Domestic Violence and fires

[Soberlicious96]

So thismorning the Police turned up knocking on my neighbours door, for the umpteenth time this week, due to domestic violence and abuse. And there is a LOT of alcohol being drunk too. The woman, I think, is the main drinker and the main offender. There is an adult male and two children, I think in their early teens.
My neighbours door, by the way, is only about 15 feet away from my door, as I live in a block of units. And all the fighting and stuff takes place pretty much at my door, about 10 feet from my bedroom window. Last night, as well as the DV incident that took place before Christmas, both started at around 11:30pm.

Last week, just before Christmas I had called triple zero twice in about 10 minutes due to a major incident happening. I could hear children crying and begging someone to stop doing what they were doing, and adults yelling absolute obscenities at the kids and each other. It was so awful, and I was still shaking the next morning.

Anyway, back to today, and as I was walking out to check my letterbox for a parcel I’m expecting, the Police were walking up to the neighbours door so I said to them “Can I please give you some information to pass onto them?” And they said yeah sure. So I went back inside, and grabbed an AA flyer – the 12 question one that is headed with ‘Is AA for you?’, an Al-anon bookmark size flyer, and 2 printouts for rehabs. Both rehabs, mind you, are an hour and a half away, in opposite directions and there is no rehab here in town. Which is crazy because this town where I live is, in my opinion DESPERATE and WELL QUALIFIED for a D&A rehab.

Anyway, so that’s been my morning and week. I am so, so, SO glad I got sober. SO glad. I NEVER EVER want to go back to drinking. Ever.

Oh, and by the way, it feels like pretty much the whole damn country has wildfires. Not doing great with that either, being a wildfire survivor. Got some PTSD stuff happening and flashbacks and stuff. Not such a great week here.

I'll be okay though. It could be worse. And for a lot of people right now, it IS far worse for them than it is for me.

I do hope the police pass on the AA and rehab info to my neighbours. I think these people need all the help they can get.

[white knight]

Hi SL

Your experience with your neighbours reminds me of 40 years ago as a prison officer whenI left my job and decided “if I can’t tolerate then, I’ll get away from them” attitude. Based on that if I was living where you are I’d move, but easy to say.

As a volunteer firefighter for 12 years that ended in 2001 , bushfires spark (sic) some anxiety but that quite normal. Likely ptsd in your case.

TonyWK

[Flowertop]

Hi S

I could relate to your post about neighbours and DV. I was moved by your compassionate response to the situation. I grew up in a DV family situation related to PTSD with alcohol to make things numb (PTSD wasn’t recognised then but my father was post war atrocities).
There are flats behind where I now live which are government owned, overcrowded and people doing it tough. There is often extreme noise from verbal abusive, screaming fighting and banging on doors.
While other neighbours yell further abuse at them for the inconvenience, I feel concerned that people are in such overt distress.
I too hope your gesture of support does trigger support for this family. There really is a lack of good services for people in need everywhere.
Feeling for you and others who are affected by the fires or triggers from the fires.