BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Donna
Date: 05 Mar 15 - 01:26 AM

To Sandra in Sydney:

Hi! I clicked on your link, Bobolas house over the years but it said, "Page Cannot be Found", "Sorry Page Cannot Be Found"

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 11:52 PM

Bobolas house over the years

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 11:30 PM

I've seen news articles on research that consider hoarding an addiction, & it is internationally recognised as a disorder
university course - Understanding and Treating Hoarding Disorder & Mayo clinic

we have a well-known family of psychologically affected hoarders in a suburb not far from me - Bobolas family hoarders in the thick of it as big clean-up begins at Bondi

My 1-bedroom apartment is full of books, craft materials, collections & lots of other useful stuff, & some of my non-collecting/tidy freak friends consider it a mess (so do I as I look at the books etc. on the floor that have slid from their neat piles ...

But when does accumulating slide over into hoarding disorder?

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 10:22 PM

Donna Marie, I am sure that it is not the two names that mods object to but differing names from the same person in different threads.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Donna
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 09:55 PM

To ChanteyLass:

Good to read your post. You seem to understand... thanks.

To Silly River Sage:
You posted a message about using two names (on my original post.)
I didn't know that you are not supposed to do that so I will just use my first name only now. I didn't understand your statement about "All over the board with your previous guest names."
Previous guest names??
I just did not understand that you cannot use your middle name too.

To Guest Grishka: You wrote that the "Problem seems to be related to alcoholism and obesity."
I am neither. Don't smoke or do drugs either.

---

Donna Marie, The request was to use a consistent name when you post at mudcat, or at least in the same thread, not to limit what you call yourself to a certain number of syllables or words in your name. You have used other names when posting elsewhere on mudcat was the point being made. It's best to stick to one guest name, as in "Guest, Donna Marie," in every post here. It also makes it much easier to find your own posts again if you do a search. --mudelf

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: olddude
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 09:38 PM

I prefer to call myself a history collector. Like that historic broken sink in my garage or the boxes of I don't know what in my basement. All past history Lol. Besides someday that leasure suit may come back in style

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 07:23 PM

Hoarder? Yes, but I prefer to call myself a clutterbug!
House a mess? Yes.

I have always been comfortable with clutter except when I realize how it looks to others. Once in a while I look at something and think, "Why do I still have that?" and throw it out--but not often.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 05:27 PM

My wife says I hoard guitars.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Penny S.
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 05:13 PM

I would start with the obvious stuff like newspapers and junk mail that won't hurt. Bag them and recycle them. Do not think, as a friend's mother does, that there will be something interesting to read that you have missed, as in the old days there was something interesting on the chip wrapper, even if it was a paper you took. There won't be, or you won't read it. I have been a bit guilty of this myself, as my paper is large and has a lot of stuff in it. Last week I threw out four bags full for the bin men. Except that I was so busy packing the bags that I missed the lorry and had to take them to the dump myself.
While my friend's mother was in hospital, I threw out not only newspapers, but also loads of estate agents' magazines - turned out she kept those for the photos of historical local buildings. Ooops. But she didn't cut the pages out and file them, just left them mixed up with everything else - how was I to know they weren't just junk mail?
She doesn't want to declutter. She uses it as a wall. If you do want to declutter, most of the hard work is done.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 04:47 PM

or maybe benefit someone sometime

Of those... Does anyone have a use for a 16 port TPLink Easy Smart swithch or a TPLink TL-WA901ND Wireless Access point, Both were puchased for plans I had but subsequently cancelled... They are little used/nearly brand new. As well as giving away, I'm willing to post FOC to a UK address if anyone can use one or both of them.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 04:17 PM

I am very messy and my house has everything just strewn around so I have to keep very minimal possessions. I get my mail at work so no paper. I do most of my cooking at work so no food mess. I have no desire for pets, books, lots of clothes. I deliberately have no messy hobbies. I read Kindle rather than books. I live in a tiny cabin with a bed, ironing board, small table, office chair, stove, sink, reefer, kitchen cabinets, a built in bench and shelves and a tiny bathroom. It is really cute and on a very expensive property. I have no desire to have people over..would rather meet them someplace.

Put all the cds and vinyl in a laundry basket or six. Likewise any clothing out. Likewise any paper. Try to recycle paper as you see it...whatever you printed out you most likely don't need. Recipes etc...unless magazines are very specialized, take them to the nearest laundromat. People love them. Same for cheap paperbacks, trashy novels etc.

It is OK for something to hurt if you give it away. Other people need it or it needs to be transformed from paper clutter into new books etc.

When you have gathered stuff to donate, do it right away..don't let it linger.

Get rid of cheap and bulky items first..old dishpans, bathmats etc.

Ask for help and accept it. Limit it to one category..sorting through clothing or even just tops at first.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,pete from seven stars link
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 04:13 PM

also pleading guilty. I am loathe to throw out old stuff that I might use again, or maybe benefit someone sometime.   but I suppose that as long as it don't get to the dangerous stage, it don't matter until you cant stAND IT ANY LONGER!.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 11:03 AM

... oh.. guilty of hoarding..

not guilty of being the multi ID Opening Poster...



btw.. even though I don't like the name "punkfolkrocker" I seem to be stuck with it;
and can no longer be arsed winding up the mods with frequent use of jokey one shot disposable thread guest names..

[wellll.. maybe not entirely reformed...]

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 10:42 AM

guilty as charged...

It's our family curse.. my old mum believes it's a genetic hereditary trait.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 10:41 AM

"Donna Marie," You need to visit the declutter threads - (this will probably be moved into the most current one) - there is an ongoing discussion and I think you'll find that by going back through the old threads (they're all linked) you'll find lots of tools to work with.

I will ask that while you participate at Mudcat you use ONE NAME as a guest. You're all over the board with your previous guest names, and people like to know who they are talking to from one post to the next.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Grishka
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 09:40 AM

Donna, no therapist, however expensive, will declutter your home. Neither will ruthlessness, neither will Ruth ;-).

The problem seems to be related to alcoholism and obesity, though slightly less grave and unhealthy. The most important step is to motivate oneself permanently - not ruthlessly. Think of your (future) friends you would like to invite for a jolly party - this works in my case.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Sol
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 08:32 AM

I found stuff in my hut today that I never knew I had.
It's just like Christmas, but with cobwebs.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Jon
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 08:26 AM

I keep "things that may come in handy one day". Old PC components and accessories, cables, mains adaptors, cables, electric fittings, odd bits of ironmongery, etc. I have a clearout once every 5 to 10 years.

I also have a few of piles to sort out. A couple of them are CD/DVDs, mostly unmarked. They will probably contain a couple of audio CDs that got into the piles somehow and need to be put back in their proper cases - they would be easily sorted out but most will be old backups and software downloads (eg. Linux distributions). I need to go through every one just in case there is something I do want to keep amongst them but never seem willing to face getting round to doing this.

My own messes are confined to my own space but others in the family have been known to compound the problem as anything "unidentified" tends to be assumed to be mine and/or I'm just the dumping ground. This has for example wound up on more than one occasion with the charger for Pip's mobile phone getting dumped in my own assortment of mains adapters...

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Rumncoke
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 06:31 AM

Maybe you should decide to not do any laundry on one day a week and then use the time to clear out or off one little space.

Do not think that you will try to do that - decide, and then do it.
Breaking habits and attitudes can start a chain reaction.

Moving things out of a corner can unearth things you've been looking for for ages, things you didn't know you had, and a lot of dust and debris. Put the rubbish out in the dustbin and if anything is going to be donated clean it up and bag it ready to go - maybe even take it straight away - the fresh air will do you good.

Of course at first you will simply move most of the stuff to other piles, but you will find space, and with any luck it will become your new love and you will be able to get rid of the things which have been filling it. You do have to decide to change and then start work - nothing else will make a difference.

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: Mr Red
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 04:36 AM

yes - maddening innit?

Subject: RE: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 03:51 AM

I sympathise with you, Donna Marie, because, until recently, my house was in the same sort of state! But about 18 months ago something snapped! I thought, I can't put up with this any more! So I made a plan.

The first step of the plan (by far the hardest) was to ruthlessly declutter. I had a problem with books too: hundreds and hundreds of them. I put aside those that I really, really wanted to keep (i.e. books on natural history) and got rid of the rest. One third went to charity shops and the other two thirds went to local book dealers - who paid me 'peanuts' and, I'm sure, got an absolute bargain - but they took the books away. Then loads of other stuff went to charity shops (especially those that agreed to come round and take stuff away).My re-cycling bins got filled and emptied countless times!

The next six steps of the plan were to do with things like double glazing, modernising electrics (not dangerous but a bit out of date), decorating, buying new furniture etc. It took just over a year - but I did it!

Last week I became acquainted with a couple who live locally and they came round. The first thing that they said was: "What a lovely house!"
No-one has ever said that about my house before! A first!

So it is possible; you just have to be ruthless.

Subject: BS: Are you a hoarder? House a mess?
From: GUEST,Donna Marie
Date: 04 Mar 15 - 02:27 AM

Attention all Hoarders with Super Messy Houses!

I would like to hear from other people like myself who cannot throw anything away, meaning magazines you have been collecting for years, newspaper or newspaper articles and just a zillion other things.
I am single so no one to actually complain but I cannot have friends over because of the clutter. It is not just in one room but everywhere! No I don't have dirty dishes around in the sink. I do wash dishes (by hand) as there is no dishwasher here but even the counters in the kitchen are cluttered with things.

Cannot seem to clean it up. It's funny because the one thing I do regularly (almost every day) is clean my clothes. I can't stand to have piles of dirty clothes so though I am messy in other ways, I do clean all my clothes, towels, sheets, etc a lot. I am also clean and shower daily, but it is just a matter of clutter everywhere that I cannot seem to get under control. I have records, VHS tapes, CDs but not in any order, just kind of all over the place in piles. I have so many books but cannot seem to get rid of them or donate them. I just want to keep them as I love books but there are so many that are just in piles and really no room for a bookcase (just have one but it is not too big)
I know it is a sickness of a sort when you are a hoarder (and there are various degrees of hoarding, some worse then others.)

So everything is kind of mish/mashed all around with no real order to where things are.

No, there are no classes in my area for this sort of thing. Did check at a few colleges in the area but nothing about dealing with hoarding.

Since I am on a super, super limited income I cannot afford therapy either.

So I would like to hear from others who have similar situations.