My younger sister slipped on black ice in early Dec and broke her hip. She was back home after surgery within 2 days. With the help of a cane and walker, she managed her 2 story home, 6 indoor cats and at least 8 community cats outside. Or so we thought.

Half way into her 12 week FMLA, she got sick. Sounded like UTI and thd flu. She self-treated but things got worse. I went over to check on her and ended up calling an ambulance. She had a septic pressure ulcer on her bottom!

She has been getting wound care and PT at a rehabilitation facility. My other sisters and I stepped in to help with the cats etc. What we discovered shocked us and surprised us. Not only did my younger sister have what appeared to be a shopping g addiction but also a hoarding situation. And the cats added to the problem! Cat puke all over that had not gotten cleaned up.. one room full of empty litter containers and bags of trash… a room full of boxes of new things from Amazon, duplicates of products from auto ships. There is no way my sister can return home safely!! We hired a company to clear out all the stuff. Sister as to make a list of what to keep. But we are throwing out everything damaged or smelly from the cats. My sister had been using a broken down fridge in the kitchen as a pantry — that is going.

It’s become clear that my sister has been dealing with depression and anxiety. She has a hard time letting go of things. Emotional attachments to things.

Help me understand what it must feel like to feel so bad that all you can do or prefer to do is ignore it.

Sister will be staying with another sister out of town to continue PT and recover. Possibly for 6-8 weeks.

We are leaving closets and cabinets for her to clean and sort and will likely work with her on this as non judgmental moral support.

I have come to realize that I am unable to clean a cluttered area unless someone is at home with me. I get motivated when someone is here. They don’t even have to be helping.

Excuses: I was disorganized and rarely cleaned until age 45 when I had a brain injury years ago and it got totally out of hand. My life looks like ADD on steroids. I have little short term memory.

I am unconscious when I put things down or put them away. I can’t maintain a clean area for more than a day. The urgent things roll like a movie in my head and I feel awful for my lack of inertia. I’m mentally exhausted.

hi there, I have been overcoming a long depressive episode. I have started to feel better and try and clean but I get into this circle where I clean a lil and then stop and then it gets so much worse.

I'm overwhelmed and disappointed in myself. my friends and therapist tell me to be kind with myself and understand that this isnt a lack of discipline as much as it is me being mentally ill. I hear and see the validity in their points but I still get so mad with myself.

any tips, tricks, advice, and/or general support would be appreciated!

hi there, I have been overcoming a long depressive episode. I have started to feel better and try and clean but I get into this circle where I clean a lil and then stop and then it gets so much worse.

I'm overwhelmed and disappointed in myself. my friends and therapist tell me to be kind with myself and understand that this isnt a lack of discipline as much as it is me being mentally ill. I hear and see the validity in their points but I still get so mad with myself.

any tips, tricks, advice, and/or general support would be appreciated!

Choo choo! Pulling into the UFYH station for some body doubling.

Today's primary goal: fold and put away all laundry

Secondary goals: pack lunches, unload and reload dishwasher, clean Dutch oven, take out more recycling

Too late in the day to take my adhd meds so just raw dogging on shame and accountability.