I Need Understanding and Super Home Cleaning and Organizing Assistance

[Anonymous]

Yay, OP! Good luck and keep plugging away!

I'm a reformed hoarded/excessive clutter person, and whenever I get down about how bad my house is I have to remind myself how far I've come! Keep the end goal in mind but don't forget to congratulate yourselves on baby steps!

[Anonymous]

OP - I have been where you are.

No amount of organizing, time, strategies, professional help from organizer, etc will make the difference unless you get medicated for the ADD. I wasted many years on all of the ideas that everyone has listed with little to no results. Once I started taking medication, I could actually implement the type of strategies listed and get immediate results from them.

Even with medication and behavior modification strategies there are certain things I simply can't do anymore and they include:

* go to clearance sales or any sale and "shop ahead" in general. If If I can't identify an actual need in the near term, then it does not get bought. I finally realized that there will always, always be another clearance sale, discount coupon, etc in the future.

* hold on to things for consignment, ebay, etc. The problem with consignment is that by the time I cleaned out the drawers the consignment period for that type of clothing had passed. If you still feel you must consign, do a consignment sale. It's not an ongoing process that way. It's a one time a season deal.

[Anonymous]

PP here! I knew I had an idea stuck somewhere in my mind that just wasn't coming up to the surface earlier, but today it did. OP take a look at a relatively new company called Order in Your Fort, http://orderinyourfort.blogspot.com/.

They say that NoVA is their service area, but I'd be willing to bet that they would go to Montgomery County. Check out the site to see if there is any helpful information!

[Anonymous]

Dear OP - a great way to give stuff away but also create community is to post things on your neighborhood list serve. I will post stuff as a "curb alert" if it is furniture and just list stuff if it is kids clothing. In a perfect world, I would consign, but that does not work for me now. Maybe in a few years there will be space in my life to do so - but not now. The really important thing - is to find a way to get the useless stuff out of the house. If you can make a penny - delightful. But if that is too hard for you right now - forgive yourself and do what does work for you. For me, this works cause I do not have to do anything - no driving, no making appointment. I just send a note out on the listserve when i am in a purging state of mind, and i usually get a response within minutes. It is also a nice way to develop relationships.

[Anonymous]

Don't forget using Freecycle http://www.freecycle.net/ . I've found it an excellent way to get rid of stuff. You post on the listserve for your area, people interested in that item email you. You set a date for them to come pick it up. You leave it on your porch and they come get it. It's so easy!

[Anonymous]

One more thing, and it might be irrelevant, but something to consider since medication has been brought up.

I am a space cadet unless I eat primal. Grain and dairy just do my brain in. Without them, I'm sharp and sane. I keep going back to eating these things for emotional reasons - they're literally addictive - but without them, I'm a different person. It happens primal is also the best approach for many health problems. Something to consider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One more thing, and it might be irrelevant, but something to consider since medication has been brought up.

I am a space cadet unless I eat primal. Grain and dairy just do my brain in. Without them, I'm sharp and sane. I keep going back to eating these things for emotional reasons - they're literally addictive - but without them, I'm a different person. It happens primal is also the best approach for many health problems. Something to consider.

OP again, This conversation is just amazing to me. Diet is absolutely important, and mine has derailedt. I'm also an older mother (50) and just started menopause. I exercise, but have decreased lately, while still eating, and have put on 8 lbs in 6 months! ot all good for me in so many ways. I just don't know how to not eat grains and dairy. I'd almost need to go away to detox, but I know it would help me, my dc and dh (who is a vegetarian who is addicted to pizza, chips and coffee). DH says he is willing to try (he's a good dh) but he's gonna need to follow my lead, and I've got nothing to offer. What do you follow/suggest? I have a friend who swears by Knives over Forks (book). I've also heard of the Paleo diet. I don't cook much and don't know how I'd survive, especially now that brown rice is now considered dangerous (whats next that is dangerous to eat?).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't forget using Freecycle http://www.freecycle.net/ . I've found it an excellent way to get rid of stuff. You post on the listserve for your area, people interested in that item email you. You set a date for them to come pick it up. You leave it on your porch and they come get it. It's so easy!

I've tried freecycle, and love it, but in this instance, I can't list every item I've got and email back and forth to arrange for someone to come get the stuff. That would be a part-time job itself! I've arranged for vietnam vets and/or the lupus foundation to come for a pick up on Oct.3. You can set up pick ups online. This gives me a deadline (for this first round) and time to go through things. I also work near Interfaith Works (which is an organization that allows the underserved to "shop" for things for free with a referral from the county or other professional) and drop things off there on the way in. I will post the other really nice stuff on craigslist or something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here! I knew I had an idea stuck somewhere in my mind that just wasn't coming up to the surface earlier, but today it did. OP take a look at a relatively new company called Order in Your Fort, http://orderinyourfort.blogspot.com/.

They say that NoVA is their service area, but I'd be willing to bet that they would go to Montgomery County. Check out the site to see if there is any helpful information![/quote

OP again. Interesting. I will call, although their website looks dormant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One more thing, and it might be irrelevant, but something to consider since medication has been brought up.

I am a space cadet unless I eat primal. Grain and dairy just do my brain in. Without them, I'm sharp and sane. I keep going back to eating these things for emotional reasons - they're literally addictive - but without them, I'm a different person. It happens primal is also the best approach for many health problems. Something to consider.

OP again, This conversation is just amazing to me. Diet is absolutely important, and mine has derailedt. I'm also an older mother (50) and just started menopause. I exercise, but have decreased lately, while still eating, and have put on 8 lbs in 6 months! ot all good for me in so many ways. I just don't know how to not eat grains and dairy. I'd almost need to go away to detox, but I know it would help me, my dc and dh (who is a vegetarian who is addicted to pizza, chips and coffee). DH says he is willing to try (he's a good dh) but he's gonna need to follow my lead, and I've got nothing to offer. What do you follow/suggest? I have a friend who swears by Knives over Forks (book). I've also heard of the Paleo diet. I don't cook much and don't know how I'd survive, especially now that brown rice is now considered dangerous (whats next that is dangerous to eat?).

Forks over Knives isn't primal, it's low-fat vegan, which is about as far from the human evolutionary diet as you can possibly get. This is a long but friendly read explaining why you should roundly ignore it, and The China Study on which it's based: http://rawfoodsos.com/2011/09/22/forks-over-knives-is-the-science-legit-a-review-and-critique/

There are a number of versions of paleo, but it's basically vegetables, grassfed meat/fish/eggs, nuts and seeds, fruit. No grain, little or no legumes, no refined carbs or sugar. The amount of total carbohydrate varies, but most people on paleo don't eat a lot. Some people eat a little dairy, and a little cheating is built in - many people follow the 80/20 rule of eating paleo habitually, but not worrying about the occasional pizza night, etc. I find that I have no interest in pizza, ice cream, sweets etc. when I'm eating paleo. Just not appealing. There's more potential variety in the diet than it might seem from that list. It's very satisfying because your blood sugar stays stable, and most people have more energy and mental clarity.

[Anonymous]

To get rid of stuff fast via donation, try the gooddonor website. I have been able to get donations picked up next day on many occasions. You just schedule via the website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One more thing, and it might be irrelevant, but something to consider since medication has been brought up.

I am a space cadet unless I eat primal. Grain and dairy just do my brain in. Without them, I'm sharp and sane. I keep going back to eating these things for emotional reasons - they're literally addictive - but without them, I'm a different person. It happens primal is also the best approach for many health problems. Something to consider.

OP again, This conversation is just amazing to me. Diet is absolutely important, and mine has derailedt. I'm also an older mother (50) and just started menopause. I exercise, but have decreased lately, while still eating, and have put on 8 lbs in 6 months! ot all good for me in so many ways. I just don't know how to not eat grains and dairy. I'd almost need to go away to detox, but I know it would help me, my dc and dh (who is a vegetarian who is addicted to pizza, chips and coffee). DH says he is willing to try (he's a good dh) but he's gonna need to follow my lead, and I've got nothing to offer. What do you follow/suggest? I have a friend who swears by Knives over Forks (book). I've also heard of the Paleo diet. I don't cook much and don't know how I'd survive, especially now that brown rice is now considered dangerous (whats next that is dangerous to eat?).

Forks over Knives isn't primal, it's low-fat vegan, which is about as far from the human evolutionary diet as you can possibly get. This is a long but friendly read explaining why you should roundly ignore it, and The China Study on which it's based: http://rawfoodsos.com/2011/09/22/forks-over-knives-is-the-science-legit-a-review-and-critique/

There are a number of versions of paleo, but it's basically vegetables, grassfed meat/fish/eggs, nuts and seeds, fruit. No grain, little or no legumes, no refined carbs or sugar. The amount of total carbohydrate varies, but most people on paleo don't eat a lot. Some people eat a little dairy, and a little cheating is built in - many people follow the 80/20 rule of eating paleo habitually, but not worrying about the occasional pizza night, etc. I find that I have no interest in pizza, ice cream, sweets etc. when I'm eating paleo. Just not appealing. There's more potential variety in the diet than it might seem from that list. It's very satisfying because your blood sugar stays stable, and most people have more energy and mental clarity.

OP again. So what is it that you do? Paleo? Wonder how/what my dh would eat, if he does not eat meat? My son and I eat meat and fish. Sounds painful. Did you detox (as in have withdrawl symptoms) when you started?

[Anonymous]

OP again. I tried Aderall (sp) once (a weird psychiatrist prescribed it and said if it works I'd know it.) I was so wired and wide eyed that it was almost unbearable. That was the end of that, for me. Maybe I'd need a non stimulant, if I do have ADD. I've read the Ed Hallowell books, and think I am. My DH says I am. I can be mid sentence and drift off b/c something has caught my attention or if I'm in a room full of people, I want to be in everyone's conversation at once, and really have to focus to talk with the person I'm talking to. Yet, I'm incredibly productive and organized at work, get exceptional reviews, don't miss deadlines......at home it's different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I tried Aderall (sp) once (a weird psychiatrist prescribed it and said if it works I'd know it.) I was so wired and wide eyed that it was almost unbearable. That was the end of that, for me. Maybe I'd need a non stimulant, if I do have ADD. I've read the Ed Hallowell books, and think I am. My DH says I am. I can be mid sentence and drift off b/c something has caught my attention or if I'm in a room full of people, I want to be in everyone's conversation at once, and really have to focus to talk with the person I'm talking to. Yet, I'm incredibly productive and organized at work, get exceptional reviews, don't miss deadlines......at home it's different.[/quoteI

I'm a NP and I strongly urge you to try again. Go to another (not weird) psychiatrist. Try different meds and different formulas. Try Aderrall XR instead of regular. I got very jumpy and wired on regular and its almost like XR is a different drug..not jumpy or twitchy at all...very smooth, calm and alert. Also, some people are very sensitive to the side effects at first, so start low and go slow. If you feel jumpy, go lower and slower. It can be life changing, OP, please give it another try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP again. So what is it that you do? Paleo? Wonder how/what my dh would eat, if he does not eat meat? My son and I eat meat and fish. Sounds painful. Did you detox (as in have withdrawl symptoms) when you started?

No. I feel great, sleep better, all of my joint pain is gone - I feel twenty years younger. I really don't miss any of it, ever - I can have treats in the house for months and not be interested. Some people get a low-carb flu, but you don't have to be super low carb to be paleo - it just tends to the low carb.

I don't know what your husband would do. Eggs, of course, and some people are willing to eat non-sentient bivalves. You can look at the "For Vegans" section of the website above for suggestions about increasing the nutrient density of nonmeat diets. Eliminating sugar and most grain, especially gluten grain, helps many quite a bit, and he can do that as a vegetarian.