Mental Health

[Eelementary]

I woke up about 20 minutes ago to what I thought was loud laughing, and tomfoolery, from what sounded like teenagers.

We have a Ring doorbell, so I opened the app to have a look at what was going on outside - maybe they were drunk, and walking down the street, being obnoxious?

The noises then turned into screams.

And then, I could hear cries, accompanied by loud slapping sounds.

The screams continued.

Suddenly, I saw our neighbour from across the road rush over to his next door neighbour's house - the house diagonally across from ours -, yelling, and screaming, "Someone call 000!"

The guy who lives in that house had been beating his mother. It seems he had a weapon of some sort in his hand, and was screaming his mother, and debasing her.

He's known for selling drugs in the neighbourhood, and he has been previously linked to setting another person's house on fire on our street. He also attempted to kidnap a child from our local daycare a few years ago (I am not sure if he knew the child, or not). He is not a pleasant person.

My neighbour from directly across us has always been nice to us, but everyone else on my street seems to have issues with him. But he ran to help this woman, got her out of there, and called the police.

Meanwhile, I totally froze up. I actually went as far as to dial 000, but then got terrified, thinking, "What if he finds out it's me, and retaliates? What happens to my wife, and kids?"

Thankfully, someone else called 000, and in less than 5 minutes, the police arrived.

I'm grateful that someone called the police, but I feel absolutely awful that I froze in fear. What would have happened if nobody called the police? People may have died. And I could have prevented it with a simple phone call, but I couldn't do it. I wanted to, but I was overcome with absolute fear.

I kep thinking, "This man is violent, and has shown no fear - if he finds out, somehow, that I'm the one who called 000, I've potentially put a target on our back."

And I feel so pathetic about it.

I praise our police force for a rapid response - they obviously know this guy is a danger in our community.

Anyway, I just needed to vent.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

I woke up about 20 minutes ago to what I thought was loud laughing, and tomfoolery, from what sounded like teenagers.

We have a Ring doorbell, so I opened the app to have a look at what was going on outside - maybe they were drunk, and walking down the street, being obnoxious?

The noises then turned into screams.

And then, I could hear cries, accompanied by loud slapping sounds.

The screams continued.

Suddenly, I saw our neighbour from across the road rush over to his next door neighbour's house - the house diagonally across from ours -, yelling, and screaming, "Someone call 000!"

The guy who lives in that house had been beating his mother. It seems he had a weapon of some sort in his hand, and was screaming his mother, and debasing her.

He's known for selling drugs in the neighbourhood, and he has been previously linked to setting another person's house on fire on our street. He also attempted to kidnap a child from our local daycare a few years ago (I am not sure if he knew the child, or not). He is not a pleasant person.

My neighbour from directly across us has always been nice to us, but everyone else on my street seems to have issues with him. But he ran to help this woman, got her out of there, and called the police.

Meanwhile, I totally froze up. I actually went as far as to dial 000, but then got terrified, thinking, "What if he finds out it's me, and retaliates? What happens to my wife, and kids?"

Thankfully, someone else called 000, and in less than 5 minutes, the police arrived.

I'm grateful that someone called the police, but I feel absolutely awful that I froze in fear. What would have happened if nobody called the police? People may have died. And I could have prevented it with a simple phone call, but I couldn't do it. I wanted to, but I was overcome with absolute fear.

I kep thinking, "This man is violent, and has shown no fear - if he finds out, somehow, that I'm the one who called 000, I've potentially put a target on our back."

And I feel so pathetic about it.

I praise our police force for a rapid response - they obviously know this guy is a danger in our community.

Anyway, I just needed to vent.

FMD, that sounds like an awful experience. Don’t be leaving this unaddressed mate. Talk to someone professional who can help you unpack it all.

 

[Eelementary]

FMD, that sounds like an awful experience. Don’t be leaving this unaddressed mate. Talk to someone professional who can help you unpack it all.

I will be addressing it with my psychologist, for sure.

And I will be re-examine whether this is the right place for us to be.

I can't put my family in a potentially dangerous neighbourhood.

 

[Stevie]

I woke up about 20 minutes ago to what I thought was loud laughing, and tomfoolery, from what sounded like teenagers.

We have a Ring doorbell, so I opened the app to have a look at what was going on outside - maybe they were drunk, and walking down the street, being obnoxious?

The noises then turned into screams.

And then, I could hear cries, accompanied by loud slapping sounds.

The screams continued.

Suddenly, I saw our neighbour from across the road rush over to his next door neighbour's house - the house diagonally across from ours -, yelling, and screaming, "Someone call 000!"

The guy who lives in that house had been beating his mother. It seems he had a weapon of some sort in his hand, and was screaming his mother, and debasing her.

He's known for selling drugs in the neighbourhood, and he has been previously linked to setting another person's house on fire on our street. He also attempted to kidnap a child from our local daycare a few years ago (I am not sure if he knew the child, or not). He is not a pleasant person.

My neighbour from directly across us has always been nice to us, but everyone else on my street seems to have issues with him. But he ran to help this woman, got her out of there, and called the police.

Meanwhile, I totally froze up. I actually went as far as to dial 000, but then got terrified, thinking, "What if he finds out it's me, and retaliates? What happens to my wife, and kids?"

Thankfully, someone else called 000, and in less than 5 minutes, the police arrived.

I'm grateful that someone called the police, but I feel absolutely awful that I froze in fear. What would have happened if nobody called the police? People may have died. And I could have prevented it with a simple phone call, but I couldn't do it. I wanted to, but I was overcome with absolute fear.

I kep thinking, "This man is violent, and has shown no fear - if he finds out, somehow, that I'm the one who called 000, I've potentially put a target on our back."

And I feel so pathetic about it.

I praise our police force for a rapid response - they obviously know this guy is a danger in our community.

Anyway, I just needed to vent.

Shit mate that is a lot to go through! You’ve got nothing to feel ashamed about it’s actually very common. It’s your bodies very natural reaction to fear and danger.

Mate good on you for sharing. I agree it’s super important to unpack after such a traumatic event with a professional.

Keep reaching out here if you want to chat too.

 

[Eelementary]

That poor woman...

The neighbour who intervened has put everyone in our street offside, but he's always been nice to my family.

And his bravery to go help that poor lady speaks absolute volumes to his character.

 

[Happy MEel]

You have absolutely no reason to feel guilty or shame about this horrible incident. It would have been traumatic for everyone involved, including yourself. I agree with other posters about seeking support to unpack this if you need it. As always, we’re here for you Eele.

 

[hindy111]

I will be addressing it with my psychologist, for sure.

And I will be re-examine whether this is the right place for us to be.

I can't put my family in a potentially dangerous neighbourhood.

Maybe your biggest problem is you think to much and are too hard on yourself and that manifestation is causing havoc and an anxious mind.
So you freaked out. It's in the past and can't be changed. No need to beat urself up and make a problem out of it. What good will that do?
It sounds like you are stuck in a loop. I suggest buddhism

 

[Eelementary]

Maybe your biggest problem is you think to much and are too hard on yourself and that manifestation is causing havoc and an anxious mind.
So you freaked out. It's in the past and can't be changed. No need to beat urself up and make a problem out of it. What good will that do?
It sounds like you are stuck in a loop. I suggest buddhism

I definitely do.

Autism is a bitch, sometimes.

 

[Gronk]

I definitely do.

Autism is a bitch, sometimes.

As you know, the challenge when feeling these emotions is to recognise them as they happen. Rather than letting our emotions control us (acceptance and commitment therapy ~ ACT ~ for example) helps us feel them arrive and take steps to avoid the most damaging of reactions.

it might seem simple, that when you feel cold you put on a jumper, rather than shivering. But sometimes we feel overwhelming emotions, but we dont have the tools to see them, feel them and take action. Instead we let those emotions take over.

What you are feeling after that dramatic night is perfectly normal, however you should now recognise that all of this was out of your control.

The principles of ACT are

Acceptance. Start by accepting emotions and feelings that may feel like they're out of your control and mindfully accept the experience.

Direction. Commit to a positive approach that will help push you forward while resisting the temptation to rehash the past.

Time to move on and be kind to yourself.

 

[Rocket man]

I woke up about 20 minutes ago to what I thought was loud laughing, and tomfoolery, from what sounded like teenagers.

We have a Ring doorbell, so I opened the app to have a look at what was going on outside - maybe they were drunk, and walking down the street, being obnoxious?

The noises then turned into screams.

And then, I could hear cries, accompanied by loud slapping sounds.

The screams continued.

Suddenly, I saw our neighbour from across the road rush over to his next door neighbour's house - the house diagonally across from ours -, yelling, and screaming, "Someone call 000!"

The guy who lives in that house had been beating his mother. It seems he had a weapon of some sort in his hand, and was screaming his mother, and debasing her.

He's known for selling drugs in the neighbourhood, and he has been previously linked to setting another person's house on fire on our street. He also attempted to kidnap a child from our local daycare a few years ago (I am not sure if he knew the child, or not). He is not a pleasant person.

My neighbour from directly across us has always been nice to us, but everyone else on my street seems to have issues with him. But he ran to help this woman, got her out of there, and called the police.

Meanwhile, I totally froze up. I actually went as far as to dial 000, but then got terrified, thinking, "What if he finds out it's me, and retaliates? What happens to my wife, and kids?"

Thankfully, someone else called 000, and in less than 5 minutes, the police arrived.

I'm grateful that someone called the police, but I feel absolutely awful that I froze in fear. What would have happened if nobody called the police? People may have died. And I could have prevented it with a simple phone call, but I couldn't do it. I wanted to, but I was overcome with absolute fear.

I kep thinking, "This man is violent, and has shown no fear - if he finds out, somehow, that I'm the one who called 000, I've potentially put a target on our back."

And I feel so pathetic about it.

I praise our police force for a rapid response - they obviously know this guy is a danger in our community.

Anyway, I just needed to vent.

Look after yourself and the family.

 

[Twizzle]

I woke up about 20 minutes ago to what I thought was loud laughing, and tomfoolery, from what sounded like teenagers.

We have a Ring doorbell, so I opened the app to have a look at what was going on outside - maybe they were drunk, and walking down the street, being obnoxious?

The noises then turned into screams.

And then, I could hear cries, accompanied by loud slapping sounds.

The screams continued.

Suddenly, I saw our neighbour from across the road rush over to his next door neighbour's house - the house diagonally across from ours -, yelling, and screaming, "Someone call 000!"

The guy who lives in that house had been beating his mother. It seems he had a weapon of some sort in his hand, and was screaming his mother, and debasing her.

He's known for selling drugs in the neighbourhood, and he has been previously linked to setting another person's house on fire on our street. He also attempted to kidnap a child from our local daycare a few years ago (I am not sure if he knew the child, or not). He is not a pleasant person.

My neighbour from directly across us has always been nice to us, but everyone else on my street seems to have issues with him. But he ran to help this woman, got her out of there, and called the police.

Meanwhile, I totally froze up. I actually went as far as to dial 000, but then got terrified, thinking, "What if he finds out it's me, and retaliates? What happens to my wife, and kids?"

Thankfully, someone else called 000, and in less than 5 minutes, the police arrived.

I'm grateful that someone called the police, but I feel absolutely awful that I froze in fear. What would have happened if nobody called the police? People may have died. And I could have prevented it with a simple phone call, but I couldn't do it. I wanted to, but I was overcome with absolute fear.

I kep thinking, "This man is violent, and has shown no fear - if he finds out, somehow, that I'm the one who called 000, I've potentially put a target on our back."

And I feel so pathetic about it.

I praise our police force for a rapid response - they obviously know this guy is a danger in our community.

Anyway, I just needed to vent.

Maybe if you were young and single you may have handled it differently but no you have family and perhaps your instinct is to look after your own.

The best way to ensure their safety is not to get involved and keep yourself safe. Perhaps it becomes instinct when you have a family.

I don't claim to have any knowledge on this, just posting my thoughts.