mrsmole
New Member
Joined: July 2008
Posts: 73
|
Post by mrsmole on Aug 28, 2008 0:45:43 GMT -5
Hi all, I am Mrs Mole (formerly Stankgirl on SS). I am a hoarder and clutterer. I have at times in my life been a perfectionist cleaner, but basically, since the birth of my daughter, 11 1/2 years ago, I've been an overwhelmed 'messie'. In the last 5 years I've also become a hoarder, which has just exsaserbated the whole situation. At times I feel like I'm totally drowning in my squalour and my hoarded posessions, at other times, like I'm drowning slightly less. At the moment, I feel like I'm drowning big time. I've also been sick with a cold for the last week and a half, which has meant I've got even less done (is there such a thing as less than nothing?), and added to my usual mess are drifts of used tissues and other cold-related crap. I am a single parent. I live in New Zealand. But I've found on Squalour Survivours that when it comes to this stuff, no matter where we're from our stories are very similar. One of the best helpful things I found on SS was the chat and challenges, so I hope to engage in these on this forum. I just want to say 'hi' to every one here, and I hope I can be of support to fellow squalories, though I have very low motivation myself, but I'm sure you all understand what that's like. Thanks  |
|
|
|
Post by ivorytower on Aug 28, 2008 3:27:58 GMT -5
Hi Mrs Mole,
I'm glad you've found the new board. Like you I can go from one extreme to the other, being perfectly organised and keeping everything clean and in order to just letting everything go and then getting overwhelmed. It's amazing how quickly things can get out of hand.
I'm definitely not a hoarder but I know the drowning feeling from the clutter and general mess I allow to build up. It's often taken some kind of crisis, or at least an urgent need, before I take steps to improve things for myself. I think I have a generally self-neglecting attitude but this board is a great motivator because it's non-judgemental.
I hope you're feeling better soon.
|
|
|
|
Post by Mystic Pegasus on Aug 28, 2008 5:45:55 GMT -5
Hi Mrs Mole. Welcome! I'm in Australia, so may end up being online at similar times to you... one of the problems with so many others being in the US or wherever. At the moment I'm dealing with losing my kitty Misty, from chronic renal failure... she's in her last few days and I'm going to have to have her put to sleep soon... so won't probably be chatting a lot or whatever, but, in time, once the pain lessens, I'll try to be more active and actually get some decluttering and cleaning done- something that's been basically neglected since my kitty's downturn.  Prayers from anyone would be appreciated, that she will have a few hppy days left and that I will be able to judge the right time to let her go... Anthea. |
|
|
|
Post by pegasus48 on Aug 28, 2008 13:32:52 GMT -5
Welcome aboard, Mrs. Mole. (By the way, I like your name.) I bet if you keep reading the posts, and posting yourself, you will be able to let go of some of the hoard and toss some of the trash. It's funny, but the success of other S.O.S. sibs can motivate us to get going! And remember, motivation follows action. (Who am I quoting here? Is it Script?? Or Lioness??) Anyway, we are glad to have you here.  |
|
|
|
Post by messymimi on Aug 28, 2008 16:35:28 GMT -5
Welcome, Mrs. Mole . You are correct that many of us have strikingly similar stories, in whole or in part. That is why we can help cheer each other on and understand each others trials. I even specialize in low motivation! Hope you feel better soon. messymimi |
|
|
|
Post by heylady1 on Aug 29, 2008 15:13:04 GMT -5
Welcome MrsMole! Glad you came over here and posted!! You're right, no matter the country, we all have a lot in common. I'm a hoarder myself although I am working on this! You have been a perfectionist cleaner? Both my grandmothers were like that, and my own mother to a certain extent. Not real sure where I got my tendencies from.... 
|
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on Aug 29, 2008 21:39:08 GMT -5
Welcome, MrsMole! Nice to have you back! Hope you feel better soon, so you can jump right in and get going again! 
|
|
mrsmole
New Member
Joined: July 2008
Posts: 73
|
Post by mrsmole on Aug 31, 2008 23:21:02 GMT -5
Thanks for all your welcomes! I am really struggling at the moment, so it's going to have to be baby steps to get started, and that's the other thing - where to start!  ! (I've been told before "start anywhere", but I still have a lot of trouble deciding which part of "anywhere"). Anthea, I am so sorry to hear about your kitty - I have 2 cats myself. That must be very heart-breaking to go through. When you are ready, I would love to help support you in chat or any of the forums. Thank you all Mrs Mole |
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on Sept 1, 2008 9:23:51 GMT -5
Are you feeling better? Is the cold going away? If not, just get some rest and drink some lemon tea. If you are feeling better, there are several options for getting restarted.
1) Start with trash. Pick up those used tissues, and some other obvious trash. You are not going for perfection! Just pick a number, and pick up that many items, or fill a small bag, or even work for 3 or 5 or even 10 minutes.
2) Focus on the 3 D's...dishes, dinner and duds. Do a 3 to 10 minute challenge on one of the three....take dirty dishes to the sink, plan your next meal, or collect dirty laundry.
3) Post on Listzilla or chat. This is the one I used when I started. If I could not figure out what to do, usually someone else was doing something useful, and I would realize that it was a good idea, and do it myself.
I hope that one of these ideas is helpful for you.
|
|
mrsmole
New Member
Joined: July 2008
Posts: 73
|
Post by mrsmole on Sept 2, 2008 1:30:39 GMT -5
Dear CrazyCatLady Thanks for the advice. That is a good way to get started. The cold has (finally) subsided. I actually got a little bit of vacuuming done today. It's something I have a definite aversion to doing for some reason, but seeing the floor covered in visible bits and pieces is something that really depresses me so I thought I'd have a go at it. I got my daughter to pick up most of the stuff on the floor last night, so there was quite a bit of "space" to vaccuum, I was half hating it/ half really pleased I was getting it done when the vacuum head broke  It seems like something always breaks on the vacuum cleaners I buy, granted, I usually get cheapos (less than $100), but this time I got what I thought was a good mid-price one (about $250) so I thought it would last a few years. I've had it a couple of years and I certainly haven't thrashed it by any means (the cat got such a fright when I turned it on, like "what the h*** is that???") Anyway as luck would have it, I have another one of the exact same model in the garage, that I picked up from the side of the road, thinking of just this eventuality, so I will have to get the head off that one and hope it's ok. |
|
|
|
Post by houseworkhater on Sept 2, 2008 15:32:32 GMT -5
Welcome, Ms. Mole, and glad you are feeling better!
|
|
|
|
Post by anonymoose on Sept 2, 2008 16:16:48 GMT -5
Hi Mrs. Mole!
|
|
|
|
Post by crazycatlady on Sept 2, 2008 21:05:57 GMT -5
Oh I just HATE when that happens! But I do hope that you can get the vacuum repaired with parts from the other one.
Good job at vacuuming, and getting your daughter to pitch in!
|
|
|
|
Post by AnnieOkie on Sept 4, 2008 13:24:16 GMT -5
mrsmole wrote, "(the cat got such a fright when I turned it on, like "what the h*** is that???")" I'm sorry but I got a great giggle out of that!!  Good for you for attempting to vacuum!! You are doing great! Keep it up and let us know how things are going. |
|
