As in, common, a big concern (obviously I get it's a big issue if they are actually present... but are most Americans pre occupied with the risk of them?)
I'm trying to establish if 'friend' (ex friend really) is totally bat shit, a bit bat shit, or actually has a really valid concern... There are many reasons why I don't really want to be around her, but one of the biggest that has caused a rift between us is.. bed bugs.. or rather, no bed bugs! Zero! At least if there were actual bugs, there would be a concrete reason to have drifted!
She is American, I'm British, we both live near each other in England. Bed bugs are something I'd never really thought about until I met her. I backpacked in Australia once, there was concern that some backpackers at my hostel had 'brought in' bed bugs with them from SE Asia, people started vacating the hostel, but nothing was found, no one was bitten and nothing more was said. I couldn't even tell you what one looks like... it's so far off 'things I worry about' (and I do worry about a lot! So I did show her a lot of tolerance) especially here in the UK (even when I managed charity shops it never crossed my mind... we did get fleas in donations though...)
Friend has an obsession with bed bugs. As I understand, she's never been bitten but has stayed in hotels where they've been. She is very well travelled and still travels a lot for work. So I get that yes, it's likely she could come across them even in posh hotels. But in the last few years she's been intolerable (I did post about her ages ago but don't think I mentioned bugs... the verdict was that yes she was nuts..I did maintain boundaries as suggested, but right now I'm trying to reach a conclusion re this particular 'bugging' issue (sorry!) as until recently DP has been having to work where she lives , so it's a constant issue.
She has immense fear that someone could be bringing them into her home. She does a lot of work from home and at one point I was helping her out and doing some work with her in her office. But I couldn't stand to be around her anymore.
An example..one day I arrived with new sandals, she started screaming I had to remove then in case I'm bringing in the dreaded bugs. I pointed out that they were fresh from the shelves of River Island and that's not a shop known for its bed bug infestation. Anyway I went barefoot as no shoes allowed and she went nuts at that saying just as bad as I could spread something. I was really insulted by this as I was straight from the shower, also I look after my feet, they are always well groomed! She said if I was to continue to come round she'd get me some 'indoor shoes'. I said I don't wear slippers , also it was mid summer, very very humid, and she refused to open any windows or doors because she was scared of (other) bugs coming in.
I guess this is OCD with her and she can't help it but it's one of the reasons I stopped going round.
Which is kind of sad as... there were never any bugs in the first place!
She's the one that travels... I've only left the UK once in years... I should have turned it round and said I don't want to visit her house for fear of the bugs she picks up on her travels!