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Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 12:49 pm
by shep
Would appreciate some info from people in the know in Carvoeiro. I am staying in a villa near the primavera restaurant and each night we come across a woman who seems in serious distress. First night she was crying hystericall into a phone and the next morning she was outside our villa sitting on the ground shouting into her cell phone again. Last night she was walking up and down the road in a nightdress and again looking distressed. Is this woman local and known for this? My wife and kids are extremely worried every time they see her, but I dont want them to approach her

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 3:17 pm
by Michael Crane
If she is so distressed surely you must approach her? I couldn't just ignore her and then ask for advice on a forum.

Don't be afraid . . . go and ask her.

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:30 pm
by Gary/Gaynor
If you are not really sure about apporaching her, I I do understand with a family in tow, maybe inform the local GNR during the day what you have seen.. it could be she is mentally not well, that happens. I wish you luck, not nice to see people distressed. Maybe as Michael suggested, you apporach her but not everyone feels that confident. See if she speaks English and go from there.
Gaynor

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 4:37 pm
by bruce
You could contact the villa manager maybe he/she could help.

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 5:40 pm
by frank
If she is as you've described and is not in apparent danger, approaching her is unlikly to improve her situation or yours. Contact the police who will be in a position to organise professional help.

Regards,

Frank

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 6:01 pm
by laserblazer
.
Contact the police who will be in a position to organise professional help
There's probably a law against parading the streets in one's nightie and they'll hit her with a €600 fine.

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 7:10 pm
by James Faro
If this poor lady's behaviour is occurring each night and not a one-off then she may be mentally unwell. If this has been happening for quite a while then she is probably well-known to the locals whom have become accustomed to her actions.

Even with the greatest of intentions ,to assist her while in her fragile state she may lash out and assault. This really is for the local police or medical authorities to intervene.

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:16 pm
by shep
Asked one of the local waiters about her today and he informed me that she has been like this for awhile. She has even walked into the Primavera restaurant with no clothes on, so must be going on for awhile. She is not local, has an english accent and they said she lives nearby. The GNR dont want anything to do with her, he said. Funnily enough, when I was an the Intermarche today, she was in the queue with approx 10 bottles of what looked like vodka. So definitely has a problem. Hope she gets the help she needs.

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 9:19 pm
by pete-flint
Obviously not short of money then ! ! Or is that her heating allowance. :roll: :roll:

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 10:18 pm
by James Faro
Well if she is British, then maybe hopefully some locals expats know who she is and inform her family back in the UK to come and see her. Her alcoholism may have just started to develop, If the drink does not kill her then she is going to do herself a severe physical injury on the stairs or on the road. This is a real sad case of being vulnerable and alone(if she is).

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 12:50 pm
by djprescott
laserblazer wrote:.
Contact the police who will be in a position to organise professional help
There's probably a law against parading the streets in one's nightie and they'll hit her with a €600 fine.
...........and €300 fine for anyone caught watching!!!

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2013 4:41 pm
by pato
shep wrote:Asked one of the local waiters about her today and he informed me that she has been like this for awhile. She has even walked into the Primavera restaurant with no clothes on, so must be going on for awhile. She is not local, has an english accent and they said she lives nearby. The GNR dont want anything to do with her, he said. Funnily enough, when I was an the Intermarche today, she was in the queue with approx 10 bottles of what looked like vodka. So definitely has a problem. Hope she gets the help she needs.
How was she dressed,? or was she! :D she sounds like a plonky to me, a sad state to be in. :(

Re: Woman in distress

Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 12:10 am
by floyd
I think we are talking bi polar disorder or more properly manic depressive. It sounds as if she has run out of her medicine or is deliberately not taking it. I speak from experience as we have a similar woman in our village. (Yes, I know, instant diagnosis from 1500 miles away but it sounds too familiar) The problem is; what to do. If you offer help she will be in your villa like a shot begging drink and fags and lifts to town. If you are on holiday, ignore it and hope that somebody else will sort it out.