When I get frustrated at a big task, like cleaning up a huge mess (such as after a large party) I break it down into smaller tasks. It may take me longer to do it that way than to execute a well planned attack but it works!

Go around and pick up the obvious trash; if the indoor trash can gets too full empty it in the outside trash bin.

Find a large space away from the kitchen sink for dirty dishes, then collect them!

If you have a dish washer empty it! If not clear a place for clean dishes. Then wash a "load of dishes" and let them dry.

Go around the house and collect dirty clothes and get a load started.

Sorry if this sounds too much like the list you complained about.

Gentle hugs!

It's gonna be okay Honey.
First, take a little bowl and put some vinegar in it. That will attract all the little fruit flies and they will drown.
Then wash all your dirty dishes and wipe down the counter tops.
Sweep and mop the floor............
I know this seems like a lot, but I promise you will feel so good when it's done :-)

Good Luck :-)

Actually, once I get started on a fairly large task, after awhile it becomes a little therapeutic for me when, before, I wouldn't have thought it would be. Currantly filing papers atm. I've come extremely far and there is still some left. But, I took it a day at a time, and it actually calms me a little bit.

I'm currently * :P

Its called depression. My house got in such a tip even i found i wanted to live somewhere eles. I have hit rock bottom. But slowly i mean very slowly im comeing back up. AS pepperman says break it into small tasks. I write a small list every day of things to do. eg make the bed. wash up. do the washing. wash. this sounds really silly but i stick to this list and do it what ever time of day i can cope with it. Baby steps. Be a bit more kinder to yourself. Gentle hugs

I KNOW how you feel! To someone on the outside, they may say, "Jeez, it's only dishes, just do them!" OR people who don't know what depression is like may say we're lazy! This is maddening! My laundry has piled up and I haven't emptied my bathroom trash and there are used q-tips and kleenex everywhere! I know when we're depressed we get overwhelmed, so EVERYTHING seems like an effort, at least that's how it is with me. If I look at the big picture it's scary and I end up having motivation problems and I'm frozen...I don't do anything. Not sure if this was helpful, but I can certainly relate!

I know how you feel. I was shocked when I saw how far down I'd gone and the things I'd do that never would have happened before

It's true though, the only way out is just to do it, take one step, then another and the more you get into it, the more satisfaction you start to get from progress.

I put on music, book on cd or a move on loud, since I have trouble focusing and staying on task, it keeps me there doing it.

Okay this is a little late, but if you're still nervous, just breathe.

Wally's idea for the fruit flies is awesome. Drown the little fuckers :D

Next...fill up the sink all the way with water and dish soap. If you want, you can add a tiny bit of bleach to get them REALLY clean.

That can sit as long as you like.

Overnight, even. It'll loosen everything so it's not so hard to get them clean. Next day or whenever you start, just do a few at a time. It'll get done. Oh and rinse really, really well if you use the bleach lol.

Remember to breathe, you're not disgusting, it'll be gone before you know it and your kitchen will survive :)

as someone said drown out the f'ers! set your timer for 5 minutes and start the dishes...if you don' tfinish do it again tomorrow. work up to 10 minutes or 15 minutes but no self berating once that timer goes off you're done...no guilt. no shame. the dishes will most likely get done eventually. it's the depression....it's just the depression....the dishes are not a moral issue!!

Nothing "wrong" at all. This is an issue of a nasty illness, not a moral issue. Depression and anxiety are energy thieves. You hit the bottom, and there is nothing left but to reach out; as you have.

IN your position, I was rotting to death. I managed to find one action I COULD take, and I did it. It took a long time, and lots of support from my community here, and my real world community.

I made it through. ANd you will make it through. We will help you all we can with the support that we both give and receive here.

Keep us posted. We care what you are going through.

I can understand how you feel. I am in the same situation. With my depression and anxiety and now a slew of health problems cleaning seems like too much.
I have just started cleaning and I find it easier to just wee bits at a time. Today just wiping down one window left me with more exhaustion. I get overwhelmed if I look at my whole townhouse and how disgusting it has gotten.
Like someone suggested and Ive heard before, just try and do 5 minutes worth. If you can do more than do so, but if not, feel good that you did 5 minutes of cleaning. Also with laundry and dishes I break it down and do a little at a time. Sometimes some of the laundry gets washed and dried but not folded for a few days or put away.
Instead of looking at your dishes and thinking you can do them all, maybe just load the sink with a few and wash them..little bits at a time.
A list is a good idea too, but make it a long list with very small tasks.

Depressed - Please know that all this that you feel is real and significant is only "mind games". We have awesomely powerful minds, but when things don't "feel" right - then you know that your mind is playing tricks on you. Just like a hypnotist in a stage act can put a person in a trance and that person can "feel" and "act" like an animal of some kind - we have the same power to do that to ourselves! When we say - "the house looks ---- " or" my cat doesn't love me" - your subconsious mind is following YOUR instructions - it's the creative part of our minds that allows us to create fine art OR create illusions of reality. But that's all it is - illusions - or else - everyone would be seeing and perceiving the same thing, and it's obvious that they don't.
I was doing that same thing - even my husband looked "funny" to me - like a stranger. Then I read about the tricks our minds can play, and also, our basic, God -given nature is to love - and that can't be done with the mind - only the heart. That "pushing" away feeling is called "resistance" and it's a major "defense" of the mind ( when you have given it the notion that something is to be feared or defended against.) Like I said, you are doing all of this to yourself - we all do it (until we realize it and make the necessary changes).
The mind can create - but one thing the mind can't do is love - and that's what we are all seeking. That is what makes us feel empty, lacking and isolated - because it's not natural.
Try to start letting a little love into your life and forget about the trivial matters. Start with your cat - take a minute - no more- to just be with her/him. Then let yourself do something loving for yourself.
Allow yourself to make love a priority.
Also, there is a process that I have been using for anxiety - it's called FasterEFT. The man's name is Robert Smith and he has the largest video library on utube. There are tremendous testamonials on there about people overcoming depression and all sorts of emotional problems.
I highly recommend that you check it out.
Many blessings to you,
Pursah

...again, you must have been to my house! I have not let anyone in for several months now. Right now my excuse is that I am preparing for the packers since I will be moving back to the US. So-no point. At least that is my story.

I know even me telling you to not beat yourself up will not keep you from doing it. What did help me was talking to my bestest girlfriend this morning. We have known each other for 30 yrs this year. She always makes me cry-because she loves me so much and cares about me...no matter what messes are in my life or my house or anything else. She loves me unconditionally and wants me to call so she can encourage me.

So, please know that I want to send you some encouragement. When you can, do a little at a time- every little bit counts...then encourage yourself for what you did get done (instead of beating yourself up about what you did not get done)

The only way around it is to hire a cleaning lady or throw the dishes out and use papaer plates and plastic forks. lol Like the others say, kill the bugs, fill the sink, I suggest the Clorox if they are that bad. Do a sink full and sit down and rest. When you feel rested prop yourself up and do another sink full. If your lucky, fill the dishwasher. (I don't have one). Take all day if you need to take your time. I fell asleep last night and forgot to do the dishes...it is a mess today so I have to do as I speak.

I do one big chore a day. Unfortunately, dishes have to be done every day. And picking up the trash around the house and taking it out, last but not least keep the living room clean and picked up. But, I wash clothes one day, mop, the next, scrub the bath the next, dust one day, all the while taking breaks as I need to rest.

Divide your house up and do so many task a day. I have to do it that way. I may not have the cleanest house on the block but it is not the worst either. Matter of fact, looks pretty clean to me.

Do you have kids, dole out chores to them if you do., I checked, you have teens, you can give them chores to help you keep up with the house. If they don't do them, don't let them do what they like to do. (no going out, no computer, no vidio games, etc or even make them stay in their room until they decide to be part of the working family) May be hard enforcing this, but it will work in the long run. They can clean their rooms, sweep, mop, take the trash out.do their own laundry. And after you get the dishes caught up, they can do them too. It is nothing more than my Mom expected out of us. And my daughter gives my 8 year old grandson chores to do, and the three year old has to clean her own room. Hell, we even cooked dinner.

You are ill, they need to respect that and help around the house. None of it will take more than 20 minutes out of their day if they don't moan about it.

My sibling and I even cooked for my Mom. She worked all day, deserved to come home and do nothing and have a nice meal.