Aid Connor's Path to Healing and Stability

Hello, my name is Connor and I am a 32 year old biracial Black and white queer trans man living in Chicago. At the end of March 2024, I was let go from my job without reason. I live with C-PTSD, depression, and anxiety, so when I lost my job without warning, my symptoms worsened quite seriously. I have managed to get through this time with the financial help of my friends and family when they are able, but I have come to realize that I need help on a larger scale. I am asking for your help to rebuild my savings and find some sort of financial stability while I embark on my new career path after so much time out of work.

I’ve been looking for employment the past 5 months and meanwhile, I have been going to individual therapy twice a week as well as entering a DBT Skills Group to better manage my symptoms. It has been a great help, but is very exhausting and takes up a lot of my time. While I am grateful to be receiving the help I need, I am often too emotionally drained after sessions to cook and clean, leading me to either not eating as much or ordering food on the off chance I can afford it.

I very recently accepted a part-time position at Thresholds, a residential mental health facility in Chicago. While I am so grateful to be employed again, I have not received a start date and thus, have no idea when I will be paid for the first time. I need help rebuilding my savings and covering my monthly expenses, my cat's needs, and gender-affirming care.

Thanks to the generosity of my friends and family and what little savings I had at the time I lost my job, I have managed to cover rent, food, and most of my bills but have other living expenses (cleaning supplies, fare for public transit, laundry, comfortable clothes, toiletries, pet insurance, cat litter and food, and now an extension rod and black out curtains for my room, so I can get quality sleep during the day as I will now be working nights) that I need help to continue covering these expenses and need help to recover some kind of financial stability while I focus on my mental health recovery and starting my new job.

I started HRT in June of 2023, which has been good for me as I am able to finally attempt to come into who I am. That being said, going through puberty and bodily changes at 32 has been difficult to manage at times. This summer has been particularly difficult for me because of my gender dysphoria; the heat leaves me unable to dress in a way that makes me feel safe, secure, and good about my gender. It causes me so much distress that it takes me hours to get dressed and makes me afraid to leave my house so I often have to cancel and/or reschedule plans and appointments. I need clothes that are comfortable and make me feel secure in my gender presentation, to help me get the confidence I need to put myself out there and return to work/regular life.

This is an extremely difficult and vulnerable time for me. I am coming to you honestly, and quite desperately, for your help. Whatever you can give is appreciated by myself and my cat, Barbara Jean. I just need some more financial support in order to recover and restore my mental health and adjust to a new work-life balance. Thank you so much for your support. I cannot express enough how much your kindness and generosity means to me.