Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

I see you there on the support button @Emelia8 ...hope you're coping 💜

Wondering how you are doing @NatureLover ? 💕

Thank you so much, dear @Bow ❤️

I've fallen in a bit of a hole over the weekend...not coping with the house again, not facing even small things.

But I've made a little schedule for myself to do the 15 minutes per day of 'extra' tidying, so I can record whether I do it or not.

Hoping you're coping OK...about to pop over and see...

I’m sorry you’ve fallen in a bit of a hole over the weekend @NatureLover

I’ll never understand the struggle you face on a daily basis. Having things tidy and in order for me is a control thing. I feel very out of control if there is mess for me. My room is always clean and tidy but shared spaces in our house I really struggle with.

Do decluttering and cleaning lists help you? I’ve seen many around the place, some as simple as cleaning a certain draw one day and a shelf on another day?

💕💕

Hello @NatureLover I think there will always be good days and not-so-good days.

I hope your schedule helps. Tracking activities - maybe a bit like point scoring - helps me. I use an app.

It's unfortunate your friend couldn't help last week. Have you been able to donate or list the things you sorted? Getting that done - to lock in that progress - might give you a boost. I felt better after getting a few more things to the opshop.

It's not always easy. I get that. I'm tired and depressed atm but hey one foot in front of the other we'll get there.

Hi @NatureLover

Just scanning the posts and come across your thread. I haven't read it all so just wanted to contribute. I had weird OCD traits when having anxiety attacks - like I could see every speck of dust and dirt in the place, and I just fixated on it. But the anxiety attacks were caused by my medication so all ok now. Sorry, but it seems strange to me to be germophobe + hoarder? I would think the hoarding would introduce more dust and dirt etc? One side of my family were happy hoarders (no rubbish, just piles of stuff everywhere) and the other side were classic neat and tidy. Trying to bridge those 2 in my mind growing up was hard. I chose to be somewhere in between, I like having stuff around that is useful and meaningful but I do get rid of stuff to op shops or sell online. I think in my family's case it was the classic 'Depression generation' and keeping everything was a way of life for many. I still have family members that hoard, I think it makes them feel relaxed somehow. For me it creates mental stimulation and also the tv shows that buy and sell things taught me that I can buy something, then sell it again later if I no longer want it. The items no longer control me.

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@Bow wrote:

Do decluttering and cleaning lists help you? I’ve seen many around the place, some as simple as cleaning a certain draw one day and a shelf on another day?

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Thanks for your reply @Bow . Decluttering schedules like you mentioned don't generally work for me, as my priorities might be to make a narrow pathway bigger and less hazardous, not to sort out a drawer. Drawers and shelves need to be sorted and the contents reduced, but they don't seem urgent like the rest of the stuff.

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@Bow wrote:

I’ll never understand the struggle you face on a daily basis. Having things tidy and in order for me is a control thing.

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Strangely enough, the germophobia is a control thing, but it actually ends up with my house being out of control, as stuff piles up waiting to be disinfected! I actually think the hoarding is also a control thing (to protect from trauma), but it clashes with the germophobia.

I really appreciate your interest anmd care, despite not understanding my issues ❤️

@Dimity , you're lovely, thank you ❤️

Yes, I was able to list some stuff on the free local sites, and get rid of it that way. I'm also planning to take a box to the Opp Shop later this morning or Friday morning.

I'm really struggling to achieve my 15 minutes a day on the extra stuff. I think it's because in the past I've had to psych up for days, weeks or months to tackle it. That's why I'm trying to make a new habit of just tackling it without much preparation.

I'm sorry you're tired and depressed 😞 That really saps motivation. How are you feeling today?

Hi @justanotherguy , thanks for your post.

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@justanotherguy wrote:

Hi @NatureLover

Sorry, but it seems strange to me to be germophobe + hoarder?

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Yes, and they clash! The stuff piles up in my house waiting for me to face disinfecting it all. 😞

It sounds like you are well balanced in terms of possesions 🙂

Hello @NatureLover I'm glad the free to local listings worked. I agree it's not easy, especially when we're low.

Interesting what you said about control and how having stuff protects against trauma. For me I think I have to disentangle how having stuff has buffered against past or present or future trauma. Sometimes it's avoidance, sometimes it's clinging to associations - so it's complicated. And so facing it is intrinsically anxiety inducing. I'm not sure what the answer is. The helper keeps me going but in between times I need a bit more than the mood/activity tracker. Do you reward yourself for your achievements? It's something I'm pondering. Even music while I'm working maybe. Thanks for this opportunity to reflect on it. I'd be interested in your thoughts.