[nadiahoney]

It has taken me almost three years to move in when it used to take me a week and a half at most. I don't know what to do anymore and it has become unbearable. I cannot do the simplest thing, and I can't make decisions or have a life. Please help. I am terrified that this has become the endless Sisyphean task that is neverending and will kill me. Please help, please. I cant take it

[Maven]

Are you saying you're a hoarder? I don't consider myself a hoarder, because I can throw things away after I've read/used them, but I have a similar problem. It's not about moving in, but just accumulating things without the space to put them in. I have stopped buying so much, but I still don't know what to do about the lack of space. Not trying to hijack your thread; just saying I know what it feels like.

[Love&Toil]

Nadiahoney is there a family member or friend who can help you sort through your things? Is there anyone you trust who could help you one day a week?

Breaking things down into smaller bits makes them more manageable. For example, you tell yourself you're just going to deal with the kitchen today. Or just three boxes this morning, and then three more in the afternoon.

[rachelgreene2490]

try to divert your mind and learn some other things that are nothing to do with you but are interesting in a way like guitar playing, dance etc

try to go for any sport that will increase your decision making capacity.

[bigblackdog]

What's been working for me is to take one very small spot and deal with it. Your body and heart will tell you which spot is high priority.

Just that spot. Take everything and put in a box, clear the space, arrange the necessaries (like the computer, phone etc on a desk) and then add back only the things that are needed.

This will help because you will see the clear space immediately and then can add back as needed. Seriously a 2ft X2ft space is about the right size.

WE're doing this after getting new carpets. It's taken almost a month to deal with the stuff.

[Lady Courtesan]

I feel like I'm in the same space, nadiahoney. I've been down with pnumonia the last few weeks and the antibiotics make me sleep all the time. Being a writer doesn't help. Everytime I feel things are sorted out, I turn around a few weeks later and have all sorts of things to file and I just feel overwhelmed by it all.

My room is the worst. If I go on a cleaning jag I know what will happen-I will do too much and and it will impede the healing process. So I have to constantly remind myself to take it easy and not push.

Maybe I am allowing this to have more importance than it should have. One of my favorite quotes is "A woman with a clean house has never been published.' I have a roommate, but he is gone most of the time and has never said a word about the state of disarray.

But if I clean up one area, it makes lots of other small mess's. My mother was an intense hoarder and I am terrified of being that person. I have some areas that are always neat and organized-my closet, my dressing table, the place where my research and writing books go-and I certainly operate better in an orderly environment.

Do you have any other suggesstions? Do you think I'm being too hard on myself and just need to give my body more time to heal? I was thinking that maybe if I just put each thing that I use back in it's place after using it, things will slowly sort themselves out. Any ideas?