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The Upsides of Having BB's
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persephone86
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 17:53:01
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Upside you say???? Really???? There's an UPSIDE??? Yes, yes. Three months ago, I would never have thought to even say that. But when you go through this hell, and it is pure hell, you also must no matter how hard, try to find a silver lining or two. After a mini panic attack this morning, I thought I'd share mine:
- Uber reorganization & decluttering. While my apartment wasn't cluttered to the naked eye, my closets were stuffed to the brim with clothes and crap I was planning on getting rid of or going through someday. The bb's forced me into action. After a good washing and hot, hot drying, I was able to relieve myself of 9 garbage bags of "clean" clothes to Salvation Army. Everything I want to wear is in clear garbage bags in 5 watertight bins and my closets are clean, my shoes are organized in sealed boxes, and I got rid of about half to 3/4 of all of my things, only keeping the things that mattered to me and that feels like a huge weight gone.
- After treating all the items I want to keep and could in the Packtite, I put them all in ziplocs in labeled rubbermaid bins, which will make moving a breeze in 4 months as I am already 3/4 of the way packed! YAHOO!
- Friends and Family. Honestly, it made me realize that I truly have some of the best people in the world in my life. While I couldn't tell everyone, I was blessed to have found a "bb team" that helped me so much during the height of my ordeal. First, my mom. She did so much research on these things when I was too panicked to do so, picking up of much needed prep items while I was at work, and much needed moral support. She truly is one of my best friends. And while I knew that, this ordeal really made me realize just what an amazing person she is. And my childhood best friend who I sort of drifted a tad apart from before this ordeal due to life, etc. This friend also is the main lady at a property management company and has dealt with numerous pest infestations in her childhood home and now other people's, so I knew she would understand and boy did she! She came over and helped with prep, took me to the laundromat, etc. And had no fear of me or them. And now we talk more than ever again and not just about bb's!
- Being appreciative of the small things. After this, small little things I can reclaim feel like major victories and they put a spring in my step like never before. And it's translated in to noticing and appreciating the small, non bb related things in my life that I would have never noticed before.
- Knowledge and power. I feel now I am ahead of the game having gone through this now. I am empowered with the knowledge that these things exist, how to handle them and keep them from spreading. The more people know about them, the better. I feel like I can conquer most any ordeal now. Plus, should some poor dear friend encounter them at some point too, I can now help them get through it.
- Finding this site! Everyone on it has been such a solace to me and really helped me to put everything in perspective when I felt like I would never have perspective again. Besides the amazing advice, many of you have such a great sense of humor about these things, that I was finally able to laugh about this situation. I feel like I've found a little community. You're a great bunch of folks and I thank you, thank you, thank you!
As Monty Python would say, always look on the bright side of life. And boy am I trying to!
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Beth
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 18:04:26
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yes decluttering for sure. why have i carried around all this crud for ages? soooo many papers! like why do i carry around 3 old cell phones. why???
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wchicago
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 18:11:33
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awww persephone, you're adorable.
and i second everything you said, but wouldn't have thought of listing the upsides myself -so thank you for doing that.
so, although i hate bbs, and in truth would throw a little party if they were ever completely eradicated from the planet, there are many aspects of having bed bugs that are little silver linings to the insanity, sleep deprivation, itchiness, and paranoid freak outs over random lint balls. this site is definitely one of those silver linings. as much as i love my friends (and was also amazed at how great they were in the bb crisis) its at least equally amazing and affirming to me how nice "strangers" can be to one another -this site has kept me sane, offered tons of knowledge, and made me laugh even on some pretty stressful days.i have to add one more upside: being able to blame all the high heat drying for my clothes being tight after the holidays
"its not those cookies to blame, noooo, the dryer must have shrunk them..."
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Beth
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 18:21:29
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lol, i love the high heat thing wchicago...i actually tossed two beautful wool sweaters, a wool pea coat
but you know, things are just things. they can be replaced.amy
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persephone86
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 19:09:36
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LOL to both of you! I thought the same thing Beth when decluttering. Why do I have two cassette walkmans from 1994???? And I think I will use the high, high heat excuse too! Ice cream has become a quite a solace in this whole ordeal...
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Beth
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 19:32:33
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lol.
all electronics more than 5 years old are out of my apartment
selling my expensive trek bike for cash sucked though, for sure
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bb_gave_me_ocd
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 20:09:07
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Ooh, I have an upside. Along with the decreased "clutter" as the PCOs called it (I thought they were my sentimental treasures!) I lost 10-15 pounds through being so anxious I couldn't bear the thought of eating!
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bait
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 20:25:07
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You guys are the most positive people on the planet.
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bb_gave_me_ocd
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 20:48:18
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Bait, you've made history. I can say with complete certainty that this is the first time anyone's ever called me that. I will have to report this to my mother and therapist.
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Beth
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 21:43:30
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me too. i'm making the report
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Beth
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Posted 3 years ago
Sat Feb 13 2010 21:50:00
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things that are worse than bedbugs:
metastatic cancer
drug addiction
fire/tsunami/hurricane (where you can't save even one photo with a thorough inspection)
paraplegia from a car accident
a child dying before their parents
divorce (assuming you loved the person)
homelessness (yes i understand bedbugs have done this to a couple of folks)
dementiaanyway that's not sunshiney positive but it's helping me keep things in perspective. the worst part about bedbugs once you've gotten some sleep in you from isolating the bed, is the expense. the problem would be easier if there were more resources out there to help cover the expense and/or put towards research so one or two treatments could effectively kill them. no one has this kind of dough lying around let alone the folks that often get them having to buy used furniture, sleep in hostels, etc.
amy
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persephone86
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Posted 3 years ago
Sun Feb 14 2010 5:58:57
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I have to agree with the both the worse things than bed bugs (your list really puts a lot in perspective) as well as the expenses part. I wish there were more resources available to help those in need who are going through this. I'm one of the lucky ones and will never forget that. I've been blessed with help from family around me for funds to combat this, such as the purchase of the Packtite, and do not know what I would do if I didn't have the financial support (as well as the emotional support) at the beginning. I hope that someday there will be a way to combat bbs that is both economically and time friendly so that those less fortunate and with fewer resources can deal with them more effectively and efficiently.
P.S. No one would have called me positive about this either just a month ago. But my therapist said it this last visit, though, so it must be true! Add me to the report!
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