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You can’t truly know someone until you start living with them, even if you are convinced that they are your best friends. Sharing a home has a funny way of showing sides of people you never noticed before — maybe they leave their towel on the bathroom floor, or leave dirty dishes in the sink for weeks.
A woman thought she was in for an adventure when she decided to move in with her four best friends, but the reality of living together was nothing like she had imagined.
Turning to Reddit to see if she had overreacted, she shared that she had suffered weeks of cruel behavior before she finally decided to move out. And it wasn’t even the usual roommate annoyances where you can set boundaries and move on.
One of her roommates had been deliberately triggering her allergies, and she had been waking up every morning with “red, itchy and swollen eyes,” completely unaware of what was causing it.
What followed was shock and disbelief as she realized that the people she had trusted the most had been causing her pain all along.
RELATED:
Living with friends isn’t always as easy as it sounds
Woman sneezing into tissue in bed surrounded by used tissues, showing allergic reaction to grass in pillow prank.
Even before the whole “stuffing grass in the pillow” incident, the Reddit user had already started experiencing problems with her roommates.
In a previous post, she shared that the same friends had been pressuring her almost every week to mow the lawn. This was despite everyone agreeing before moving in that she was allergic and would be excused from this task.
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She also mentioned that the tension wasn’t just about chores — there had been other moments where her roommates regularly dismissed her concerns or pushed her boundaries.
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Small red flags often lead to bigger problems
It is hard to set boundaries with someone you consider a close friend when you are sharing the same space, especially if you are trying to hold onto the bond at the same time.
Experts say ignoring red flags or failing to set boundaries since the very beginning can slowly lead to tension and leave issues unresolved for a long time.
Also, conflict is bound to happen when you live with someone and it is important to face it directly rather than pushing things under the carpet.
“Misunderstandings arise when we assume we know the reasons for another person’s behavior. And often we do not. That’s why communication is so important,” Adrienne Wood, a social psychologist and professor, was quoted by University of Virginia Today.
Psychologists also say that negative roommate relationships can severely impact one’s mental and physical health.
A study found that people felt more anxious, had trouble sleeping, and found it hard to focus when they didn’t feel safe or comfortable in their own house.
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But when nothing seems to work, whether it’s communication or establishing ground rules, the only option — experts say — is to move out.
“Sometimes our fundamental needs and values conflict with those of our roommates, in which case there may be no way around it but to transition to a new living situation,” Brooke Sprowl, an LA-based therapist, was quoted by Verywell Mind.
Advice poured in for her to take legal action
Conversation screenshot showing a discussion about someone trying to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by putting it in her pillow.
Comment discussing violation of personal space after a guy tries to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by placing it in her pillow.
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Comments discussing a guy trying to prove his roommate is not allergic to grass by placing some in her pillow.
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Screenshot of an online conversation where a guy tries to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by putting some in her pillow.
Reddit user comments discussing police report filing after a roommate dispute involving grass in a pillow prank.
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Reddit conversation about a guy testing roommate’s allergy to grass by putting grass in her pillow stuffing.
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Screenshot of a Reddit comment questioning why charges were not filed against a roommate for an incident involving grass.
Her story left readers both shocked and outraged
Guy placing grass inside roommate’s pillow to prove she is not allergic, in a playful indoor setting.
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Screenshot of a comment discussing consequences after a guy tries to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by putting it in her pillow.
Comment on a prank involving testing roommate's allergy to grass by placing grass in her pillow, questioning the intent behind exposing people to allergens.
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Commenter discussing dangers of testing roommate's allergy by putting grass in her pillow and consequences of ignoring allergies.
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Comment discussing proof of roommate not being allergic to grass by putting grass in her pillow and legal repercussions.
Text excerpt from a Reddit post explaining how a pillow with grass was used to test a roommate's allergy to grass.
Guy placing grass in roommate's pillow to prove she is not allergic to grass in a living room setting.
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Screenshot of a Reddit comment stating intention to press charges due to illegal actions involving a roommate and grass allergy prank.
Many users asked her to involve the authorities
Screenshot of a Reddit comment about being allergic, discussing an experience related to grass allergy and a***e.
Comment about a guy trying to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by putting grass in her pillow, sparking allergy concerns.
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Screenshot of an online comment expressing a strong opinion reacting to a prank involving grass and a roommate’s allergy test.
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User comment on Reddit with text about filing a police report, displayed in a typical forum interface with username and points.
Guy placing grass in roommate’s pillow to prove she is not allergic, sitting on a bed in a casual room setting.
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Text post with a Reddit user expressing anger about proving a roommate’s allergy to grass by putting grass in her pillow.
Comment discussing a guy trying to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by placing grass in her pillow as a prank.
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Comment discussing a roommate prank involving grass to test allergies and its impact on the person’s comfort.
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Comment discussing roommate allergy to grass and reaction to prank involving putting grass in pillow to prove allergy.
Comment from a user upset about grass allergy risks, discussing personal experience and suggesting legal action.
Reddit user allergyMom74 warns about the dangers of testing a roommate’s grass allergy by putting grass in her pillow.
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Reddit comment expressing sympathy after roommate allegedly exposed to grass allergen in pillow to prove allergy claim.
Comment on Reddit discussing legal options after a guy tries to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by putting some in her pillow.
Man tries to prove roommate is not allergic to grass by putting grass in her pillow during a prank.
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Reddit comment discussing encountering genuinely evil people and the impact on one's emotional well-being.
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I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.
I'm the Visual Editor at Bored Panda, responsible for ensuring that everything our audience sees is top-notch and well-researched. What I love most about my job? Discovering new things about the world and immersing myself in exceptional photography and art.
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