Hello everyone,
I am 23, recently diagnosed with ASD and on the lengthy list for an ADHD assessment too. My whole life I have struggled with tidying and cleaning but recently it has really been getting to me. In my teen years when I first had my own place I feel like it was deemed acceptable to have a messy flat, because that's just 'being a teenager' but as I've got older I have started noticing peoples negative reactions more.
I live alone and allow my flat to get so cluttered and filthy it is probably deemed a health hazard. I have tried so many things to try and stay on top of it all such as making lists, just doing one small thing at a time, I've even got to the point before where I have binned all my plates and cutlery and just started again with only one plate so I HAVE to clean it. This whole situation is really affecting my mental health as I am reluctant to invite people over in fear of what they'll say, I don't eat a good diet because cooking means washing up, the environment is overwhelming and stressful because of all the mess. I really want to be able to keep a tidy house, my brain just doesn't allow me. So far the only thing that gets me to clean is when the landlady sends someone over to service the boiler or a guy comes over for a bit of fun, but even then I only do the rooms that they will be in, and not to a great standard. Unfortunately I cannot afford to hire a cleaner, so I wondered if any of you have any better suggestions? Or at least similar stories so I feel less alone and ashamed.
