Why is the woman in the apt. building next to me so paranoid? She's constantly spying on people,,,,,,,,,,?

Question

She notices peoples routines and she checks people out on the circuit court access website. She claims the landlord is after her and is frauding housing authority. It's to the point of where I have to sneak around the other side of my building when I go out otherwise she'll come out and start talking to me....... I could provide more details, but what could cause a person to be so paranoid?

Answer 1

Tell her to lay off the crack!

Answer 2

I hope you realize you are not the only one with weird, strange, paranoid neighbors. I really think they are everywhere.

Try searching websites. I'm trying to remember the name of a good one; it was something like neighborsfromhell.com or something like that. You will then realize how average your story will seem!

Try to ignore her the best you can; try wearing a walkman == you don't even need to turn it on, that way you can pretend you don't hear her when she tries talking to you.

Also, I would steer clear of her. If she thinks everyone is out to get her, you definitely do not want to be involved as part of the "they". She could have a mental problem, be schizophrenic, or as some of the other Answerers say, maybe she is on drugs (legal or illegal). Sounds llike a classic sympton.

If this is the only major problem you have where you live, I would tough it out. Don't let her change you or your habits. Keep your chin high. If things get too bad, sounds like you rent, you can always move.

Let the other tenants and managers handle this problem. Do not, under any circumstances, take either side. You will regret getting caught in the middle -- it's a no win situation.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Why can't we, in my building, ever take a peaceful shower, without being froze to death or scalded.

There's a guy across from my complex. He is absolutely a voyeur. Every single time, repetitively, consistently, methodically, this person is definitely watching. You never see him unless he's in the shower while we're in the living room enjoying company between a couple.

Alfred Hitchcock made a movie called Rear Window which has been re-made into a newer version called Disturbia. Within a metropolitan atmosphere, voyeurism and manic paranoia (O.C.D.) manifests itself intuitively by adults. We're free to think and do what we want. Your best option is to not endeavor, act out, engage or anything of the sort. If what you're saying is true . . . . there's an old saying; give em enough rope to hang themselves. Trust me, you're not the only one who notices what this person is doing. Just don't let it affect you mentally the way it affects this woman. Walk, ride your bike, exercise, call a friend, a good friend, redirect, reprogram that whole script. There may not be any control in this persons life except when she does what she does. DO NOT GIVE HER THE POWER. ASSERT YOURSELF, STAND TALL, LIVE YOUR LIFE, SPEAK TO SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE (LOL). THERE ARE MANY OTHERS LIKE YOU; YOU'RE NOT ALONE. GOD BLESS YOU.
P.S. SOUNDS LIKE SHE IS SOMEWHAT OF AN AGORAPHOBIC (SYNDROMIC BEHAVIOR).

WE HAVE HORRIBLE NEIGHBORS BUT HAVE MANAGED TO FOCUS OUR THOUGHTS ON OUR HOME AND EACH OTHER. SUCH AS SEEING THS SUNRISE COME UP OVER THE LAKE HERE IN CHICAGO, TENDING OUR DECK GARDEN, AND OTHER WONDERFUL THINGS WHICH IS WHY WE PUT UP WITH THE BAD STUFF. ONCE AGAIN, YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH PARANOID LUNATIC NEIGHBORS.

Answer 4

Could provide helpful info if someone gets hurt or an apt gets broken into and she sees it. Maybe she is waiting for something to happen so she can be the hero?

DK why but try this.
Distract her attention toward something else in the environment, like a new store opening down the street. Give her a little background that you "picked up" about the new owner being a member of royalty or a retired rock star who now sank the last of his money into this new business and hopes to make a go of it because he's pretty much broke.
Divert her away from you and your life so you can get your privacy back by telling her made up gossip just be careful it isn't stuff that could get someone hurt.
Or ask her "why do you ask?" when she asks you stuff about you. Respond to all her questions with questions of your own.
And when your lease is up- move.

Answer 5

Drugs and illness aside, she may just be starving for attention. Kind of in the "squeaking wheel gets the grease" context. If that's the case, you may want to make it clear to her, that you don't wish to part of her "gossip group" or conspiracy theories. If it does turn out to be drugs or illness, then maybe you can convince her to get the help she needs. The more you know before you confront her, the better your chances of helping her become a better person.

Answer 6

Hi, it could be a past experience that occured to her. She could have had a peeping tom after her, or this happend to one of her friends. Usually when a person is paranoid about something its because that actually hit close to home.

Answer 7

i used to live next to someone who would collect al the sticks he could find, label them, and sort them by length of centimeters. as you can imagine he would have hundreds of bags full of stick in his garage. sometimes people just get that way from traumatic events, or from losses they have had. sometimes they have had some brain trauma or are just getting senile. it sounds like she is harmless so if you run into her again (or if she runs into you) then be nice to her and tell her you have to go do something. the only thing you dont want to do is encourage her! if you do, she will latch on to you and you will never be able to get rid of her.

Answer 8

She may possibly suffer for paranoid scizoprhrania, a true disease and she may need medication. Sound like she difinately has issues that need evaluated by a physician.

Answer 9

She probably has nothing going on in here life except her 'observation' routines. No family or doesn't talk with them, limited to no friends....she's basically bored and it's something to gain attention from.

Answer 10

Sounds like boredom.
I would play into it. You know, mail her some crazy conspiracy theory stuff. And when you see her spying on you, point to the sky and say "THERE! THERE! DID YOU SEE THAT ONE?"
Speak into your jacket and leave strange things lying around...like empty cd cases or strange bottles. You could also leave notes on her door late at night that say...
Yes, we ARE watching.
Once and a while I would also run to or from my car.
You know, you could make this work for you too...like go knock on her door and say:
"The Zoibonots need $150 dollars to repair their ship...they say if we don't pay it they will eat our pets."

Answer 11

She's on crack! Standing next to the window thinking someone is gonna come over to her house,all paranoid!
Thinking someone is always out to get her! Crackhead!