re: ADHD and clutter

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ADHD is recognized as a real neurodevelopmental disorder by major medical and psychological organizations

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of course it is…the symptoms are real. What is not real is that ADHD is a cause

we are in complete agreement then. By the way, there is research ongoing that seems to indicate that the number one cause of mental dysfunction is…diet.

Food is where our energy comes from. Glucose (carbs/sugars) require insulin in order to deliver their energy payload. Some people are insulin resistant. Ketones on the other hand (fats) do not require insulin as a partner

I would encourage anyone suffering from symptoms of lack of brain energy to look into an easy and cost effective way to possibly help

All I know is that in my house my stuff has to be squared away in its designated area while my wife and daughter's shite can be strewn about the house randomly.

A basic conversation with my wife will go

Her: are you using this?

Me: I was planning to

Her: Well I'm just going to put it away for now until you're ready to use it

While there is shite piled up on the kitchen table that my daughter hasn't used since the 3rd grade.

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Before anybody craps on me- these are things like school papers, old mail, calendars, to do lists, various birthday or whatever cards, trinkets I never asked for

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I'm not crapping on you at all, but trying to understand better: WHY can't you throw them away on the spot? I have been getting grad announcements up the wazoo... if its a close friend, they get a check, but the announcements go straight in the bin. I don't need a picture of my former neighbors kid on my counter. To do lists get completed and thrown away. Throwing away stuff actually brings me tremendous joy. I want to understand why its hard for some.

For example, my husband has a fireplace broom from his deceased dad's office. It was made out of iron and sat outside during a renovation. It is now rusted and in several pieces but it is a NO GO zone for me if I ask to get rid of it. We must keep these rusty shards on the side of our house for eternity (its been there over 10 years). I routinely have to throw old receipts away that somehow he can't part with. I really don't get it and he gets angry when I ask. Perhaps an anonymous stranger can help me to understand.

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but trying to understand better: WHY can't you throw them away on the spot?

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Okay, so... here's my disorganized thought process.

1. Someone took the time to make/send something, it feels "wrong" to immediately chuck it. I *almost always* intend to chuck it at a later date- but by then it is buried under the mound.

2. I used to delude myself into believing that I'd "organize" it in such a way that I could keep it, but neatly and out of the way. I no longer believe this as even I have grown wise to my "deal with it later" ways.

Not papers, but another classic example from The House of Sally: Shampoo and Conditioner Bottles. I hated wasting the little bit at the bottom and would "save" them to combine once I had enough to make it worth it. I wasn't being lazy or ill-intentioned, I was attempting to be thrifty... I *did* conquer this one by figuring out I could transfer the leftovers into those little travel bottles and use them for future vacations.

I have been slowly training my wife the joy of just throwing something away. She grew up as a military brat so I think all the moves and only being able to have so much stuff as a child has warped how she perceives things. Now if she's on the fence about keeping a box she'll say to herself "I don't need this box" and throw it away so very slowly winning that war thank God.

Thank you Lord for allowing me to live a charmed life.