Hey, everyone. Thank you if you’ve even decided to just drop in and see what this is all about. 

I’m extremely embarrassed to be doing this, but I’ve run out of ideas and it feels like we’re running out of time. 

Between my husband and myself, we have nearly 50,000 in debt across our credit card and lines of credit (I have 1 credit card and 1 line of credit, Kyle is currently on a payment plan with a credit counsel to pay down his line of credit debt which means he can’t get a credit card). We’re $2,713.07 away from having nothing.



I guess I should introduce myself, right? I’m Shayla and I’m a 30 year old who likes to watch movies, uses Twitter way too much and I can frequently be found cuddling a black and white ball of fluff- my dog Joey.

I’m severely mentally ill and have been struggling with my mental health since I was 14, and the last decade has been spent on and off working due to it. I’ve been put on multiple heavily recommended work leaves from my doctors and I’m currently on one that’s lasted about 2 years (so far). I have depression, anxiety, bipolar II, borderline personality disorder and ptsd and it’s just… really difficult for me to function. What feels even more difficult is finding financial assistance- I’ve applied for AISH (Alberta’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped), I’ve applied for Alberta Works and I was denied Employment Insurance because I wasn’t terminated from my previous job, but left myself due to my crumbling mental health. Neither have gotten back to me despite the fact that I can’t find a reason I wouldn’t qualify. Since COVID, government buildings have mostly been closed and only once did I get through to an actual person on the phone. So it’s been.. a lot, to say the least. 

Kyle is my husband, 32 years old and the best person I know. He’s been my rock for nearly 7 years and has done his very best to be the sole breadwinner of our household. A Master in Ecology, Kyle can be found lagging behind during walks and camping trips because he’s found something fascinating to look at or sitting with his nose buried in the latest scientific papers. Also, he’s great for science factoids (did you know some frogs simply freeze when winter time rolls around and then unthaw in spring like nothing happened??). 

Kyle worked as a science lab instructor while finishing up his schooling and continued that work at his alma mater- until recently this year. Since starting his job, he’s been underpaid and overworked and it’s been taking its toll for years. Staying afloat wasn’t even possible, which was one of many things that slowly racked up our debt. It came to a breaking point and for his own mental health, he left the college he was teaching at. I know there are people who’ll say that was stupid, but I firmly believe that your mental well being is deeply important and staying at a job that’s crushing you isn’t worth it. He’s been searching for a job in his field tirelessly since he’s left and is currently working 2 jobs to help us get by and considering a 3rd. 

We haven’t been able to actually get by for about 4 years- we’ve very frequently needed to rely on credit to get even the basics such as groceries. My checking account hasn’t been out of overdraft (aside from having to use my line of credit to top it up briefly because the bank needs it in the positive once a month) in around 2 years. If we’ve ever been in the positive, it’s rarely been over $800-$1,000. 

Between me being unable to work, our collective growing debt, $700 payments to his credit counsel, COVID causing all kinds of messes with his job, a car crash that totalled our old car, fixing up beater cars and all kinds of smaller pitfalls and hurdles.. it feels like this is the end.

I’m really scared because I don’t know what’s going to happen if this dead end really is just that- a dead end.

Thank you if you’ve managed to get through this novella of me whining. Asking for help isn’t a thing either of us likes to do, but this feels like one of the only choices to help us from this tight predicament we’re in. Please consider donating to us if you’re able. It would mean the world to us.

And because I don’t know how to face hardship without overcompensating with jokes:
 

Thank you again for your time. Thank you so much.