[*Laurie*]

I live in an apartment complex for 3 years; I really like my place. I've been married for over 30 years. My husband lives exactly 1 mile from me (he's a hoarder & I need a clean environment, so we don't live together, but remain dear friends).
A month ago my husband was out on a bike ride & stopped by my apartment so we could watch a baseball game on TV. He locked his bike under the stairwell (I live on the 2nd floor). After a few hours he left to go home and found that someone had very tightly zip-tied his bike, in 5 places, to various poles beneath the stairs. We used scissors to release the bike from the zip-ties.
I knocked on the door of the apartment that's just across from the stairwell. A pleasant-looking young man opened the door and my husband asked him if he had any idea of who had zip-tied the bike. The young man went ballistic and started screaming about how the bike created a "fire hazard". My husband pointed out that in no way did the bike create a fire hazard; it was not blocking anything. The guy continued screaming about the bike. I suggested that we speak with the manager. I turned to walk to the manager's door, but noticed that he wasn't home (his truck was gone).
The whole encounter was very weird, but we let it drop and my husband left on his bike.

Then, on an early evening 2 weeks ago the same young man got into an altercation with another neighbor. My husband was here again. We saw the guy standing and screaming long after the other person had retreated into her apartment. We saw him tear at his hair and face. He kept screaming very loudly (could not understand his words). I called 911 and the police came immediately. To make a very long 2 hours short, I'll just say that everything ended up with 3 police cars here (6 officers). The young man was straight-jacketed and taken away in one of the police SUV's. I was relieved, thinking he'd be gone for at least 72 hours, but he returned the following day.

This morning I was sound asleep at 7 a.m. when I heard a man screaming-singing LOUDLY. I've never heard a live opera singer singing at such a volume. That went on for 20 minutes. I finally got out of bed, looked out of the window, and saw some neighbors also trying to see what was going on. I stepped outside, walked toward the stairway a bit, and saw that the person singing/screaming was the same young man, sitting on his motorized bicycle in front of his door. When he saw one of the neighbors look at him the guy went wild, screaming how no one respects his presence or opinion, etc., etc. - while intermittently screaming the same song, over and over. I called 911. Just as I finished the call the guy took off on his motorized bike.

For an hour he repeatedly rode around the block, then back onto the apartment complex grounds (still screaming/singing). I don't know what ever happened to the police; I never saw them.
I wrote a note about the incident to the manager, dropped it into the office mail slot. (The manager is often gone...very friendly man, but not much of a manager.)

I went to the store, then came back and slept for a while because I was exhausted. Our apartment complex is being painted, so this week has been stressful for everyone, with the painting crew and all the noise. When I awoke from my nap I heard screaming again and discerned that the screaming was coming from inside of the VDG's (Very Disturbed Guy's) apartment. He was yelling so loudly in his apartment that I could hear it inside of my apartment, over the drones of the paint machines and a/c.

As I'm writing this I am not hearing any screaming, but I am a wreck. Seriously. I feel like I'm having a constant mid-level panic attack from all the noise, lack of sleep, and the feeling of knowing that VDG is going to do who-knows-what at any time. I feel very triggered (tremendous fear of violence) and extremely unsafe. If you've read this far I sure do appreciate it, and if you have any idea of what I should or can do - I would appreciate that, too.

[Purple,Violet,Blue]

Laurie, that sounds awful.

Try not to worry. Keep calling the police.

It's essential you speak to the Manager. This is a serious incident, and he needs to be on-hand. That's what he's paid to do.

Could you stay with your husband or a friend until it's sorted?

Thinking of you.

[eskielover]

That sounds horrible. That constant level of anxiety never knowing what encounter will be next is totally draining....even worse in hot weather & wuth all the other painting activity going on.

They probably didn't keep him on a 5150 because he was probably not a real danger to self or others.....just a TOTAL NUISANCE. Hard to have a neighbor like that.

[*Laurie*]

Thank you both. Yes, this is miserably stressful. I don't have anywhere to stay (definitely not with my cats) and this situation could go on and on, until the guy moves out. I'm feeling resentful that the manager is gone most of the time and when he's here he doesn't seem to be aware (read: concerned) about what's going on. I like that he's not an intrusive manager (good for me & other decent tenants)...but that's also the problem (with difficult tenants).
Add the mentally disturbed guy to the extreme heat to the wildfires burning as close as 40 miles from my town to the darn fireworks (often illegal and VERY loud)...honestly, I'd like to go IP at this point. I feel like I'm fighting cracking up. But I won't leave my cats with all the noise and stress going on, and me not here for them.

[eskielover]

Everything seems to pile on at once as if one of those things to deal with at a time wouldn't be enough. Hope things will calm down a bit.

Don't get me started on fireworks. We get them even in the country. The park thoygh miles away has a loud & long display & it scares the horses. It upsrts my woodsy critters too. It used to bother my dogs when they were young. Guess not hearing or seeing well csn be a blessing. My oldest dog can only hear the others bark now & she only chimes in when they are barking too. Those silent fireworks would be nice.

Even controlled fireworks aren't that safe. I cas at Calavaris fair ground the 4th of July one year. Watched their fireworks display. The excitement was really the brush fire they started with the fireworks on the hill behind the fair grounds. The fire department was already there & they got it out in no time but it could have been bad.

[*Laurie*]

Oh eskie, fireworks....I am done, done, done, with them. Last 4th in my town - it was really BAD. My windows were rattling so hard I thought they'd break. I finally called the cops and was told they were overwhelmed with complaints and were trying to deal with it. Meanwhile, the air was smoky from...wildfires!!!!! Absolutely crazy. I have one cat in particular...I rescued him from a traumatic kittenhood, and he is so horribly frightened by the "boom" sounds, it's just pitiful. In fact, he's limping just slightly today and I'm worried sick about that.

Anyway, your poor animals...what a stupid, cruel thing fireworks are - legal or not.

[*Laurie*]

doublepost~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[eskielover]

Your poor kitty.....fireworks & that loud neighbor. Wonder if those "thunder suits" for dogs work for cats too ( for fireworks.....much worse than thunder.

[*Laurie*]

I've never heard of a thunder suit - I will look into that!

[*Laurie*]

Okay - yes, I have seen the anti-anxiety body wraps at a local pet store. I've wondered if a cat that is extremely sensitive will feel safe with one on. Just the newness of it might upset him. I guess the thing to do would be to start using it when he's not frightened so he'd get accustomed to it.
I'll tell you, I wish there were thunder suits for people.

[Apokolips]

Originally Posted by *Laurie*

Okay - yes, I have seen the anti-anxiety body wraps at a local pet store. I've wondered if a cat that is extremely sensitive will feel safe with one on. Just the newness of it might upset him. I guess the thing to do would be to start using it when he's not frightened so he'd get accustomed to it.
I'll tell you, I wish there were thunder suits for people.

There are sorta, have you heard of weighted blankets for anxiety?

[*Laurie*]

Originally Posted by Apokolips

There are sorta, have you heard of weighted blankets for anxiety?

Yes, I have and I SO wish I could afford one. I sleep better and feel so much calmer when I use heavy blankets, especially form my knees down. If I ever get disability I'm going to buy a weighted blanket.

As for my poor frightened cat, Solomon, I have researched in the past and found that a .5 Klonopin can be given to a cat for anxiety. Once, years ago, I had a cat who suffered from anxiety and would bite at himself because he got hives from being anxious. It was pitiful. All vets did was pump him with steroids that didn't help at all.
One day I felt desperate and searched online...ended up giving the kitty a tiny bit of Klonopin to break the cycle of stress-itching. He slept hard for a few hours and by God, he stopped the biting at himself. So now I'm considering giving Solomon a bit of Klonopin on the stupid 4th of July.

[eskielover]

Hey, if the kolonipin works.....why not. I have heard people give their pets the dramamine med for anxiety too.

I sleep with a small blanket all year. In the summer, just across my body. Legs & arms out to stay cool. They have to be soft plush personal size blankets.....though in winter I pile on the down blankets.

The weighted blankets are also used with autistic people too.

[*Laurie*]

Thanks so much for your support on this thread, eskie.

[eskielover]

It is a joy to interface with you