Help Me Escape Abuse
My name is Veronica. I'm 26 years old from the Chicagoland area. I aspire to be an astronomer one day, and my hobbies include music, dancing, gaming, and cuddling with my cats.
In a crazy time like this, I'd rather not beg for money if I can help it. I honestly hate feeling like a charity case, and I know that with the pandemic and protests, my cry for help is probably not as important in the grand scheme of things. Yet it would mean the world to me, quite literally, if I can gather any funds from this.
You see, I'm high functioning autistic and mentally ill as well as diabetic, though I've taken great strides toward moving forward with them. I go to the doctor and take medicine, I exercise regularly and have lost weight, and I've been very good about budgeting what little money I still own, keeping my spending addiction in check for the most part. I'm not perfect, and I still have a long way to go, as I have been out of a job for several years, but I feel like I'm finally getting my own life together.
However, I am still financially dependent on my family, and not by choice. My family is emotionally, mentally, and financially abusive to me and have been my whole life. They have tried to keep me bound to them, stealing money from me, using me as free labor, and manipulating me and my surroundings to better control of me. They have lied to police officers, teachers, and therapists about me to paint me as crazy and irrational. They gaslight me regularly to make me believe I'm useless without them and guilt me into doing things for them. They use their own health states to cudgel me into helping them with even minor tasks, and they spread my secrets they learn without any filter. It's gotten so bad, they once blamed me for a sexual assault I went through. They even prevent me from leaving them, hiding documents I need, taking money from me, and refusing to let me see my friends without their permission as a grown adult. I do not have a driver's license or passport.
My extended family is marginally better, but even then, I have been told I will burn in hell, that my mental illnesses and autism isn't real, and that I've only pretended to be depressed and suicidal for attention. My brother has also had a past of stealing and exploiting my social unawareness, and he's also verbally abusive, sometimes willing to get physical.
And with my dad possibly losing his job soon, they told me I'd be forced to pay their bills on a house I do not own, further crippling me financially and possibly ruining my future forever. I need to get out soon, or I feel like I will be chained to them forever.
This money will just be for a jumping off point. This will go into driving lessons and, hopefully, a car payment or rent if I find a roommate. Sadly, my school never offered driving classes, so I have to pay $400 for them (I refuse to let my family teach me). I plan of finding a job ASAP, as well, so this is literally just emergency funds until I get back on my feet. This will also go toward medical costs (appointments, medicine, etc) as well as food if it every gets down to it. I already took measures so that my family won't get their hands on it, so I promise none of this will reach them.
I can't tell you how much it would mean to me if I could reach even half of this goal. $400 alone would give me the classes I need to work toward my independence. I also will be able to keep some in case I need to pay for my phone or a doctor's appointment. I wish I could ask for less, but sadly, things like this are commodities here, not rights. I know my case is far from the worst, and with the world currently on fire, I realize there are better charities to donate to, charities I would personally donate to if I could. However, I also realize that sitting here waiting for things to slow down will only bury me deeper in this rut, and I might be too deep once it's all over.
Again, thank you so much for even reading this and clicking on it. Thank you for considering helping me. I wish you all the best in life and hope you have a great day.
