things you do need.

Well done for getting off to such a good start, even if you can't finish a whole room just commit to sorting one cupboard a day or a wardrobe, it'll soon add up.

It really brightens my mood when I've tidied up even though I hate doing it with a passion and things get pretty messy at times.

Perhaps think of a little thing you can buy when each room is done, maybe a duvet cover for your bedroom or a new dinner set for your kitchen or cushions for your sofa.
You can get lovely things from the charity shops too, I got a new lamp for £3 this week that looks brand new.

You've got this!

You are incredible! The way I read it was that after 2 years you have taken the amazing step of doing this - that is so hard and you have done it! just amazing!

I was watching a programme that said the bedroom is a good place to start. Dust and bacteria buildup actually mean your body is constantly fighting to stay healthy which knackers you and thus makes you less likely to want to clean. By having a fresh room hopefully you’ll sleep better and tomorrow you’ll wake up and the first thing you’ll see is the change you made and what an absolute legend you are.

Did you know that there are professional declutterers some of whom specialise in hoarding behaviour...

You don't need to share with people you know, but you might appreciate the help!

https://www.apdo.co.uk/find-an-organiser.html

Nah you are not So Effing Overwhelmed you are So Effing Smashing It. What an amazing start. It's been like that for 2 years? So what, it's not going to be like it for another two weeks if you carry on like this! You can't change the past, you can change the future, so keep focused on that.
As someone who found your post unbearably relatable, remember part of hoarding is difficulty making decisions and procrastination, so keep the energy up with all those brilliantly sorted bags and boxes and get them out of the house and to the tip pronto.

Go you!!!!!

A huge step just mustering enough courage and energy to say enough is enough.

To have started - and have an end goal for a room is AMAZING.

Just remember you don't need to do anything you aren't ready for - and be proud of yourself for everything you do manage.

well done you so far!

sorting this out will involve moving thousands of individual items and will take some time but each move is small and simple and it doesn't matter what order you do it in. Just focus on whatever is easiest for you like finding and binning items with visible mold or old food, or recycling to go out, or whatever. You will also get some exercise doing it so that is a positive too. Put on some music and try to enjoy it.

If you are faced with having to make a decision about something and it whips up bad feelings just put it to the side and keep on the things that are easy to toss or organize. By the time you get to the tough decisions you will have the wind at your back having made such good progress.

Well done!!! You’re doing great