How to declutter without guilt?

Hi guys! I’m trying to work on changing my life style and my relationship with my belongings. I grew up in a very low income house-hold, that had 6 people in a very small space. My home was never clean and borderline a hoarding situation.

I am 21 now and trying to learn how to cope and change my life style in terms of cleaning and having a more minimalist space.

The issue is whenever I try to declutter I have an intense fear and guilt. I have a very hard time coping, and get very worn out quickly when trying to do this. It’s very irrational, but every item I have to decide what to do with, down to an old hair tie, feels like i’m making a life changing decision.

I was taught to hang onto EVERYTHING-just incase i’ll need it down the line or we won’t have enough money to buy it again.

It’s a lose-lose situation as I feel guilt for getting rid of things and I feel guilt for living the way I do and having much stuff.

Another nuance is once I started having a little bit of my own money, I went crazy and fell into a hole of over consumption. So lots of the items I have gotten very little use out of. I have really been working on this though!

However, it feels like I cant make much progress because i’m being tortured by the items I still have.

Any advice, strategies, or success stories would be greatly appreciated! Thank you :)