Hoarding - A New Start

Goldiegirl

nightsong wrote: »

On the plus side, my appetite for buying new stuff seems to be shrinking daily.

I've noticed that too.

Last week I was looking in the shops, and saw a lovely tunic top, which would go very well with some leggings that I have.

I nearly bought it, but then I thought, I still haven't worn that other new tunic top that goes well with the very same leggings.

I've still got more clothes than I really need, so I managed to stop adding to my wardrobe.

I was pleased with myself

zzzLazyDaisy

blossomhill wrote: »

If you are dependent on a carer for bulky things I think you will find them much more responsive if you have fewer things to plough through and a clear idea of what decluttering task needs to be done each day as you will make better use of their time - you've obviously had to be quite focused in your professional life so you will enjoy getting back on track in your home
life too

That's a good point, thanks. I am very blessed with two amazing carers who go above and beyond for me. But often I just let them get on with whatever they think needs doing as I am too exhausted to muster up the motivation to get involved and lets face it, decluttering isn't something that I can just leave them to get on with (one of them would enthusiastically get rid of every bit of *junk* in my house in one fell swoop:eek:) So yes, I need to plan for a little and often.

Dx

Pitlanepiglet

Nightsong, have you looked around to see if there are any craft groups around you? We have just started one in our town and it's fab, we only have to cover the cost of room hire so it's a cheap night; the plan is to use the skills and experience of those who can do things and to share skills amongst ourselves - so on our first meeting I got taught to knit (having not knitted in 30 years!) and at the next one we're going to do some papercraft activities.

I wonder if there is something similar close to you as your skills would be hugely beneficial to those trying to learn and your pattern stash would be popular as well.

This_Year

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

(one of them would enthusiastically get rid of every bit of *junk* in my house in one fell swoop:eek:) .

Send her over! I'm having a "walls closing in on me day" and I could scream.

whitewing

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

one of them would enthusiastically get rid of every bit of *junk* in my house in one fell swoop:eek:

Dx

Ah yes, but they will be delighted to come in to a big heap of 'stuff to go' in the middle of the room, or on a table or some other designated place, and know that anything there must be spirited away. It would be like having a Declutter Fairy. You'll get a lot of momentum if you can have a dumping ground and someone else sort out where it is to be rehomed. I can almost feel the smiles from here.

We still have 2 big bags of confidential waste for burning from yesterday sitting in our dining room. I wish someone would spirit that away.

blossomhill_2

I cut some things off at the pass today - I did some gardening and usually let things that have self seeded sprawl out into the paths until in summer I can't get by some of them, esp if it's wet, or the back paths tend to end up as 9th squares and I dump stuff out of sight there
Today I was ruthless and cut them out before they can develop and make me feel sorry for them, same with branching perennials and small shrubs, I cut the stems back so they can't encroach or even poke through neighbours' fence
I feel as though the lessons I am learning indoors are useful outside too and I look forward to a summer with clear paths and open views

MrsAtobe

(Delurks)

Hello everyone, my name is MrsAtobe and I am a hoarder.

I have read the previous thread (well, most of it) and I want to say thank you to everyone who posted on it, you have given me an understanding of why I do it (perfectionist tendencies, loss at an early age, etc.) which makes dealing with it a little easier.

We will be moving into a new house soon, and I am determined that I am not taking any richard with me! I'm still trying to de-Richard this house, and also to deal with the kipple - paperwork is my bugbear at the moment.

Hugs to everyone who needs them today.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

nightsong wrote: »

the

Ooh, challenging!

Well, I'm certainly not going to keep the whole hoard. But it's going to take a while to get rid of, say, three-quarters of it. Then I can reassess. Knitting has been part of my life for a long time so a) there's an awful lot of stuff - not only the yarn, but needles (hundreds of pairs), patterns (two filing cabinets full), books (two shelves of same), bags, buttons, knit-in lace, crochet hooks etc etc, all of which will take time to dispose of, and b) losing my attachment to it will take time too. I'm well aware of times in the past when I've "made" myself get rid of things before I was ready. It's totally counter-productive.

By the way, my house is perfectly livable. I just have a massive amount of stuff of various kinds. I also live in the country where houses tend to be bigger so there is plenty of room to spread it around. My issue is not that of a hoarder who can't function normally, but still I DO have strong hoarding leanings and use stuff to fulfill emotional needs when there are healthier ways to get those needs met. That's really why I'm here.

I'm aware that there's a problem for us with hoarding tendencies, to want to hang on to stuff that we no longer need, and to use any excuse to do so - is this what you're getting at, Jojo? I also know that it's easy to rationalise keeping what we don't need.

The key thing for me is "Not bringing more in". That's my mantra and I'm doing well with it. Much more has gone out than come in this year so far, but since I'm not forcing myself to get rid of anything I really don't want to, so far I'm not missing anything that's gone. It's an organic process I think. Baby steps and all that

I'm getting at whether it is good or harmful to keep something. Whether you have a palace or a shoebox.

I don't do it to be nasty. My example is to ask whether keeping it might actually cause more pain in the long run. If it doesn't, good. But if you don't ask, you might never realise whether something is doing that.

This_Year

Having a quick sort behind the dressing table. 5 bottles of contact lens solution with BBE 12/2010 :eek:

lostinrates

I know I have been not doing much, but I have managed to compile another ikea bag for the clothing bank.

I have decided to clothing bank in future rather than charity shop, I just think for me it's easier.