Recently had to move back to my apartment cause I broke up with my bf. To start MOVING IS IMPOSSIBLE for many reasons, please don’t even ask.
Was hoping for a fresh start with the psychopaths who live below me. I did everything possible to gaslight myself into thinking it was all just a big misunderstanding and that there was hope to repair our relations.
Basically the first day, I had ptsd from before. I tried my hardest to tip toe the entire day, and to never walk quickly so that I don’t bother them (dress despite hearing them stomping and walking aggressively).
The entire time I am on edge because every time I make the smallest noise they counterattack it, doesn’t matter if it’s an accident or once per day. So basically my body and mind is always in a state of fight or flight, bracing itself constantly for a reaction.
Even then, I had to listen to them being noisy af. At one point I tried to turn on my tv on THE LOWEST VOLUME and it wasn’t in response to anything they did. They immediately but some vibrating device on and it kept buzzing it sounded like a drill but it was just a ceiling vibrator and I recorded it. They stopped since then I think they realized it’s too obvious or they could only use the plausible deniability to confuse it with some dude that was renovating for 5 minutes.
After 3 days have passed of living here, I’m realizing there seems to be no winning.
Basically their rules are, that they can make as much noise as they want, but if I make the tiniest noise I will be punished.
Not only that, but they also attack unprovoked. I feel like they are genuinely trying their absolute hardest to get a reaction out of me, it’s like their hobby or something. The third day I put my earplugs in, and even when I was COMPLETELY SILENT LYING ON THE COUCH FOR HOURS, they started escalating and they dropped a really heavy object to the point where the whole apartment building vibrated. They also hammer all day at random times including quiet hours but they do it really quietly, to the point where it’s legal. Like its enough to drive you literally insane.
They also randomly aggressively stomp and they also do stuff to imitate me. Like if I read something funny and laugh (im not obnoxious) right after they will slam stuff or stomp aggressively. Keep in mind I literally laughed once not like I’ve been annoying them 24/7.
Now everyone will try to gaslight me but there’s a lot more that proves they are doing it on purpose, and I’m NOT delusional or imagining things.
Is there actually nothing I can do? Like I don’t even think sueing them would help cause they’re not gonna move out.
I just don’t get why they’re doing it. I’m also worried about them framing me. I feel like most people in the apartment have already turned against me cause I’m the only foreigner who speaks with an accent here.
For example, once I tried going to different floors to see where the sound was coming from, and 2 different people complained immediately and reported me saying I’m “creepy” and “invading their space” and need to stop immediately or they’ll call the cops (I was a 26 year old girl at the time)…
They immediately threatened they would have a meeting with me and the property manager and the other 2 people to have a “talk” with me
I just don’t know wtf to do anymore and I don’t understand why I’m the target of everything
Change your thought patterns. Minimise their actions in your mind.
They are not “psychopaths”, they are just “idiots”.
They do not “counterattack”, there is no “attack” from your side. They are just “being a nuisance”. Frame all the bumps and thumps as renovations if you want.
When they make a noise, turn UP your tv, just a little, so you can hear it over it. “Gee those renovations of theirs are a bit noisy, maybe I should put in a complaint.”
When they rattle the ceiling of their apartment, “Hey it must be time to vacuum, thanks for reminding me. I’ll do it now while you’re renovating and making noise so it doesn’t disturb you too much”.
“I hear that plants respond to music so I’m just going to leave some on for Ferris, my pot plant, while I go out shopping for a few hours this morning” - Not too loud, just loud enough for Ferris to enjoy it. If you hear a lot of thumping it must be just them taking the opportunity to renovate while you can’t hear them. I do hope they don’t damage their ceiling with all that thumping while you’re out, oh well.
All that activity on their part takes a lot of energy, your activities take very little. Which one do you think is going to end first?
I honestly don’t know how I can do that. For example this morning they pushed the door against the frame like 4 times, just loudly enough to wake me. also pretty sure it was after quiet hours ended (8am) so it’s technically allowed. Plus I can’t prove they did it to bother me.
I’ve tried turning up my tv before when I used to live here and it just made everything worse to where they woke me up in the middle of the night slamming the doors just enough… and this was their usual cause their kids wake them so it doesn’t affect them negatively
If I leave music on they’ll immediately complain and it’ll be obvious I’m doing it to bother them
They’ve gone as far to terrorize me psychologically by circling my property (car) outside which I can’t prove because what they’re doing is technically legal, but they’re going around my car and between it. Now they’re doing it to other cars too after I reported them so that they have plausible deniability. This doesn’t affect them negatively either cause either way they are in the parking lot for at least 1 hour each day with their kids, literally walking the stroller in circles around the parking (they have no life and are too lazy to go elsewhere cause the parking lot is most convenient cause it’s all smooth and they can just go in circles)
Your situation sounds like in need of serious hands on action and it will only drain people’s empathy and sympathy who can only help you remotely if you continue without getting close help.
Get witnesses.
Have people stay in your apartment. They’ll be able to tell what you’re going through.
Family members, friends, maybe even someone who does volunteer work.