Hard day

Thank you for sharing @cdtofi .

It sounds incredibly hard to be vulnerable sometimes. The fact that you showed up to the group is HUGE. And the beaut about the groups is that it's OKAY to have your camera off. It's OKAY to have a cry. It's OKAY to share in the chat if you feel you can't say anything out aloud.

We hear you and we hear the hurt you have and are experiencing. I can totally relate to those being jealous of me. In a way, I feel sad for them because they are hurting themselves.

At the same time, I'm glad you set boundaries to protect yourself.

By walking this journey together, I hope we can find a way to support and encourage each other.

Sitting with you hun.

I have a difficult domineering lady in my court who stands guard and analyses everyone and everything in the court in a critical gossipy stupid manner. At first she drove me inside and I stopped being in my garden. After a few years I started to stand up to her and told her off a couple times. It’s difficult as I need to walk by her house to go to the local shops. I stopped letting her determine my usual behaviours. I loved being able to walk to the shop and potter in my court garden.

Yesterday she started being friendly, but it turned into her typical, non stop verbal diarrhoea, complaining about her husbands while I started thinking she caused the alcoholism. I came inside feeling battered. She won’t change and won’t move, so I take her as one of those things sent to try us. I had lived here for over a decade before she moved in. She is determined to be boss of the court. I am clear and careful about neighbourly responsibilities. These days I have more visitors and more activities so not letting her ruin my life.

@cdtofi yep… to retire in peace… please..

This is my very first post. Came onto see if there was anyone that had a similar experience. And bingo. Thank you for posting And all the replies I read too. Unfortunately I'm in Public Housing and have been put next to a problematic Alcoholic who likes to grow "tomatoes". He is quite manipulative and I finally put my foot down today. I rang 1800 respect and emailed the appropriate people. But of course now I feel bad because thats how they make you keep quite. Its been nearly 2 yrs of tomato crops and his entourage of gardeners are all single, misogynistic bullies.

I am doing everything by the book and getting some sound advice in relation to what options I have and good family support.

I also did a lot of reading about these types of people, they know what they are doing, they prey on the vulnerable.

My last straw is when my son called an ambulance (I have some manageable heart failure after chemo) and he started questioning the Ambos. Im in a duplex so its impossible to get any privacy.

I really thank you for bringing this major issue up that I believe is not considered enough, mental health and housing

Hi @Gnat - thanks for sharing, and welcome 👋

Just a little tip, if you want other members to be notified that you've responded, you can tag them using the @ symbol, then selecting their username so it becomes a hyperlink, like this: @cdtofi

@cdtofi @Appleblossom I believe the above post is for you 🙂

thanks @holdinghope5

hello @cdtofi sorry I didn’t get the notification of your reply. I hope you enjoyed your friend’s visit.

I am continuing my new approach of standing up to bullies, rather than withdrawal. It is hard and takes effort but I feel I cannot keep isolating and hiding away. My son needs to see me get a life, so he can get a life. I used to be in very vulnerable situations and didn’t have as much choice as I do now.

hello @Gnat

Yes, my son gave me a pep talk and said stop being so "nice". And stop focussing on him. He isn't with me all the time and when he is the problem seems to disappate. Having other people around offers protection and security, living alone as a women is challenging.

I'm glad you are pushing through it and being an inspiration to others!