Hello everyone - my name is Ross Hardie, and I live in NSW in Australia, just a few hours from Sydney.

I was born with Autism and have had severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder for 18 years. It has tormented me daily, I was unable to work for 13 years because of it, and I am currently having time off work now because I am just struggling too much to function properly and get on with things. I am at constant battles of arguments back and forth inside my head, constantly trying to get the right, positive things going and it’s a repetitive habit just in order to give myself relief.

I have tried so many different anti depressants and antipsychotics and none of them have ever given me long term relief. Thankfully, I was given a referral to go to hospital for advanced treatment, which includes an alternative medicine and behavioural cognitive therapy.

Unfortunately, due to not being able to work (I drive taxis and only earn $350 a week anyway) and the ridiculous costs of living - I am trying to get $750 for the first psychiatrist visit in Sydney, as well as an extra $500 for the excess as it’s through a private hospital, as well as anything extra to help cover the rest of weekly $146 of insurance costs (otherwise I’d be paying $23,000 for this treatment which I obviously cannot do)

I absolutely hate and despise myself for this - but I have no other way of getting the money together. It needs to be done by August 22, the date of my appointment.

Thank you so much for reading this, and for any consideration of help. I am deeply and truly sorry for even having to ask this.

Kind regards,

Ross Hardie