OCD and too much "junk" in my room.

Steel Maiden · 14-03-2013, 06:33 PM

I am not quite a hoarder, but I do have OCD issues with collecting items in order to maintain prime numbers of items of a certain type in my room / symmetry / inability to throw things away.

How can I get rid of all the "junk" in my room? My room is very tidy, but it is so full. I live in supported housing and I only get one bedroom to myself. It's the biggest bedroom in the house, but I have still managed to fill it up with all this "junk", and the ordering routines I go through take ages. I have issues with personification of inanimate objects, so I have a hard time throwing thing away (for example, I cannot throw away a piece of plastic in the shape of a cat, because I feel like it is a real cat and has feelings and hence doesn't want to be thrown away).

Any advice? I need to throw stuff out.

Laura2.0 · 14-03-2013, 07:15 PM

I don't know much about OCD, but I thought about ways for you to throw stuff out.
Maybe if you pick out one thing that you throw out at a set date/time.
You could also think about a way to say goodbye to your things, like some kind of goodbye celebration or something?

PinQ · 14-03-2013, 07:24 PM

If there is certain numbers you like then maybe you could try throwing items away in these quantities which might make it a bit easier?

ferretmonster · 14-03-2013, 09:13 PM

Perhaps you could either get rid of all the items in one collection so that they number 0 or throw out a certain number in one collection so they add up to a smaller suitable number?

Steel Maiden · 14-03-2013, 10:29 PM

Thanks all. I will try your advice. I will start now and see if I can try the smaller numbers / throwing away in certain quantities / saying goodbye to them.

Ellyx · 16-03-2013, 01:37 AM

I have this issue. Certain things i am too attached to, but i made myself a rule; if i have not used/looked at it in 6 months or more then I'm probably not going to and get rid of it. Its also worth when getting rid of stuff to get it to the tip/charity shop on the same day, otherwise i keep going to the stuff and retrieving things until i have back half of what i got rid of.

But i find it very hard, as i get very attached to things, and i generally feel rubbish for a couple of weeks after

lottybear · 16-03-2013, 09:41 PM

Hello I have OCD too and tend to collect useless stuff. It really helped that my friend came to my house and helped me sort things out. Also I put things into a box if I have not used them or noticed there missing then I after 1 month I get rid of them.
Lotty

Steel Maiden · 18-03-2013, 09:26 AM

Thanks for the advice. I'll get my friend C over to help me.

Laura2.0 · 20-03-2013, 04:35 PM

Hi,
I was wondering if you were successful yet?

Steel Maiden · 23-03-2013, 07:04 PM

I filled four bags with things I shouldn't really keep, and they're waiting for my dad to collect when he comes back to the UK. It was pretty hard.

PinQ · 25-03-2013, 04:13 PM

well done for doing it. it may be hard and you might feel rubbish for a while at first but eventually it may feel like a weight off your shoulders.

MissAnonymous · 25-03-2013, 05:30 PM

Well done for sorting some things out to get rid of. I have never had this issue myself but I can imagine based on other experiances how hard it would be to get rid of things that have considerably meaning to them.

Something I have found helpful is to ask myself; do I NEED it/will I miss it in 6 months time? Or, have I used it in the last 6 months- is it really going to be useful to me? It helps put things in perspective because all you really need is what you use.

Laura2.0 · 25-03-2013, 09:44 PM

well done!

ferretmonster · 26-03-2013, 10:35 PM

Great! Well done, I was really rooting for you, its something I could do with doing a bit more

Steel Maiden · 27-03-2013, 10:16 AM

Thank you everyone. I've decided to sell the books that I don't need anymore on Amazon (getting money = good). And the clothes will go to charity.

I have a problem though. In those bags I have a lot of random "junk" that my psychologist said I should try throwing away (like pieces of plastic), in the bin. I am tempted to leave this "junk" in my dad's house, but in reality I should throw it away.

I am going to do it today. I will bin things. It will be hard but I'll use the techniques you suggested.

lottybear · 27-03-2013, 04:22 PM

Well done. Should of suggested that I had a major clear out couple of weeks ago and sold lots of stuff try eBay too I made quite abit of money selling it all. Again well done it was a big step for you do you feel better for having a clear out x

Steel Maiden · 31-03-2013, 09:19 PM

Thanks. eBay is a good idea too. I will sell some of my old books, CDs and stuff.

bitomato · 31-03-2013, 10:18 PM

Did you manage to bin stuff? I usually have to go through it with a friend present so that once I am finished they go with me to the charity shops etc. I think that having to bin stuff you have already sorted might have tempted you to keep things- did you manage? Either way good for you. Don't let it stay by your dad's though. You need to let go completely.

I have that issue with my things in two places.

Hugs.

Killer Queen · 31-03-2013, 10:56 PM

Really good job Steel Maiden! I personify objects too so I understand the ties that become involved, I used to hoard as a kid but I've had to work hard over the years to step back from it all. Now I'm able to have regular clear outs and find them to be pretty beneficial in the long run. How's it been going?

Saoirse · 01-04-2013, 06:59 PM

My sister has ocd and had à similar problem in her case what looked like rubbish to us we're memories for her afraid of loosing control of her life loosing people in her life.. She had to come to terms with the memories each item had and say to herself she'll always have it inside it doesnt help by keeping it and throw away things one at a time recognising what that particular item had represented for her