There was a thread that I was involved in some time ago which was started by someone trying to understand why her Dh kept so much 'stuff' and couldn't throw anything away.
The thread quickly turned into a support thread for many MN hoarders and there was a large support network that evolved from that thread.
Eventually, the thread died and with it, certainly my 'support and encouragement mates' circle...
From other threads where lovely Mumsnetters have supported and given rl help, there have come other hoarders, untidy people and those who are just plain stuck in a rut admitting they have a problem. People like me that have become emotionally attached to stuff and it has taken over their homes and their lives. People that cannot cope after loss of different types (parent, relationship, job etc) and it just turns into one big nightmare ~ it certainly did for me following my relationship breakdown, my Dad dying and another nine people in my life passing away inside 11 months.
Personally, I feel that being unable to let anyone in through my front door means that no one can hurt me; I've pulled up the drawbridge, so no one can get to me and shoot me again.
I've always been a bit of a collector of things. I'm a make do and mend type and I can make something out of nothing. Trouble is that once I started to lose important things (people mainly) from my life, I felt unable to let anything made of something go...what if I could never get or have another?! that'd be terrible right?
So! that is a part of my story and here is a thread of support and encouragement (I hope) for others feeling overwhelmed by their hoarding, clutter and stuff. I am hoping that I can get my life sorted out and that there are others that will come along on the journey and perhaps also sort out their homes and lives.
I want to raise my drawbridge and invite friends in. Anyone else? :)
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The Hoarders Anonymous Thread. Sorting It Out.
Solo · 28/12/2013 17:54
Oh I didn't tell you did I?! when I took a load of stuff to C4C, I also took all the boyish and bright duvet sets! 
, that got rid of loads!
Ha! I can beat that cloutie! 
I was in hospital in '88 for 3 months and collected many mags each week. I also worked in a big newsagents...you can guess what happened! tbf though, I only collected the mags like Me and Prima for the patterns and recipes. Think I only used one pattern though to make someone elses grand daughters dresses...
You can see part of my problem!
Yes! I got rid of my Ds's boyish duvet sets and the bright ones that he also had as a little little one. Dd has princessy ones so didn't need them. Ds is so tall now that I've given him a double quilt.
So, today!!! I started as soon as I got back from the school run and didn't stop for 6 hours! I cleared up the washing up, cleared part of my work top area and cleaned the cooker top which was a disgrace! and I'm usually really fussy over a clean cooker, but had lapsed in recent weeks. I also emptied my tins cupboard because I just can't see the wood for the trees in it iyswim? decided to replace a slatted shelf that I made under the stairs (in the kitchen) with a solid shelf and put all the tins and jars on there. I'm hoping that the pans etc from the shelf will fit in the cupboard I've just emptied. I also emptied my cooker drawer and have cleaned everything that was in there ~ I've had the dishwasher on 3 times today! I also cleaned the loo, the basin and the bathroom window sill, though tbf, I do try to keep those things fairly clean anyway...sooooo...although I've not done much, I've done quite a bit :) ooh! also did a load of washing.
Tomorrow, day 2. More kitchen work for me! if I can get the entire kitchen done, it'll spur me on I hope to start on another room.
I started tackling my mountains of clothes today. I ran out of time in the end and will have to carry on in the weekend, but I filled four binbags for charity. A lot of it still had tags. I am such a hoarder 
we went to visit my parents this week.
unfortunately my mum smokes, not in the house but it permeates everything! we always have to wash or air everything we've taken with us. most if it we did outside, which meant finding a home for lots and lots of damp washing when dark fell!
yesterday, dd emptied an entire shelf of her cupboard, so i had to put it all back. at least I tidied it up whie I was at it. then later zhshe pulled out all of the jars in the kitchen cupboard - no time or inclination to sort those out but it's now on the list...
then she pulled out all the nappies again. 
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i've not really done anything. I did tell dh to sort out his drawers 
dd keeps pulling everything out of them, so he's been sorting them out, putting paperwork/documents away and putti g his everyday stuff in a drawer she can't reach.
and all dd's happyland are in a big box. she helped by putting the duplo jn so more boxesxin the bin!
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