Another web site can show you what level you are, I often go to the website IOCDF. The website posted here: http://www.ocfoundation.org/hoarding/welcome.aspx

From there you can browse around there too and find out alot too.

I haven't decided yet. Considering my financial situation, I might instead try to recruit some friends to help out in exchange for free pizza.

good for you Karl, are you going to have experts work for you?

Ronnie, I had the experts come in to give me a free assessment; they were able to tell me what level they thought it was.

Hi Ronnie,
The levels of hoarding can be found on the Institute for Challenging Disorganizations website. Basically, there are 5 levels, 1 being very minor clutter to level 5 being completely full, possible rodents/insects/biohazard, rooms not able to be entered etc. Just realize the number or level isn't really important to you as an individual. What should be more important to you is are you in a safe and functional home. At the end of the day, we need to be happy with ourselves, but while stuff may give you comfort, you just need to not cross the line into an unsafe environment. Hope that helps and glad you have joined us!

Hi I am new to the board. How do you know what level you are? Hope to find some help without going to a dr. Don't have funds for that. I know I am a hoarder and also live with my mother that is as well. It makes it even harder if I throw something out she brings it back in . Nice to be able to talk about this with people that understand.

HI Karl :)

Hi -- some of you might know me from yesterday's chat session; it was very helpful. I've just recently acknowledged that I am a hoarder, and I'm hoping to do something about it now.

I haven't browsed the rest of the forum yet. I saw that there was a "WHY do you hoard", but I'd be curious to see "WHAT do you hoard" as well -- is there already a place for that?

HI Eileen :)

Hi Tillie,

Just found you, think this board is great. I will be stopping by more often. I have been in a bad flare for a week now, and have a bad toothache, but when I get these things taken care of will be back. Thank you to Cory for providing these excellent boards to help this problem. Talk to you later.

I'm making my way over from the other board because I need a little more advice and support.

I've recently moved my mother in with me after cleaning out her apartment, which I'd characterize as a level 2 hoard. (I cleaned out her house before that.) She's down to one room now, my spare bedroom, and I'm really anxious for the same thing not to happen again.

Hi, Cory and Tillie and anyone else I've missed!

Hi Annie :)

Welcome!

Sounds like you are doing a GREAT job getting started clearing out!

Best to never use expired medicines because they can become dangerous over time.
If you need more just ask the doctor for a new prescription.

I am tickled pink that you are defending your clear space. :)

I have rotted floor boards around the toilet in my bathroom. So I really do understand.
Happy that you can get that fixed some day.

Hoping to see you in "chat" tonight. To get there just click on the "online support group" box to the right here.
Starts at 5:00pm Pacific time.

Again, welcome to the message board.

Hi,
Just found this forum this weekend and have been inspired to do a little cleaning. I'm 58, live alone and am overwhelmed by the stuff I've accumulated over the years. I cleaned out one medicine cabinet yesterday put some other stuff out by the curb. (After putting an expired bottle of prescription cough med into the trash, I suddenly coughed for no real reason and became concerned I might need the medicine at some point. I did retrieve it, but later put it back into the trash bag after telling myself I could always go back to the doctor and get more.)
And I'm using the 'defend' the cleared off space idea almost hourly as I try to keep my one cleared kitchen counter free of stuff. My goal is to get my house cleared enough to let workmen in to fix both my bathrooms - one completely unusable and blocked off and the other floor is rotted. I am too embarrassed for anyone to see my house as it is now. Annie

HI Flopz :D
So happy you came by!
YEA! for the new bed you will sleep in tonight.
Sounds like it was nice spending time at your inlaws.
Sorry you are discouraged with the bathroom project :(
If/when you can reduce the number of items in there the bathroom will be so much easier to clean and keep clean.
Do the hard work now of reducing/discarding and you can have years of easy maintenance in there.

Please come back here & just chat about anything :)

Alright Tillie, I said I would come and use this board and I have come. Sadly I don't have anything super fun or exciting to say. I just pulled everything that was mine (or a mix of my husband and mine) out of the bathroom. I left the stuff that was his and already put away where it was. Frankly I'm discouraged. I knew I had a lot of stuff but the estimation of 100 things does not even scratch the service. I hope everyone else is having a wonderful and motivating week.
I spent the last 2 days with my in-laws (even spent the night at their home) moving various furniture and nick nacks from their cabin to their current residence. It was a lot of fun and there home is always so beautiful. Even more so now that they have replaced/ added the new items.
I just have no drive to fix my bathroom. :( Well it will get done by Sunday. It has so... I already said it would and I can't go back on my word. The only really good thing is that we did get the bed frame and we set it up today! I even washed all the sheets (they are still in the dryer) because I was so excited to go to sleep tonight more than a foot off the floor. Clean sheets make the idea sound extra special somehow.
Alright I've rambled enough. hehe maybe too much. Anyways, as I said before I hope everyone else is doing really well this week. I've lost all excitement or interest in my home project but it's time for me to stop putting off the inevitable and try and get back to work.

Thanks for the advice tillie.:)

Good morning :)
So sorry to hear about you losing your parents.
It is very common for people to let their homes go when they are grieving.
Seems like you are ready to clean it up now since you are here. :D
The easiest way to start is by grabbing a bag and filling it with obvious trash & broken stuff then getting that bag out to the trash can.
Make a game of it by seeing how much you can gather during one song.

Well, I just found out that I didn't win the lottery; so it looks like I won't be moving to California and I'm gonna still be stuck trying to clean out my hoard by myself, which is really hard to do. I can't believe I let it get as bad as it is. If my parents were still alive today they would be so mad at me. They died almost 2 years ago in a car accident on my 21st birthday. I was in the car too, but somehow I survived.

Thanks tillie.:)

Good Luck! :D

Just bought my lottery ticket!

Thanks.:) but when I meant hire someone to get rid of it and throw it all away, I meant hire them, then leave a wad of cash on my door step along with a note that says, "THROW IT ALL AWAY! Thanks." and hopefully by the time they get there and find it, I'll already be on my way to California, so I won't have to face the embarrassment of it. I know That probably sounds awful.

Hi Messy megan :)
No, it doesn't sound bad at all to hire someone to haul it all away!
When people hire a company to do a major clean out, they get a fresh start in life in a matter of only a day or two.
Prolem with that mansion though.
With only the possessions you use and need you won't need such a big place. ;)

Who's going to go buy a lottery ticket tonight? The power ball jackpot is $320 million! I hope I win! If I do, then I'm just gonna hire someone to get rid of my whole hoard and just throw it all away. Then I'm gonna go buy a HUGE mansion in California. Does it sound bad That I just want to hire someone to get rid of my whole hoard and just throw it all way?

Hi Momkrause :)
Motivation follows action.
When you clear and clean even the smallest area, just seeing the great results helps to motivate you to clear and clean another little area.
It is best not to look at everything that needs to be done, focus on one small area at a time.
Set a timer for 5-10 or 15 minutes and work till the timer dings.
Remember that things did not get this way in a day and it won't get all cleaned up in a day either.
Don't get discouraged that it takes time, you are only one person and can only do so much in a day along with everything else that's going on in your life.
Please post more. Ask questions. Tell me what obsticles are holding you back.
We will try to help you find ways to tackle this. :)

im sorry about the other nite my computer didnt work. still working on house .new job and new people sad,sad, i try but i cant seem to get any where.need some help to get started again. thanks mkrause

Lovey room !:)

Thanks to Tillie for coming up with this chat board suggestion. I hope you guys all love it and use it to its full potential. Support is so needed when facing this issues. Lean on others for all you can to help cope with stress and get you moving again. You can all beat this!

Love the decor! :)