
Struggling with ARFID and Homelessness
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Homeless. Father assaulted me a month ago, nearly choking me to death after admitting he blacked out. This is not new; my father force-fed me in rage as a child, giving me ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). I still cannot eat much and am struggling more than ever. Car stolen with liability only. I have 100 dollars left and am trying to make it through winter on a friend's couch. I am very frugal as I cannot eat and cannot move much unless I get more calories down. Mother told me to kill myself this year and projects her mental issues onto me, as well as having co-dependent issues, anxiety, and depression.
Getting help through BJC; applied for food stamps, Medicaid, and collecting records to apply for SSDI. Looking for part-time work for the first time, as the last two desk jobs I've worked I unfortunately lost due to attendance issues largely related to ARFID. Spent all money earned on doctors growing up, with very little results or growth for my specific issue. Recommended 2 years of family counseling right after my dad spent my lucky-to-have college fund on a year at a therapeutic boarding school (which helped me a lot), resulting in 3 years of family counseling to make some progress, but only to end up here. 40k school debt. Had a 3.9 GPA and was in leadership society ODK at Fontbonne in STL. Dropped out from stress and attempted to work on eating through jobs at warehouses forcing exercise.
After drawing boundaries with my mom, my dad leveraged his help when I was desperate after losing another job, saying he couldn't help me unless I pretended like everything is okay between mom and I when it was not due to her telling me to kill myself, and then saying the only reason she said that was because she believed I do the opposite of what she says anyway. My mental health issues and stress from the living environment of my parents were alleviated at a boarding school, yet my mother stresses I have a chemical imbalance and tries to play my doctor. Hence why I drew boundaries and am trying to survive without their help. I have barely stayed afloat financially my whole life on my own, struggling not to eat too little and sleep too much, and my parents have never seen that as an issue or a disability. Both do not take responsibility for their actions and have gaslit me non-stop recently. Thanks for listening. Thanks for your help.
Organizer
Corbin Allen
Organizer
Maplewood, MO