Always glad to help in supportive ways the group here does genuinely try listen and not judge. A small group of peers. I found it much better to check in daily . It keeps me focused. I needed help for years but never had that support to just let out my thoughts. That helped get in the mood to get trash bags and fill me up . Once I most of the trash was separated . I could focus 1 room at time.
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Hi Ash! I'm glad you are here. That's good news that you are able to let go of trash.

I too know the feeling of having too much stuff and I still struggle with it. I would buy multiples of stuff, just in case someone, anyone, needed it. I also have a book habit.

The truly active thread on here is under The Daily Chat and is called What are You Doing Today. We can help you start working on stuf f and can offer encouragement. It is also helpful to read the posts--anything to start your mind in the direction of LESS.

Welcome!

Let it all go. If you find even the slightest will to leave it all behind then you must jump the gun to let it all out. Trust me on this. You are at such a fine point where you actually are even the slightest bit okay with losing your stuff for SOMEONE ELSE. This is perfect and it sounds like this person could mean a lot. Have him help you throw everything out. Its gonna feel so right on the other end when it is all gone youll be able to feel so free. Trust me on this. I know its easier said than done but just do it! Its just stuff, nothing will happen if you throw it out but i has the potential to ruin this relationship then you will never be able to get rid of it for awhile. Take it from me who used to save everything i mean batteries, toothbrushes, fricken toilett paper rolls. Hoarding is a selfish deed. But when a person comes along and lightens that up then thats something special and you need to seize it asap. Hope this helps.

Hey there, I just found this website last night and I saw there is a support group meeting tonight so I am back to check it out.

Thought I'd give a brief intro to my situation. I used to not be a hoarder when I was younger. Well, not in the bats*** crazy way like I am now. It started with toiletries. I always wanted to be "stocked up" so I'd always have at least 3-4 tubes of toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc. The messy hoarding part started whenever I got into a toxic relationship around age 20 (which resulted in divorce). I ended up getting really depressed and would use stuff as my distraction/outlet. Unfortunately, the habit has stuck even though I have been out of that relationship for 10 years. I have depression (which I'm on meds that work now), anxiety (this one seems a bit harder to control), and slight OCD.

I have had times where I've been able to get rid of things, but it just never seems to fully go away. It used to be worse - I'd keep garbage, food, never clean, etc. I have solved those problems for the most part, but I still can't get rid of the excessive clutter. It used to affect just one living space (where it was completely unusable), but now it has spilled its way into every room of the house. I'm able to walk unchallenged through my home, but there are piles in every room. It is embarrassing and I cannot have people over. The apartment landlords and maintenance crew know, but they have never said anything negative to me about it. Don't let that fool you though, it's bad.

I really want to change. I have thoughts and plans of action in my head that never come to fruition. Sometimes I start with good intentions but I get overwhelmed and feel the anxiety creep in so it doesn't go very far. However, I feel like I'm on a deadline now because I am engaged, and though he accepts me for how I am, I do not want him to have to live buried in stuff. It's my stuff and it makes me miserable, I can only imagine how it makes him feel... Before he moves in with me I'd like to get this under control. I do not want to live like this, but I do not know where to start.

Luckily I do not have emotional attachments with most of my belongings, it is more of a financial mental struggle (I paid blahblah money for this, I hate to just lose that money, etc.) I rarely buy new stuff anymore because I am trying to pay off all of my debts so I can start saving for retirement. I hate being poor but in a way it's good because I can't go shopping!

I'm also an artist and a lot of it is supplies that I definitely want to keep, but it's just disorganized and has other clutter mixed in with it. I do not keep trash saying I can make it into something, but I have several tubes of paint, stamps, brushes, palettes, sketchbooks, pencils, etc. (actual supplies) and also craft supplies. I want to be able to use this stuff but I do not have the room because of the hoard!

I'd like to have a professional come in and help me clean but I am unsure how to find the resources. I did have one organizer lady come help me, but she was obviously not specialized in hoarding (she even seemed a bit overwhelmed). Anyways, that's a bit about me.