Hi friends! I’m Annika! I’m freshly 25, chronically ill, and in the process of applying for disability for the 3rd time.

I recently had a hospital stay for mental health where I was in for 8 days. After I got out, we subsequently contracted Covid-19. I’m on new antidepressants and things are getting better, but I had spiraled quite badly before I went in.

I am severely in debt from a lost job in 2024 (that I’m in a lawsuit for) and I am having extreme trouble getting back on my feet after this most recent hospital stay.

Both my partner and I work; however, since my hospital visit, I’ve had to take a 30-day leave of absence. Colorado provides some medical leave, but I was only able to get $800 to cover the 30 days.

All of that money has been going to necessities and medical expenses. Our monthly rent is $1300, and we have not been able to pay that in full for 3 months now.

I'm not used to asking for help like this, and I'm at a loss for how to express our need without coming off as desperate, but if I'm honest, that’s where we are at. We are $3k in debt to our landlord, and the people we sublease from have been extremely gracious and helped out, but they can’t continue to do so. Our needs are greater than what we have been able to receive in support.

Basically, anything helps. If you are able to help with $5, it would mean the world to us.

The money would first go to paying our rent, which includes utilities. Anything else would go to buying food.

If you know anything about me, you know that food insecurity is our biggest struggle outside of rent. I speak on it quite frequently on my social media, and I’ve made some waves in smaller communities that don’t seem to like me talking about it. Because of this, I feel especially embarrassed to have to ask for help. I have gotten massive amounts of hate for talking about our need for food, and I am anxious this will turn out the same.

I know everyone is truly struggling right now, and I feel wrong asking for help, but like I said, we are desperate.

I'm working on selling things online, and I'm going to be applying for rental assistance, but there is no guarantee of help from that.

I don’t know how else to say we need help, besides this.

If you are able to help, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, I cannot express my gratitude in the measure it comes. Your support means the world to me, my partner, and our two cats. Thank you for considering and thank you for reading this.

So much love.

-Annika