With neighbors?
"Hi ! Beautiful day ! Enjoy !
"
No proximity, no jumping to help anymore unless it is a medical or security emergency.
I identified one family, my neighbors actually, who are very nice but don't feel quite right to me. I get an eery vibe at times, got some emotional dumping and projections on me by the guy, the woman is just too nice, but I've seen glimpse of how she really feels about certain things... I don't think they have PDs, but I can see they aren't exactly safe.
So I slowly reverted the evolving relationship back to acquaintance level. I cut conversations short and I don't give much information about myself anymore. I will still hang outside with them in the future, seeing how they have children same age as mine, but it will be a polite, reserved presence. Polite enough that we are on good terms, reserve enough that they don't feel like they can request anything of me. It's a tough balance, but surely easier to attain with neighbors than family members.
Since the relationship was already established in your case, it might require a bit more work to get it back to polite acquaintance, but definitely possible. Just don't jump in to make the guy feel better, DON'T say sorry. His behaviour and how he talked to you was not acceptable, to don't accept it, don't act sorry. Just be polite from now on if he speaks to you.
That's what I'd try anyway...
Does it seem possible for you? To ignore him for a while?
