Help Me Stop Hoarding UPDATE - doc says it's my meds

[nanette1985]

My mother was a serious hoarder. So was my ex-husband. I've been really good about neat and tidy, but now that I live in a very small space, I realize that I actually have hoarder genes.

It's getting really bad. You can't get from the living room to the kitchen without tiptoeing through a tiny path in the piles of stuff. The garbage always goes out I don't hoard that.

I've been blaming it on my health problems, but it isn't. Yeah, I don't have strength. Hoarding is in the brain.

Any idea how to get hoarding out of the system? I don't buy a lot of stuff but I get stuff donated. I get food deliveries from the food bank - mostly food that I won't eat.

There are many things here that I actually need but can't find.

I've found all sorts of web sites about strokes TBI and hoarding, but none of them have any useful helpful information.

Any useful thoughts are welcome.

UPDATE: Saw doctor. I'm on a mountain of meds. Doc says it's caused by me taking too many drugs.

 

[lxskllr]

Only you can help yourself. Donate what you don't need, and don't accumulate more.

 

[Mixolydian]

Throw everything out. Done.

 

[purbeast0]

that is disgusting. throw the shit out. when throwing it all out examine it and keep those "many things you need".

 

[olds]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Et28kBi1A

 

[SlitheryDee]

Start going through it all. Make a pile for stuff to throw out and another pile for stuff to keep. If you're really a hoarder (it sounds like it), this will be painful.

Make some rules determining what should be thrown out to keep yourself honest. Make it so you have something concrete as a determining factor. For instance, if you haven't used it in the last year, you probably don't need it all that bad. Throw it out.

People will tell you to donate and I'm not against that really, but the important thing is to get it out. Stuff you intend to donate or give away has a tendency to use that as an excuse to sit around the house "until you have time" or "until X person picks it up". Get the shit out. Don't tie too many stipulations to it that may get in the way of that.

 

[crashtestdummy]

I can't say I have any personal experience, so my suggestions may be of no use, but maybe force yourself to get rid of things in a regimented manner. Declare, for example, that nothing is allowed to be stored on the floor or on a table. If it can't fit in a drawer, on a shelf, or in a cabinet, it goes.

SlitheryDee's advice on a time limit is also really good.

 

[SagaLore]

Any useful thoughts are welcome.

Just throw it all out until there is almost nothing left.

 

[KeithTalent]

http://hoardersdocumentary.com/machform/view.php?id=3

KT

 

[sixone]

See your doctor, first. He/she should be able to refer you to someone who can offer counseling, based on your ability to pay.

 

[olds]

http://hoardersdocumentary.com/machform/view.php?id=3

KT

Cool, I filled it out for amdhunter. He's hoarding vacations.

 

[Broheim]

just throw shit out, have a non-hoarder come over and decide what needs to go and just throw it out without thinking about it.

 

[slsmnaz]

- fill trash bag
- put bag in dumpster
- repeat as necessary

 

[lxskllr]

I have hording tendencies. I take apart machines and stuff, then save the parts cause I might need them "some day". I also went on a long run at the thrift shop getting clothes and stuff when i could, because they wouldn't be there forever. Well, I have a shit ton of clothes now, so I haven't gone in awhile. I've also been better at getting rid of junk.

I like this yankee proverb. It puts things into perspective, and though it can cut both ways(saving crap), it can help keep you from accumulating more...

Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

 

[Ns1]

watch "hoarders" dozens of times until you disgust yourself?

 

[Red Squirrel]

Rather than throw stuff out, if it's still good, donate it. It will be less hard to let go knowing that it's not just being wasted.

On a nice summer day put it all on your driveway and put a sign up "free stuff" or something. It will empty itself in a couple hours. Saves you from having to bring it anywhere.

 

[Spungo]

Throw everything out. Done.

Invite a meth addict into the house and let him take things. Those buggers are resourceful. Did you know they steal light bulbs and smoke meth out of them? They could probably find a dozen uses for a broken dish washer.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Pics?

 

[Jeraden]

What exactly are you hoarding? You don't really say. Like what is on the floor from the living room to kitchen that you have to tiptoe around? Food from the foodbank?

 

[bignateyk]

I'm confused. Why is the food bank donating food to you that you don't need? Can't you just tell them that you don't need any more? Or just tell them what you DO need?

 

[dbk]

You should have someone help you decide what to keep or not. You might be too attached to throw out what needs to be gone. It is admirable that you're acknowledging this problem, though. GL to you.

 

[blackdogdeek]

Personally, I think you should seek professional help. Just throwing everything out won't fix the root cause; it will only fix the symptoms, and only temporarily.

 

[blurredvision]

I'm not a hoarder but I sympathize in a way because I keep any and all boxes to the electronics I buy. Don't know why, always have. I tell myself it is because the value will be higher if I decide to sell any of it. I have a baby on the way and in switching up rooms for a nursery, I was essentially forced to throw some of it out.

It was still extremely tough, I really, really, really didn't want to, but I just did it. You've identified that you have a problem, the only way I know how to deal with it is to force your way through it.

 

[SKORPI0]

I still have shed full of computer tech from the late '80s. Was forced to "throw" some old IBM systems and Compaq portable computer which took too much space. Also a lot of Byte/Ahoy/Commodore magazines. Still holding on to my Commodore 64 and Amiga stuff (books/software). .:'(

Oh, and some +30 printers (2010 or newer) from those Hot Deals.

 

[dbk]

I still have shed full of computer tech from the late '80s. Was forced to "throw" some old IBM systems and Compaq portable computer which took too much space. Also a lot of Byte/Ahoy/Commodore magazines. Still holding on to my Commodore 64 and Amiga stuff (books/software). .:'(

Oh, and some +30 printers (2010 or newer) from those Hot Deals.

seek help friend.. or sell those printers off, at least