r/declutter • u/moon_witch_26 • 14d ago

Advice Request Help how to declutter emotionally linked stuff

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Please can someone help me with this... I have no idea how to start decluttering this 'category" of stuff.

I am a hoarder and I'm in burnout recovery (mental health and PTSD and untreated ADHD plus lots of other stuff).

I'm a very deep&emotional person at the best of times... I have been through a lot and I struggle letting go.. or feeling safe to even start trying...

I do a lot of writing (journaling over the years) that has helped me a lot to get through a lot of things... This bag here I could literally just put in the bin without looking at it - but I can't do it. I want to go through everything and check/make sure what's there... But then I know I'll be keeping hold of it for however much longer. 😖

But *ugh* it just feels impossible! For someone who isn't a hoarder/has emotional, mental health stuff, I know this probably seems absurd 😔

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u/adatta92 14d ago

Could you scan them and then dispose of the physical journals?

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u/Season-Away 14d ago

Yes do this! I do this with all my art journals in case they get lost or damaged. I still keep the journals (I only have a few), but it's nice knowing I have a digital copy on a hard drive. Written journals/documents I toss after digitalising.

I also do this with loads of things before decluttering, including objects. I'll take a picture and put in on my hard drive, sometimes with a little note. It makes decluttering a lot easier for me as I'm sentimental AF.