Hoarding

[Emma77]

Hi all,

Not sure where to post this, but we'll start with anxiety and see what happens. As a child and younger adult, I was always very clean and organised. As I got older, I would sometimes let things slip, and it would feel somewhat freeing, maybe feel a little bit creative? I'm now mid 40s and wonder if I've gotten a bit too free and creative. And then silly me watches those hoarding programs and feel like maybe I can relate. I don't think I have attachment to things. I'm happy to see things get thrown out, I'm just not sure how to do it. As an example, when the toilet paper runs out, I change the roll and the old empty roll goes on the floor until there's a collection. Then someone is coming to the house (not very often) and they all get shoved into a drawer somewhere. Then one day I want to throw them out but there are thirty of them and it just feels ludicrous to be throwing out thirty toilet rolls at once, so I'll just get rid of a couple every week, but I forget or can't be bothered. OMG this sounds insane now that I'm typing it out. It's actually quite hard to admit.

I feel like that 'I'll get to it tomorrow' is just getting further and further away and there is stuff everywhere. I moved 6 months ago and still have so many boxes. I can do the mad dash and clean and tidy the house if I have to, but I just feel like I have so many bad habits and routines. The idea of it getting so bad that I would need someone to come in TERRIFIES me. I don't want anyone to see the clutter. But I don't want to look at it either, and feel like I need to admit that I'm not fixing it on my own.

Not necessarily looking for help or advice. Maybe just people who can relate, convince me I'm normal. Or maybe even convince me that it's really not normal and I need help. 

[Emma77]

Can I add, whether I actually have hoarding tendences or not, I find the whole thing kind of fascinating. I really shouldn't watch those American shows, but I get so sucked in. Even though it's the same thing every time. I remember the first time the kids were in the house and they said it's me or the rubbish and the hoarder picked the rubbish. Obviously this is much more about someone's mental health than the state of their house. It's always uplifting on the few occasions when the hoarder picks their family over the rubbish but does it last? I find the 'help' on those programs to be so forceful. Even the professionals get really angry. And it's all done in a few days. These poor people have decades of collections and illness and who knows what else stored in their homes, and then a group of people spend 4 days throwing it all out and then say all better now. Sorry, not sure what any of that has to do with my own personal space. I just find it intriguing. And maybe a tiny bit triggering. Well maybe really triggering. I watched it last night and now I'm doing this today...

[geoff]

Hello Emma, I'm sorry you find yourself in this situation, and if I can ask you have you been diagnosed with OCD because hoarding can be something someone can do with this illness.

If you could google this 'ocd and hoarding' then you might recognise or relate to this.

Geoff.

Life Member.

[Emma77]

Thanks Geoff, no, I've not been diagnosed with OCD. I've done a bit of a search though and it seems that if they're related, the compulsive part of hoarding is about the inability to let go which I don't think applies. Fortunately, I don't feel that I actually have an emotional attachment to the stuff I have, I'm just not sure how to get rid of it

[geoff]

Hello Emma, thanks for getting back to me and the questions you are asking yourself can be discussed with a psych and you can get a 'mental health plan' from your doctor, which entitles you to 20 Medicare paid sessions per year.

Geoff.

Life Member.