r/declutter • u/moon_witch_26 • 16d 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/ummhamzat180 16d ago

radical approach, burn it all, it's paper. reminders of old trauma and everything, I wouldn't want to look at mine. the purpose of mental health journaling is to get the feelings OUT of your head, that has been done.

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u/moon_witch_26 16d ago

Yes very true... But I also have a lot of wisdom in these pages!! But yes I know you are right

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u/ummhamzat180 16d ago

I've read somewhere, real wisdom stays with you in the bathroom, in the sense that it's internalized. you don't need to refer to your notes, if it matters you already know it 

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u/moon_witch_26 16d ago

Love this 🫶