Hurt

Hi, everyone I haven't been on ths particular thread in a while.
Anyway, I live in a building for people with psych problems. Late last month my neighborhood had a parade that was going up on the street in front of my apartment house and cannons went off during the parade, which totally freaked me. So, I went running out into the hall yelling "I'll kill 'em all!' As I was doing that my neighbor came home with her boyfriend and a bunch of little kids she takes care of and on top of it my dog runs out into the hall totally freaked himself. Anyway to make a long story short she(my neighbor)freaks as well and my dog runs into her apartment and she grabs him by the collar to get him out. So I go in there to get him and bring him home.
Now she's really not friendly at all. Does the forced smile thing and so on. The weird thing is you would think she would understand as she has stated she has PTSD also. And this building IS for people with psych problems. I guess she's lucky. She can controll her reaction to things.
Also, I'm not sure that it is wise to take care of children in this building as many of us have serious problems.

michele, sorry your neighbour wasn't able to be more understanding.

You raise a good question, imo. If you're living in a special place, then is anyone considered well enough to babysit? Only you would be able to answer that...but do realize that not everyone with PTSD is unable to function safely.

Also, is there a way to educate whomever it was with the parade about loud noises and the startle reaction? Sounds like there isn't much neighborly communication there at all. Maybe they could at least announce things ahead of time, so you can prepare (and others like you can too?)

Where I live they would have to get a permit to do something like that (noise ordinance exception). It would involve surrounding area notification too.

Sorry that happened to you. I also agree with what Sky said. Take care Michelle.

Hi Michelle,

I've had problems with my neighbor who is seriously bipolar and off her meds most of the time. There have been times when I felt that I've inadvertently done something that has upset her in some way, or that we've had a disagreement about something. So I've written her a little note telling her I'm very sorry and that I hope we can put it behind us. She usually crumples it up and throws it on my doorstep, but the way I look at it, that's her problem. I've made a heartfelt effort to apologize and that's all I can do. I can't make her understand or accept it.

And sometimes it can help to just continue to smile and say hello, and give it some time.

Hope this helps.