Reply to Approaching a hoarding situation (or at least I feel like it)

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[quote=Anonymous]Good for you, OP, for looking for ways to make it more enjoyable to live in your home and to confront the problem, whether it's clutter or hoarding.  I'm a hoarder's daughter (not saying you are a hoarder, just sharing my experience) and grew up in the enormous piles of stuff that prevented walking safely around the house, couldn't ever have friends over, and knew that if there were a fire, my dad would likely race around the house trying to save his "priceless" things rather than worrying about getting people out.  He saves paper, too -- newspaper clippings, circulars, magazines -- whatever catches his fancy.

When the stuff starts to force the people in the home to accommodate it, work around it, or to modify normal, daily living activities, then regardless of the label you put on it, it's an issue.  My dad's hoarding left lots of scars.  I left home as quickly as I could (found my own living arrangement with a friend's family at age 16) but even decades later, I flinch when someone knocks on the door, despite the fact that my house is clean and I am not a hoarder.

If you are looking for motivation to deal with your situation a bag a day, think about what a positive thing you are modeling for your daughter.  Think about what a gift it is to show her that people are more important than stuff and that even after a long time of doing things a certain way, you can grow and change.  Keep a vision in your mind of what you will get when the de-cluttering is done (perhaps you ill eat together more or have friends over), rather than constantly focusing on what you have to give up.

Best wishes, OP, in fighting a good fight.[/quote]

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