Hoarding And Clutter

[Grama-Herc]

OH, now don't get me wrong. I still have that lived in look, just that now it looks like "anyone" could live in it. And for god sakes, don't open any of the closet doors. LOL

I had forgotten how really cool my bedroom looked. It is a rather fabulous place, if I do say so myself!

 

[Deleted member 541]

So Herc......When we swapped pictures of "our worlds", WHERE did you hide all of the stuff, and clutter???? In the pictures, your place looked pretty clean and tidy......

 

[Grama-Herc]

Well, unfortunately, my world got very cluttered and messy again. As it usually does. I have issues with putting things back where they belong when I'm through with them. I can't even get items in the room they came from let alone put them away when I'm through with them.

I have "1" good sized closet tht is so full of Christmas crap you can barely open the door. Way to much stuff. Every year, the after Christmas sales get me and I buy more. I love to decorate. Our apt. complex has a decorating contest and I always win. I love doing my patio. The old people who live here love to see"what I did this year"! !

I have another closet, same size, FULL of crafting crap. Only problem is I don't craft anymore!! Yet, I keep all the supplies. I have not crafted in at least 6 years, maybe longer. YEP! Still got all the crap!!!

I have another closet that is huge. It is full of crap ceiling to floor. This one is stuff that might be worth something some day. Stuff I remember being around when I was a kid. Things I bought at antique and collectible shops to hold onto. ???????

I don't know??? It was just one phase of my hoarding!! Now I can't bring myself to get rid of the crap. I really look at the stuff as money. It might be worth something some day! How sick is that?

As I look back on what I have written, I see things I was aware of, but just chose to ignore. OH YIPPEE! :crazy: I've given birth to yet another "issue". So will this result in another pill?

I am truly a mess.

 

[AmberEyes]

I realize I am a hoarder and it really started getting bad when my marriage started going bad. I would buy things (little things like soap, lotion, craft supplies) and hide them. When my marriage ended I went out and bought large amounts of things like laundry detergent, soap, toothpaste...It was strange.

When this latest relationship ended I had a strange desire to get rid of things. I had a large book collection and sold most of it. I took several loads of things to charity.

Now I am somewhat paralyzed....Not able to clean. I used to be what my mother called "nasty clean" and kept things overly clean and organized.

Right before all the drama with my exBF we had moved into a house that was pretty filthy and parts of it still are. They had several animals in the house....Up to 30 dogs and we figured that they had not cleaned the place in at least 15 years. I still have to deal with some of that mess, but I cannot even manage to do the dishes.

I know if I can get my home orderly then my brian will feel more orderly. There is so much to be done that I am totally overwhelmed.

In the past I have read some good books by Don Alsett on reducing clutter.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Amber

You said the ONE thing that keeps us frozen in our world of clutter. "OVERWHELMED"

The only way to combat this feeling is to do a little bit each day. Start in a corner and work your way out. No set time limit---no set amount to clear-----just chip away at it, at your own pace It is slow, but it works.

Hang in there. Personlly, I am an avid football fan. So I did some decluttering while the game was on. I would listen for an increase in the fan roar, I'd watch and then go back to cleaning. Didn't get much done, but a .little bit of crap found its' way to the donation box.

 

[catjudo]

I'm not a hoarder but definitely have a clutter problem around my house. Sometimes it's a matter of PTSD and depression symptoms immobilizing me and I let things start to pile up. When I am able to get myself together enough to clean up, I then generally get a lot taken care of but not everything. Over time the little things that I don't take care of start to accumulate and before you know it the house is a disaster and I am completely overwhelmed.

The last time my house got like that my mom came to visit for the weekend and helped me get back on top of things. One thing is for sure, when my house is clean and orderly I feel so much better. I know that I feel better and every time I tell myself that I won't let it get that bad again. But inevitably I end up back in the same situation.

 

[Grama-Herc]

I can definitely identify with the piling up of clutter. How I got to be so sloppy and why I quit putting my "toys" away I will never know.

But I have. The crazy part of all this is I keep my moms' world neat and tidy. Of course right now it is not due to all the medical supplies we need, but those don't count.

However, I am a little scared by a statement I made to mother last night. Seems I
am going to hang on to ALL this medical stuff, in case I need it later for myself.

Please tell me I am not now hoarding wheelchairs and walkers :eek:

 

[champuli1]

OMG!!! I feel like every one of these posts could have come straight out of my own brain!!!

The stacks, the hoarding 'in case I might need it later on', the total overwhelm now when I think of doing something about this mess........ aaaaiiiiieeeeee!!

I tried flylady - loved her philosophy but I, too, was completely overwhelmed by the number of emails, etc.

Side note: (BTW, does anyone else hoard emails? I seem incapable of deleting emails - I can delete spam but not emails from people I know. Good grief!! <sigh> [I did delete the flylady emails, though - hehehe]).

And also, we are basically living with my mom-in-law right now (Alzheimer's) and I am neat to the point of compulsive about keeping everything tidy and uncluttered here at her house; but yet, when I return to our house every week or two for a few days, I immediately go right back to overwhelm when I think of tackling my own mess. bleh...

Grama-Herc, I literally laughed aloud at your "Please tell me I am not now hoarding wheelchairs and walkers" comment. THAT IS ME!!!! Should we just promise ourselves right now that, when our elders are finished with them, the canes, walkers, and wheelchairs go OUT!?? Bwahaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha!
(but.... but..... what if we NEED them some day?....<g>)

Thanks, everybody for all of these posts - I can't believe there are so many others who are in this situation and feel such similar things about it. I actaully feel quite inspired at the moment. [now... if I can just 'hold that inspiration' until the next time I'm home....] :)

~ big-ol'-forum-hug to all y'all ~

 

[Grama-Herc]

Well, with the holidays upon us, I thought it might be time to open this thread again.

As hoarders, we need to be reminded! ! ! Don't bring anything else into our space til there IS SPACE.

I looked up yesterday and realized my world was in chaos AGAIN! ! This is a constant fight for me. My world is an embarrassing mess. Why???????? I am just overwhelmed again.

So, my fellow hoarders, let's get busy and clear those paths and fill at least "1"
box to donate.

 

[Grainne]

Hahah..well timed Grama-Herc! I JUST spent the day yesterday staring at my boxes of Christmas decorations. I had to go to the barn to get them (you guys think you are bad with your spare rooms!?? I have a BARN full of stuff...lol) and it took alot, but I did it. Then, I couldn't face opening the boxes...so there they still sit.

I manage to keep my house pretty tidy, but, in all honesty, I think it's because I have so much storage space. If it's in my way, it's easy to shove it in the barn. I don't live in it..so, I don't have to look at it. (I can actually feel my husband rolling his eyes at me right now).

xo Grainne

 

[Hen]

I have a cleaner for the main bits as I can manage working bit but lose it at home. I have too many memories of housekeeping as a child. I had way to many chores as a child and the others did not have to do it and i had significant physical punishment and isolation if i didn't do them so I chose not to do it at the moment.

I hoard food too, I have enough in fridges and freezers to feed us for months, I panic if I think we may run out of something - again related to yuk food and having to ask even for a drink as a child. I wish I could move on but hopefully in time I will.

 

[Grama-Herc]

Hen,

You are ahead of the game. You are aware of the issue of hoarding but the reason why. That is such a plus for you. Many people never "get it" as they say.

I know I have the potential to be a severe hoarder, don't know why?---but at least I am aware and do try to keep it under control.

Don't know if this is an issue in your country but here in the US, they are finding more and more people living in horrendous situations because of their hoarding problem. It has actually been determined to be a legitimate mental illness.

And where are my holiday decorations you ask? All Over The Living Room. LOL :rofl: