Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ugh in terms of the kitchen counters we're definitely like a 3.5 at my house. Too much stuff, not enough kitchen. It sucks, but my husband grew up that way and basically doesn't "see" clutter so it all falls on me to think about it and UGH!

But I am somewhat grateful that my MIL isn't a great housekeeper because now my husband doesn't know any better!

Hoarding is a serious mental illness. If you have too much crap, get rid of it and don't blame your DH and MIL.

Why so nasty? She isn't blaming anyone, other than a small kitchen.

I am definitely a 1 and my house still seems cluttered.. the boxes on top of the fridge in picture 1 of the kitchen makes me bonkers... .I hate stuff sitting out on counters etc.

I'm a 1.5 (more like vacillate between a 1 and 2) but the main reason is a 1.5 and a 5 year old. The toddler just throws crap everywhere even though I am picking up all the time. We get down to 1 once a week.

Anonymous wrote:We're at 1 24/7. I'm practically getting hives looking at the other ones.

+1 With the help of once/2wk cleaners - rarely we will get to 1.5 but it doesn't ever get to 2.

Anonymous wrote:
How did you get better?

We're decluttering right now. Partly due to moving. Partly because hoarding runs in my family. I had to have a friend help me part with some items (bad cop). I grew up poor and feel guilt and anxiety about getting rid of anything useful. I don't keep garbage or hoard pets. But I did have Capri length cargo pants from 2004 until 2 days ago.

In my case, I recovered on my own without any official therapy -- but I think I did a lot of Cognitive Therapy on my own. And in any case I wasn't THAT far gone, and a lot of it was more just being overwhelmed with life and having ADHD probably (also untreated).

I have to make decluttering a weekly thing in my life. I have to be ruthless. Just be the kind of person who allows NO CLUTTER. It's like being a reformed alcoholic -- you can't even have a little bit of clutter or you relapse.

The biggest thing that helped was asking "What's the worst that can happen" if I get rid of something. Usually, always -- it's nothing bad. And being disorganized and having tons of clutter mean that bad things ARE very likely -- lost checks, lost money, fines for late bills, having to buy two of everything because you can't find the one you are keeping "just in case", water damage, pest damage that you didn't notice, fire hazards.... the "worst" of having clutter is really bad. The "worst" of getting rid of objects is that you might have to make do or do without....

Anonymous wrote:I consider myself a messy person but I would never leave stuff on my bedroom floor or bed - where would I sleep? However every surface except the bed and floor is full of clutter.

So now idea how to use this rating scale.

You don't do this because you aren't mentally ill.

The hoarders I know sleep sitting on a chair in front of the tv rather than let us get rid of the stuff on their beds. It seems a reasonable trade off to them because they are ill.

I consider myself a messy person but I would never leave stuff on my bedroom floor or bed - where would I sleep? However every surface except the bed and floor is full of clutter.

So now idea how to use this rating scale.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good lord! I thought I was a slob but I would be crazy if either one was worse than a 2 in those pictures. Who are these people?

It's a hoarding scale... so.. hoarders?

And reformed hoarders (like me... the OP) I used to be around a 4 based on this scale anyhow, in my 20s.

I've come a LONG WAY but still struggle -- more due to overwhelming circumstances and depression, and chronic disorganization (ADHD) than from OCD/ difficulty throwing stuff away

How did you get better?

We're decluttering right now. Partly due to moving. Partly because hoarding runs in my family. I had to have a friend help me part with some items (bad cop). I grew up poor and feel guilt and anxiety about getting rid of anything useful. I don't keep garbage or hoard pets. But I did have Capri length cargo pants from 2004 until 2 days ago.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seriously, OP. I can't stop laughing at your pics. What is up with the portrait of the North Korean dictator on the wall?

OK here's a different one:

That's a huge jump between 3 and 4.

2 is disgusting.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh in terms of the kitchen counters we're definitely like a 3.5 at my house. Too much stuff, not enough kitchen. It sucks, but my husband grew up that way and basically doesn't "see" clutter so it all falls on me to think about it and UGH!

But I am somewhat grateful that my MIL isn't a great housekeeper because now my husband doesn't know any better!

Hoarding is a serious mental illness. If you have too much crap, get rid of it and don't blame your DH and MIL.

Anonymous wrote:1.25. Crap laying all over the floor I do not get. A couple random boxes of things I need to go through on a desk or in the drawer? Sure.

This. Anything worse makes me want to vomit.

Ugh in terms of the kitchen counters we're definitely like a 3.5 at my house. Too much stuff, not enough kitchen. It sucks, but my husband grew up that way and basically doesn't "see" clutter so it all falls on me to think about it and UGH!

But I am somewhat grateful that my MIL isn't a great housekeeper because now my husband doesn't know any better!

Anonymous wrote:I am having trouble with the progression of stuff in these pictures. I would pile stuff high on that chair long before I had stuff on the bed. And it takes a lot to get stuff on the floor; it starts with a box in the corner, then stuff stacked on the box, then a little stuff next to the first box, etc. The kitchen one is better, IMHO. We are cluttered but still functional. I am feeling anxious about the junk now, actually, and would like to clean now.

Hoarders often loose the functionality of things, e.g., the bed. That's one of the things the pictures is trying to show. Some hoarders stack neatly some pile in heaps.

I am having trouble with the progression of stuff in these pictures. I would pile stuff high on that chair long before I had stuff on the bed. And it takes a lot to get stuff on the floor; it starts with a box in the corner, then stuff stacked on the box, then a little stuff next to the first box, etc. The kitchen one is better, IMHO. We are cluttered but still functional. I am feeling anxious about the junk now, actually, and would like to clean now.