[shamon86]

So since last Saturday, I’ve been dealing with a wasp problem in my apartment. I’ve called maintenance and talked to the leasing office multiple times and they’re working on it but it’s a slow process because we can’t tell where they are coming in from.

It seems like every time I think they’ve fixed the issue, more wasps keep getting in and Thursday I’d finally had it. I got home and found two in my apartment and just start bawling. I go over to the leasing office and the girl I’ve been talking to is gone for the day, but it doesn’t matter because I’m barely holding it together and I’m not sure the people there understand me. I go back to my car and just fly off the handle. I’m sobbing, sweating and hyperventilating. I’m pretty sure I’m having a panic attack.

Now, I’m a 33 year old woman, I should be able to handle a few bugs. I can’t understand why I have such a strong reaction to the wasps in my house. I’m majorly overreacting. I try to reason with myself, because the worst case scenario is I get stung right? Well, that already happened last Saturday, so I honestly have no idea why I’m freaking out. I didn’t think I had a phobia of bugs because I’m still catching them or killing them, but maybe I do. Logically, I know that panic doesn’t have to make sense. But I’m also still fighting with myself because I’m an adult and should be able to deal with this without having a major melt down.

I don’t have even have a real question here other than Any tips on how to keep the stress down until this gets fixed? Am I truly overreacting to this situation?

[Lilly2]

You're doing what you can to be proactive while acknowledging your own feelings to this, which are healthy things to do. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this @shamon86

(((safe hugs)))

Many people, myself included, would be freaking out over wasps in the apartment. It sounds like your leasing office is trying to do what they can to get it under control, but they've failed in detecting where the wasp nest or nests (plural) are. If it's an ongoing problem that affects your safety, maybe that can be deemed as a breech of contract, where you can request to move into a different apartment without wasps or to move altogether (thus breaking your lease due to dangerous health hazards).

It's easy to get phobias from repeated, ongoing experiences, including things that affect our health, our quality of life, and our daily functioning. Don't put yourself down for that, but do keep being proactive in taking care of the problem, comforting yourself by allowing your own emotions to flow (like you are here), and learning from this experience when attempting to find another apartment that is least likely to have any bug problem.

When I was a child, our family had to deal with roaches and rodents. I felt gross from that alone, not to mention the other traumatic experiences I had as a child. I've hated bugs ever since. I'm still scared of spiders, too.

And so, ever since I've gotten out of being homeless, I've made it my own boundary (and right) to ask the apartment management ahead of time (and sometimes neighbors) if they do regular spraying and if they cover any bug infestations. They sometimes have a clause in their rental agreements about certain bugs like fleas or bedbugs being the responsibility of the tenant, but with other bugs like the one you described, there's no way that wasps are your responsibility, especially since wasps tend to live outside and build nests outside - nests that the groundskeepers should be detecting and getting rid of (or at least relocating, if they are bug-loving entomologists). You can ask before deciding to rent an apartment, and you can maybe see about an apartment that is away from trees or where wasps like to build nests. The second or taller floors area sometimes safer, but sometimes not. It depends. I try to look at online reviews about the apartment complex before renting.

You are not overreacting.

I'm so sorry you got stung. (((safe hugs))) That alone would cause anyone to freak out, especially when the threat returns. You're brave to be catching and killing them.

Your apartment manager is responsible for finding and removing the problem. If your entire town is infested with wasps, it could be something you can address to an alderman as a first resort, or higher up the chain of command if necessary, and especially if you're not the only one in the community who is experiencing wasp infestations. You all have a right to your safety. (((safe hugs)))

Keep us posted on what is going on.