Sad situation - Hoarding

[phesina]

I have this problem to some extent myself. I have way too many more things around than I have places to put them.

[Randi]

Ha ha, Pat, I do, too. From the list below, the things in bold I have a hard time throwing out, BUT, I have just got rid of some old IT-lerning books. I do need to give some cook-books away, though.

Listed below are possible symptoms hoarders may experience:

• They hold onto a large number of items that most people would consider useless or worthless, such as:
  
  • Junk mail, old catalogs, magazines, and newspapers
  • Worn out cooking equipment
  • Things that might be useful for making crafts
  • Clothes that might be worn one day
  • Broken things or trash
  • "Freebies" or other promotional products
  
  
• Their home is cluttered to the point where many parts are inaccessible and can no longer be used for intended purposes. For example:
  
  • Beds that cannot be slept in
  • Kitchens that cannot be used for food preparation
  • Tables, chairs, or sofas that cannot be used for dining or sitting
  • Unsanitary bathrooms
  • Tubs, showers, and sinks filled with items and can no longer be used for washing or bathing.
  
  
• Their clutter and mess is at a point where it can cause illness, distress, and impairment. As a result, they:
  
  • Do not allow visitors in, such as family and friends, or repair and maintenance professionals, because the clutter embarrasses them
  • Are reluctant or unable to return borrowed items
  • Keep the shades drawn so that no one can look inside
  • Get into a lot of arguments with family members regarding the clutter
  • Are at risk of fire, falling, infestation, or eviction[15]
  • Often feel depressed or anxious due to the clutter[16]

I think the trick is to sort one kind of items at a time, and then put it in three piles... one to chuck out, one to give away, and one to keep. Then, get the shelves/drawers you need to put it in. I need certain sizes of drawers for smaller things - it would be nice to have one like the below- When it comes to papers, I'm quite organised, I have everything in binders, with labels on each.