Emotional turmoil the neighbours from hell have caused.

Neighbours from Hell can cause severe emotional problems.  Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is one example.  The daily constant stress does take its toll.    Constant and unrelenting noise, worry and fear, all build up in our bodies.  We have to release them somehow or we will literally explode.

There have many cases over the years of neighbours ‘exploding’.  They simply reach a point where they simply can’t take it anymore.

Some headlines from newspapers are below:

·         “Cops move out, hoons move in”

·        “Father fires shots at neighbour”

·        “Suburbs living in terror of thugs”

·        “Far too loud for comfort”

·        “Judge scold neighbours”

·        “Man hits neighbour”

·        “Neighbour records his neighbours dog barking and plays it full blast at 3am”

·        “Police officer is the worst neighbour”

 

All this stress leads us to a point where we can’t cope anymore.  Many people choose to move.  This becomes all the more complicated when you own your own house.  First you have to sell your house, sometimes at a considerable loss.  Then you have to find somewhere else to live.  This is problematic.  First because you may have less money to buy another house, and second, once you have lived next door to the neighbours from hell – you will do anything to avoid this again.  So the next house has to be perfect.  This of course, is impossible. 

In my case, I lived next door to the neighbours from hell.  I decided to move.  I checked out the new house, and, the neighbourhood.  I moved in and for a few months it was perfect.  My stress levels fell.  I began to enjoy my life again.  I began to laugh – a strange sound at first.  Then, the neighbours moved out – on both sides.  And, the neighbours from hell moved in - on both sides.  I was now in a worse predicament than before.

 

The list of symptoms that can occur as a result of living next door to  the Neighbour from Hell  include:

·        Sleep disorders

·        Crying

·        Constant headaches

·        Lack of energy

·        Smoking

·        Alcohol

·        Drug taking

·        Weight gain or weight loss

·        Difficulty in concentrating

·        Being grumpy

·        Inability to make decisions

·        Negative thoughts

·        Pure white anger

·        Despairing of any hope

 

Is there any hope and what you can do about the problems

1.     Keep a diary – a daily diary.  Take down times, dates, details of what happened, who said what, registration numbers of cars.

2.     Start a file – Keep any notes received by the neighbours, photos, videos, names and information that you may be able to use as evidence.

3.     Seek help – search the internet for neighbour from hell forums.  Read others problems – it does help.  It makes you feel that you are not alone.

4.     Seek medical help.  A doctor will provide medication if needed to help you cope.  A doctor may also be a valuable witness to your state of mind.

5.     Call the police regularly.  Yes, there will be repercussions from this.  In our case, our house was targeted by gangs, we had our roof rocked, eggs thrown, threats made etc.  But it is important for the police to have a record of all goings on.  Be careful though, the neighbours will say that you are the problem.  Don’t give them any evidence to back their claim.

6.     The hardest of all to do.  Keep living your life.  Don’t let them win.  Go out to functions.  Keep gardening.  Keep washing your dog in the backyard.  Keep mowing your lawn.  Believe me,  I know this will be difficult.  But I have learnt over years of dealing with these people, they don’t like it if you go into your yard.  They want control of you, your family and your property.  If you don’t give in, if you keep going into your yard, they will begin to leave their house.  In our case, they couldn’t stand to see us enjoying our yard – it stopped their activities.  So they started going out.  It gave us a reprieve.  Don’t react to their taunts. Ignore them.  Go inside and write down the details of what happened.  Invite visitors over.  I found that when visitors arrived at our house, the noise died down – and sometimes the neighbours even went out.  They simply did not want any witnesses to what they were doing.  Talk frequently with your partner.  Remind each other what you need to do ie ignore the neighbours from hell, live your life, and record everything.  It does help.

The neighbours from hell are determined to wreck your life and sometimes the whole neighbourhood.  Don’t let them win.  Don’t fight them. You will not win.  What you have to do is ignore them when you can.  Call the police when you have to.  Record everything.  And, live your life. 

It is hard. It sometimes seems too much to bear.  But you can live through it and survive.  We did.  Good luck with your neighbours.  I hope you win.