Blackswan
Banned
Joined: October 2008
Posts: 6,388
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Post by Blackswan on Jul 29, 2009 19:55:41 GMT -5
I am not cleaning because I am afraid of my mess. It is really bad third degree, and there are many gnats and ants in the house.
We also have a lot of daddy long legs that are here to eat the ants/gnats.
It is also cockroach season out here, and I am terrified of running into a huge one, even though I haven't seen any in the house yet this season. I have seen them outside every night when I come in though.
I am afraid to throw out the trash, cause I don't want a swarm of gnats in my face. So it keeps piling up.
There are empty drink cups in my son's room that are covered in gnats that again, I am afraid to deal with.
My guinea pig cage has gnats, and it is nasty. I am avoiding that too.
There are swarms of ants that I just jump over. I constantly wear my shoes in the house.
I am afraid to deal with the old food in my refrigerator.
I am afraid of cleaning the bathroom floor, in between the toilet and the sink, cause I am afraid something will jump out at me. (spiders?)
I am afraid of the area around my treadmill cause there is a huge spiderweb there.
So, I think you get the idea.
My question is, what can I do to get myself to go through all of this mess inspite of my anxiety?
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Bunny_Phoenix
New Member
back at it here for accountability - not new been here off and on since 2008 :)
Joined: September 2008
Posts: 69
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Post by Bunny_Phoenix on Jul 29, 2009 20:00:52 GMT -5
Arm thyself with a can of lysol (disinfects, deoderizes and bugs hate it), a paper face mask (like the ones people wear that cover nose and mouth while lawn mowing), and some plastic goggles. That is what I would do in your situation. I had to deal with maggots last fall and did a similar thing but went so far as to duck tape my pants into my shoes so i wouldnt get the buggies in my shoes...
edited to add: oh and gloves sorry forgot the gloves
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Post by clutterfree on Jul 29, 2009 20:04:43 GMT -5
What Mrs. Bunny said.
Maybe if you can decide just one cup in your son's room, or whatever. Spray it to kill what's flying around it. Throw it in the garbage.
Doing one thing and finding out that it's okay will show you that you really can do it.
You don't have to deal with every gnat/ant/whatever problem all at one time. Do one thing, or one area. If you can realize that you don't have to deal with it ALL right NOW maybe that will help.
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Post by clutterfree on Jul 29, 2009 20:06:14 GMT -5
I am afraid to deal with the old food in my refrigerator.
But maybe that's a good place to start. There won't be gnats or bugs in there. Throw one thing out. One rotten batch of something, one bowl. If you feel overwhelmed, do something else for a little bit and then go back and throw out another one.
You can do it.
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 29, 2009 20:14:25 GMT -5
Heavy-duty gloves, with a long cuff, a pair of tongs, shoes with thick soles, and a shower at the ready. When odors are really bad, a little vapo-rub or other menthol-camphor balm under your nostrils will keep your nose distracted. For anything like dried feces, dead vermin, etc, dampen the mess with 20% chlorine bleach in a spray bottle, if the surface will tolerate it; if not, spray it with the strongest disinfectant the surface can tolerate before touching it. This keeps the bacteria, fungi, etc from being aerosolized into the air.
If you wear 2 pair of gloves, not only will you have extra protection--you can remove one pair, and still be protected. Great if something you touch turns out unexpectedly squidgy.
You might want to wear a hat with a brim all the way around, or perhaps a shower cap. I would also suggest wearing clothes that you throw away afterwards, if that makes you feel better.
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Post by def6 on Jul 29, 2009 20:18:12 GMT -5
The only insect that you have mentioned that can hurt you seriously is spiders. Find out the different varieties to watch out for in your area. Everything else you can deal with. I have killed big roaches with my bear hands(then I washed them very well.) If you need help, I nice can of Raid would not be out of the question.
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Post by Polar Bear on Jul 29, 2009 20:36:46 GMT -5
Hi blackswan, Here are some ideas that have worked for me when dealing with this kind of mess:
*wear rubber gloves when dealing with wet/stinky/icky things *wear heavy canvas work gloves when poking into dark corners or opening ancient boxes *if you have long hair, tie it back; and whether you have long or short hair, cover it with a head scarf or baseball cap *play music that makes you feel brave and strong *remember it's okay to throw away yucky, moldy dishes *remember it's okay to throw away mysterious Tupperware containers without opening them *for really nasty things, turn a garbage bag or grocery bag inside out, put your gloved hand inside, grab, and toss! (like picking up after a dog) *and keep those shoes on!
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Post by AnnieOkie on Jul 29, 2009 20:43:37 GMT -5
Blackswan- Please try some of the wonderful and thoughtful suggestions above. Your son and you yourself deserve a healthy atmosphere in your home. May I also mention something else concerning something I believe I read in one of your other posts? I am worried since you mentioned that there may be drugs in your home and cups of alcohol left there from earlier parties. PLEASE make an effort to get rid of those so your son doesn't find them. I hope I am not overstepping here, but I have been worried about your son since I read that a few days ago. I only brought this up because I do care.
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 29, 2009 21:32:19 GMT -5
Hey....what exactly are you afraid of? If you're willing, try this:
Sit where you feel the most comfortable and safe, and write down more about what frightens you. If the gnats fly up in your face, what would happen then? Would you vomit? Would you scream and run? Would you end up in the hospital? Would you get a disease?
What would happen after that? Write that down. Play this all the way out in your mind, considering "what would happen next" until either you're all right, or you die.
One of several things will happen:
you'll decide that even your worst-case scenario sounds pretty silly,
You'll identify some measures you can take to mitigate your reactions, rational and/or irrational (gloves, mask, cleansing rituals, etc.)
You'll decide that your squalor is the absolute worst that has ever existed since the dawn of humanity, and is beyond redemption. If you reach this conclusion, you probably need to spend more time on SOS!
Even if you don't experience any epiphanies, the fears will probably lose some of their power.
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 29, 2009 21:33:07 GMT -5
Edited because I accidentally posted twice.
Perhaps you should bug-bomb the place first.
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Post by gottaproblem on Jul 29, 2009 21:39:00 GMT -5
Do what has been suggested to get rid of the gnats, I once had one fly up my nose when I was going to sleep, It was awful, you certainly do not want that to happen to you,
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mew
New Member
Joined: June 2008
Posts: 10
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Post by mew on Jul 29, 2009 21:44:54 GMT -5
I too am terrified of spiders. Daddy long legs are horrible. I arm myself with a vacuum with a loooong hose attachment, the longer the better, and and vacuum randomly in any dark holes or corners that I need to get to. Don't attach anything to the end of the hose that any creepy crawly can hang on to. Bet it'll thin a gnat swarm a bit as well.
My enclosed porch has too many bugs and yicks in it. I am truly a sight out there, thrusting my vacuum sword into corners then performing my closed-mouth-screaming tippie-toe dance o' fear. But hey, you do what have to, no?
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Post by howardsgirlfriend on Jul 29, 2009 21:49:13 GMT -5
You can extend the vacuum nozzle even further with paper towel rolls and duct tape.
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Post by molly on Jul 29, 2009 22:52:55 GMT -5
You can extend the vacuum nozzle even further with paper towel rolls and duct tape. Great idea!
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Post by disarray on Jul 29, 2009 23:12:45 GMT -5
You've already been given a lot of great advice, but I'd like to repeat what def6 mentioned, that none of the insects you mentioned are harmful. You might want to watch out for certain varieties of spiders, but if I were you that's all I'd be worried about. The rest might be unpleasant to confront, but they won't hurt you. Once you get started it'll only become easier. You'll realize that these icky, horrible creatures that you've been avoiding aren't so bad afterall. You can do this!
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