Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

Glad you're feeling better and more positive @NatureLover . Interesting the iron is helping. Hope you're eating mushrooms too for B12, vegetarians can be deficient.

Today was another lost day apart from seeing the gp. I got another test result and i managed to get a referral to a cardiologist,

I've been wondering what to do, whether to press my helper or move on. I'm not sure whether I can get the help I need through the agency or whether I should risk Airtasker re help with the stuff offsite. It's been nice to have weekly visits but it's an indulgence.

Tomorrow I must press on. Declutter, garden, paperwork. And I need to get to a bookshop for gifts sometime soon.

Thank you, dear @Eve7 ❤️

Sending 💛 and hugs back!

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@Dimity wrote:

I've been wondering what to do, whether to press my helper or move on. I'm not sure whether I can get the help I need through the agency or whether I should risk Airtasker re help with the stuff offsite. It's been nice to have weekly visits but it's an indulgence.

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I'm wondering whether you can press your helper, and then if it doesn't work, you know to get someone else in? Sounds like you don't have much to lose at this point, with her...

It sounds like your GP visit went OK?

I accidentally bought an iron tablet that has B12 in it as well - I didn't have my glasses on! So that helps. I also do have some plain B12 tablets. I virtually never cook, but when I do I like mushrooms in pasta or curry.

Since I last reported to you I've done the vacuuming and cleaned the bathroom basin and toilet. Next task scrubbing the shower (uuuurrrkk!).

Good luck with your 4 tasks today... 🤞

@Dimity 💚

Well done on the cleaning @NatureLover I'm very impressed by the amount you've been getting through lately. I've not really got back to decluttering yet. Today I weeded and did my 2022 tax return. I have pangs about the decluttering and need to be braver, I'm finding it quite difficult to face. It's been a long time since I've made much progress.

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@Dimity wrote:

Well done on the cleaning @NatureLover I'm very impressed by the amount you've been getting through lately.

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It's the threat of the upcoming rental inspection that's motivating me!

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@Dimity wrote:

Today I weeded and did my 2022 tax return.

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Those are both dreadful tasks to me, so well done 👋

I can see you're stuck on the decluttering. I was also stuck on the mess on my hallway and kitchen floors, and couldn't face them for many weeks, as you know. Something that helped me was rearranging the mess... By picking up the boxes / junk to stack better so it wouldn't all fall over into my path, I got a bit inspired to just deal with one or two of the easier things. Do you think that would help you? A bit similar to the "Do 5 or 10 minutes then stop" method of getting started.

Today I have to face the bathroom floor and the shower. 😣

I think it's going to be a bit sunny today, so I hope you can also get out into your garden for some garden therapy. @Dimity

@NatureLover @Dimity

I can relate to what you are saying. It is the first time I am facing this. I guess I am not alone. I used to be able to clean my room as a kid after I would have a tantrum if i couldnt find something (history of trauma). Now I dont do that any more. I just cant face the clutter or the mess.

It started in 2020 when my dad got really sick and then mum. I was the primary carer - no one else for support. I looked up hoarding and clutter on youtube and it is due to trauma - you are just overwhelmed and it is totally normal. It is not that I dont do anything. I mowed the lawn today. I wash the dishes and clean the bathroom, do the cooking - most of the time. I did some weeding last week. It is the clutter and vaccuuming that I avoid. I guess it will come in time.

Yes I am stuck @NatureLover ... yes tidying/rearranging or getting through at least 8 items are good ways to start, they've worked for me before. Not sure why I didn't get onto it today. I guess I was distracted.

@scruffypuffball it can't be easy. I left my place to care for my parents and stayed on another couple of years after my mother died, until my father moved into aged care. Dealing with my stuff often resurfaces old and current family fractures... it's complicated. Just seeing it reminds me of my failures and inadequacies. I gotta grasp the nettle.

I'm trying to keep up with housework and garden but am usually a bit behind as I'm a bit low on spoons ("spoon theory")... it's both physical and mental. Maybe I could save the last spoon of the day for a quantum of clearance.

Tomorrow I'll aim to catch up on today's chores, do a little gardening and - yes - a quantum of decluttering.

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@Dimity wrote:

Yes I am stuck @NatureLover ... yes tidying/rearranging or getting through at least 8 items are good ways to start, they've worked for me before. Not sure why I didn't get onto it today. I guess I was distracted.

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I hope something will click and you can get unstuck, @Dimity . 🤞 It's interesting that your best system seems to be to do a little every day, whereas mine seems to be to psych up and do a lot all at once, then nothing for a while!

The memories attached to stuff are hard to process and deal with - you have my empathy.

Hoping you have a few more spoons today... 🤞

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@scruffypuffball wrote:

I looked up hoarding and clutter on youtube and it is due to trauma - you are just overwhelmed and it is totally normal.

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Yes, I agree, @scruffypuffball . I wish more people knew that.

I am sorry to hear about all your trauma 😢

@NatureLover @scruffypuffball I tidied for half an hour last night... my quantum for the day

Sun and blue sky here today