My Experience

[ShedTheShameParticipant]

Paul Pippofan1 wrote:

The house has had, in the words of a friend, a ruthless clear out. I was away for a couple of days while it happened. When I returned, I was in a state of shock. From a house that was stacked full of rubbish, unused CDs and DVDs, discarded clothes and yellowing papers, it was a vast, empty space. After I had got used to it, I found I like the space. I have what is now called a blank canvas. But the best thing of all is I have control of this canvas. And it is a wonderful feeling.

Welcome, Paul Pippofan1. Thank you for sharing your story, and congratulations on your fresh, new start

I’m so glad to hear that after a “ruthless clear out,” you’re not only used to your space — you like it! Drastic clean outs (especially forced ones) have been known to backfire. I love a happy ending such as yours.

If there’s anything you can share about how you got used to your cleared out space, that would be appreciated. Also what you’re doing to maintain a clutter-free home.

I don’t know that I could handle a ruthless clear out My progress has been slow but for the most part steady, and I aspire to achieve a blank canvas state like you have

[Paul Pippofan1]

Hello. Thank you for your positive feedback If there was one thing I would disagree with, it is that it is a “happy ending”. It is far from over. but I would agree that I am in a far better position to make sure I stay clutter free.

The Housing Manager who came to see me that day (31 July) suggested there were several ways to tackle the problem, and he said that a few people he had been taking an interest in decided on a gradual clearing like you have done. It was when I was channel hopping one night that persuaded me to take the ruthless approach. There was a commercial (I don’t even know what it was advertising or which channel), but I remember the amount of space the room had. It was minimally furnished, but I saw the space….clean, tidy, best of all…CLEAR! I decided that was what I wanted. SPACE. The ability to walk about without mess, on a flat surface. It was my decision ultimately to go for the ruthless approach. The supervisor leading the clean up advised me to keep items of “sentimental value” to one side. I had become that determined to get rid, sentimentality didn’t even come into it. I realised what I’d become, and I hated the house and myself. When the clearance had been done, it was a shock. My counselor told me it was “grief” for something that had gone. Even though it was something I had come to detest. I watched one of Jasmine’s documentaries, and one of the phrases she used to describe getting rid of the clutter was “like losing a limb”.

I said in my first post I was a recovering hoarder. I’ll probably never be free from the urge, but I now feel more likely to combat it, because of the still growing network of friends I am making. The depression and anxiety are still driving the underlying cause for my hoarding, but I am telling myself that while my home is clear, my mind will clear. One of the most basic things I am doing is making sure there is a wastebin in every room. Because when the bins are getting full, it makes me empty them into the wheelie bin. And I now have a new laptop…this one does NOT have a CD/DVD drive, so there is no point in buying stuff I won’t listen to or watch.

I am continuing with my medication, and trying to get CBT to counter the anxiety. In time, I hope to be able to advise and or help people who are going through the problem I had, partcularly in the Preston area,

[OceanniaParticipant]

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