Hi, my name is Sam. I’ve been a freelance artist since 2016 after losing my job for mental health reasons. Around that time I was diagnosed with severe depression, ADHD, and Bipolar Type II, and Prolactinoma. Before I was properly medicated, I attempted to take my life and immediately got help.

I was recommended a therapist, but could never make enough to see one, even with insurance. However, I was able to afford my psychologist visits and keep on my medication for a bit. Freelancing worked alright for me until 2 years ago, where I was hit with a very sudden and devastating divorce with my partner of 8 years. For 6 months, I couldn’t function. I couldn’t get out of bed, could no longer afford my medication because I wasn’t working and lost my health insurance, so my mental health declined, and my debt grew.

Since then, I haven’t been able to catch up. For a while I shamefully fell to alcohol abuse to cope, which only made things worse. And in November of 2019, I lost my ability to function again. I can barely take care of myself physically, the depression has become so severe I can no longer draw, and that was my only source of income. For a while my car stopped running, and I couldn’t afford the insurance which led to a suspension on my license, so I can’t find work. I don’t even have enough to get a bus pass, which is the only other option with how notoriously bad public transportation is in Florida. I now have very unhappy clients wanting money back I don’t have, or art I don’t know if I can provide anymore. All while I’m struggling to feed myself, take care of my cats, and keep a roof over my head.

I feel like I’ve hit rock bottom. Every day for the past few months the only comfort I felt had been in ending it all. But I know I can’t do that to the people in my life.

Instead of ending my life on this note, I want to get my life back. For myself, my family, my friends, my cats. I want to be able to draw and create again, to use my ability to help inspire and move others, and feel like life is worth the hardships it throws.

This is where I need your help. Having this funded could get me the help I need and completely turn my life around. The funds for this would go towards depression rehabilitation, having my medication again, getting my car running and legal so I can have transportation while I find a job, keeping my house for 2 months while I recover, necessities for my cats, and refunding clients who I’ve been unable to deliver to.

Here is an approximate funding breakdown:

Depression Rehabilitation - ~$4,000
Psychologist Appointment - $175
2 Months of Medication - $194
Reinstating my license - $150
Car Repairs - ~$400 
2 Months Rent - $1,114
Refunding Clients - ~$600, with the potential to grow

= ~$6,536

The difference would go towards food/litter/medication for my cats, gas for my car, food, and possible additional refunds. If this somehow goes past the initial funding goal, I can also schedule an MRI and seektreatment for my prolactinoma, which I could never afford to do.

This breaks my heart to write. I’m terrified, and don’t like asking for help. But I’ve done everything I can, and things just keep getting worse, and I’ve run out of options to get myself out. I’m not asking for anyone to take care of me while I do nothing, I want to use this opportunity to get a jumpstart to turn my life around and get a job so I can take care of myself again, and take back everything I let my illnesses take from me.

I will be happy to answer any questions, provide any proof, anything. Thank you for reading, and potentially helping change someone’s life for the better who’s almost given up.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

If you’d like to see the artwork I used to create, you can see it at twitter.com/comfybones