2 ms·

My bed bug experience was utterly traumatic. It was about 7 years ago. I lived in a small studio apartment where the landlord didn't care about anything. I've c

My bed bug experience was utterly traumatic. It was about 7 years ago. I lived in a small studio apartment where the landlord didn't care about anything. I've come to understand that landlords are utterly incapable of treating resilient infestations due to many factors. I finally solved it (just before moving the hell out of there) by contracting with a professional, reputable exterminator who did a thorough job, and signed me to a subscription service that promised followup treatments which I did indeed require. Come to find out that this was a fluke, and reputable exterminators will not enter or deal with apartment tenants because of professional courtesy for the disreputable ones who are contracted with the landlords. I suffer from C-PTSD and any bugs crawling on me trigger utter trauma and emotional flashbacks. Now I love insects, don't mind them in the wild, but I can't abide pests. I was sleeping on the kitchen floor, I had to stop volunteering at church so they wouldn't spread, I couldn't move until they were eradicated, my life was in tatters. Thank god for $EXTERMINATOR who saved my life and my bacon.

heavyset_go 4y ago
I had to sleep on a plastic blowup mattress for 6 months simply because they couldn't crawl up it. I had to starve them of their food source, which was me, for long enough that they would exhaust their reserves of my own blood and their children would starve. It was one of the worst periods of my life.
- kamaal 4y ago
  It was years back, yet- as little as watching anything crawl on a wall gives me anxiety, I have to often go closer to take a look at what it is, I generally breathe a sigh of relief if it flies(rules them out entirely). A mosquito bite, feels nice after you see it fly away, knowing at least its not those cursed days all over again. Sleepless nights, helpless days. Had it all during those days. I'd rather leave this earth to the heavenly abode as an option than relive those dreadful days.
  - heavyset_go 4y ago
    Every once in a while, I smell that musty bed bug scent and start panicking. Being threatened with the presence of bed bugs is equivalent to being threatened with grave bodily harm or torture in my subconscious mind, and I'd go to great lengths to ensure I never went through that again. I hate to admit it, but I agree with your last sentiment. They are a hell like no other.

heavyset_go 4y ago

I had to sleep on a plastic blowup mattress for 6 months simply because they couldn't crawl up it. I had to starve them of their food source, which was me, for long enough that they would exhaust their reserves of my own blood and their children would starve. It was one of the worst periods of my life.

kamaal 4y ago
It was years back, yet- as little as watching anything crawl on a wall gives me anxiety, I have to often go closer to take a look at what it is, I generally breathe a sigh of relief if it flies(rules them out entirely). A mosquito bite, feels nice after you see it fly away, knowing at least its not those cursed days all over again. Sleepless nights, helpless days. Had it all during those days. I'd rather leave this earth to the heavenly abode as an option than relive those dreadful days.
- heavyset_go 4y ago
  Every once in a while, I smell that musty bed bug scent and start panicking. Being threatened with the presence of bed bugs is equivalent to being threatened with grave bodily harm or torture in my subconscious mind, and I'd go to great lengths to ensure I never went through that again. I hate to admit it, but I agree with your last sentiment. They are a hell like no other.