R u a Hoarder to?

Hi @BlueBells , thank you so much for your response to my clicking the "support button", after 7 years! I was disappointed to find this thread was from 2016, as I would love to chat to some other hoarders.

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@BlueBells wrote:
I did lol. About 7 years ago and I haven't made a lot of progress . Working on it though.

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Hoarding is so difficult to tackle 😢 and there don't seem to be many other people on the forums here with it. I've been here 3+ years.

It sounds as though you have worked on the "incoming" and have had some success - well done. I recently stopped - well, slowed - the "incoming" too.

Am here if you'd like to chat about it 🙂

Hi @BlueBells , thanks for your reply 🙂

I didn't think that was criticising at all.

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@BlueBells wrote:
Simple things, like having six months supply of several items in the cupboard, only to have some go way beyond 'best use' date. This often occurs when spotted on special and the brain wasn't quick enough to say "hey, there are already four in the cupboard!"

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I also buy mulitples! And there is not much storage in this small unit, so the groceries end up staying in their bags on the floor, where I trip over them 😣 I also have food obsessions, so I change instantly to another food, only to have mulitples of the previous food going out of date. My psychologist has me donating the excess food every now and then to the local food bank.

Do you have friends / family / professional support for your hoarding?

Hi @BlueBells , I was actually asking whether you have any support! Do you have a psychologist, or family or friends that are understanding enough to help with your hoarding?

I have one friend who is very understanding, and comes round when I am unable to cope. She sits there and gives feedback when I ask for it, and doesn't try to take over and make decisions for me. She's great.

Today I'd like to tackle the small kitchen bench, and / or try to find a handyman, as my last one retired.

Good luck today with your tasks...

P.S. I'm usually only around in the early mornings, as my psychologist has me limiting my time on the forums since I burnt out in 2020.

Hi @BlueBells , what's "fibro biting"?

I gave my psychologist the workbook 'Buried in Treasures: Help for Compulsive Acquiring, Saving and Hoarding' by Tolin, Frost and Steketee. She has been helping me for years with the hoarding and we have had good success.

I was able to overcome the acquiring of new things, it was just the getting rid of that was hard. But I even managed that. Then last September (a year ago) I started acquiring again...then about 2 months ago I was able to stop again. But it means that I now have 40 boxes in my neighbour's shed to dispose of and I can't face them at the moment 😢

I didn't achieve any sorting out yesterday, so am going to try again today.

What are your aims for tackling your hoard?

So sorry that you have fibromyalgia, @BlueBells 😢

My house isn't like on the show 'Hoarders' either, but there are narrow goat paths in the kitchen and lounge-room, and sometimes it's hard to access the kitchen sink, and the stove and kitchen benches are covered with stuff so I can't cook.

I don't have a TV by choice, so didn't know there was an Australian show called Space Invaders.

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@BlueBells wrote:
As you know, that person needs to be special, they need to be trustworthy, non-critical, supportive. You understand what I mean.

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Yes, the person who helps has to be all those things. I've had helpers mock me in the past and say things like, "Why are you keeping THAT?!" I hope you can find someone. If not, then I can help virtually if you like, by being a tidying buddy. I know it helps me if I can report in to someone what I've achieved / not achieved.