Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

The lawyer did get it right, thanks, @Dimity . But they should, as it's only a simple Will and I made only a couple of changes.

After I got home I fell in a slump and didn't do my 3 daily tasks. Will have to catch up today.

I've also got an in-person psychiatrist appt at the hospital late this afternoon, unless he cancels on me again like last month. Not looking forward to the germy hospital and all the washing and showering afterwards.

Plus it's a work day so too much on.

What do you have planned for today? Hope you are feeling up to it 🤞

I'm in a slump too @NatureLover .

I hope your psychiatrist saw you, and you've recovered from the hospital visit.

I have another substitute home help coming tomorrow so will have to attend to chores beforehand. I don't really feel up to it.

Sorry you're in a slump, @Dimity 😥

The psychiatrist didn't cancel on me, so I went for my annual in-person appt. Glad that's over for another year. Before that I had a good day at work, with only one minor technological problem.

I didn't do my 3 daily tasks again yesterday, so that's two days in a row. Must catch up on them today, plus my 3 weekly tasks today as well. That sounds like a lot, to me. The monthly tasks are scheduled for Saturdays.

My psychiatrist suggested yesterday that I use AI to help my productivity!! Err, no, I won't be doing that! (I'm not a fan of AI.)

Did you manage some chores last night before your substitute home help comes today? I hope you feel up to it, if you're doing them this morning. Also that whoever you get is nice and scrubs the shower properly.

Sending you wishes for energy and motivation 🤞

I mistrust AI too @NatureLover buf had gotten accustomed to predictive text, which was often helpful. It's been stripped from Android I think.

6 tasks today sounds a lot.

I did my chores this morning but it didn't save me from humiliation. The substitute home help commented on the expense of my hair colour (it's natural, so streaky grey must be desirable, who knew). I got lectured on my mental health and how to declutter within a week. And caught sight of part of a written instruction on 'negotiating' with me. I don't understand. I only ask for 3 things. Every time Vacuum, mop, clean shower.

I'm still finding my old papers painful and can only read a few at a time. I constantly feel shattered by the past and present but all I can do is chip away and hope to emerge to the other side.

I trust your boxes won't be as difficult.

I've been looking at hoarding support online and at this stage in my recovery don't really identify with what I've seen (but would have in the past).

I'm pretty confused. I know I'm depressed. I wonder what I should do. I'd prefer to keep going, but I wonder whar's happening. I have a appointment with my psychologist in 3 weeks.

My usual home help might be back in a fortnight.

@NatureLover .

I'm shocked and horrified @Dimity at what that home help (and other home helps) see fit to say to you. How they judge you. I am so sorry, that should never have happened. 😭

Did the home help vacuum, mop and clean the shower like you asked?

It's definitely NOT their place to comment or judge you. Declutter in a week?! I've never heard anything so ridiculous. It's actually cruel.

Are you looking forward to your regular home help returning? Or not?

I understand the weight of those papers and how you can only do a few at a time. That's still progress and a victory.

Interesting what you said about hoarding support online - do you mean you don't identify as a hoarder as it's presented online? I'm thinking that if this is the case, you've made huge progress.

It sounds like you're confused about what's happening to you? I'm sorry 😥🫂

I woke up late today and had to do a few things before going out to coffee at 10.30. I had to write and post a card, and make notes from a library book that was due back today. All done, but I didn't have time to get online on the forums.

It's a beautiful sunny day, but it was chilly this morning.

I'm trying to psych up for my test tomorrow at a hospital. The blood tests were inconclusive, so I picked up the medication and will have to take it at the hospital. My previous allergic symptoms were a rash, so I'm really hoping I don't have to get undressed in front of the male allergist! Also the hospital is a long way away and parking is bad and I have to walk a long way.

I need to try and catch up on my tasks today.

Unfortunate they can't test your allergy another way. Good luck.

The facebook group I found was for extreme hoarders - level 4 or 5. I've known someone in that situation who hasn't really improved and rejects offers of help.

I'm much better than I was. No stash of newspapers or plastic bags and no goat tracks now. I've decluttered a lot. I never had kneedeep discarded food wrappings or inaccessible or unusable household utilities like the person I knew. But I still have too much stuff across my place and elsewhere and don't know how it all once fitted here. I guess the answer is the goat tracks.

My place is shabby but reasonably clean, especially when I remember to deal with unnoticed dust and cobwebs.

I am a hoarder. I no longer acquire stuff. I'm recovering but still have a long way to go. I'm possibly halfway but I've plateaued and feel I need paid help again. I also need more help from my psychologist. In the meantime I'll persevere with my mood and activity tracker. Your commitment to new daily weekly and monthly targets reminds me I need to try again to establish workable routines.

I'd thought my dietician appt was today but it's next week. I've waited months.

I'm sorry you're back to the hospital tomorrow. Be brave.

I know the sort of thing you mean by extreme hoarders, @Dimity . i used to watch those TV shows about them.

Is your psychologist a help with the hoarding? I know you're focussed on other things with her.

I've definitely slipped with my new routines - 5 days now without doing the 3 daily tasks (except laundry). It's a work day today so I'll have to catch up on the weekend.

Thanks for your wishes for my penicillin test at the hospital today.

Well done for all the progress you've made on the hoarding over years. 👏

Well, I'm at the hospital and have taken my penicillin. I now have to wait for an hour in the waiting room. It was very stressful getting here - the hospital is 50 minutes away, and then I couldn't find a car park anywhere near in the streets nearby. I was nearly late. Bit calmer now. I really hope I'm no longer allergic to penicillin.

I hope your day is going OK.

@Dimity

Hi @NatureLover that does sound stessful. I hope you're not in the ER waitingroom with people coughing and sneezing... I guess you're probably in a smaller departmental one. Glad your likely reaction is a rash not anaphylaxis.

I'm currently trying to overcome freeze/inertia. I'll get a cuppa and start moving. But keep an ear out for any notifications from you. Happy to chat.