Newbie Here--
Posted: March 23rd, 2013, 4:27 pm
I live in New York (City, that is), and I am just about completely alone. True, my mother and father both live here (divorced), and I communicate with them frequently--if "communicating" is the word. Nevertheless I am, for all intents and purposes, entirely alone.
Financially, I live off my mother, and I am 45 (or 44. Can't remember!). This is not to say that I am not entirely, utterly broke most of the time, so I cannot go out on dates (I am heterosexual), or, for that matter, do just about anything that requires more than five dollars. New York is a competitive town, and it's easy to get isolated if you you're not working. New York is a place where, take my word for it if you don't believe me, please, it is very, very easy to get isolated, not necessarily through any fault of one's own.
It is easy to despair in circumstances such as those I must endure every day. I am a writer, but that isn't exactly paying the bills. I do some freelance computer tech work every now and then, but there is no way I can reach the point of paying my own bills in this city, not starting at 45.* Until three years ago, I was almost entirely disabled due to OCD, and an anxiety disorder. This cluster of psychological problems/diagnoses began, I believe (as does my father), when I was around two and a half years old. Until three years ago, when I started on Zoloft, no therapy or medication ever worked. I was almost entirely dysfunctional due to the anxiety and OCD. So, in a sense, I was "born" three years ago (at the age of 42). But try starting out, being mentally ill, at 42 on the streets of New York (proverbially, or figuratively speaking).
This is my current predicament. Thank you for your time.
* At least realistically speaking.
Financially, I live off my mother, and I am 45 (or 44. Can't remember!). This is not to say that I am not entirely, utterly broke most of the time, so I cannot go out on dates (I am heterosexual), or, for that matter, do just about anything that requires more than five dollars. New York is a competitive town, and it's easy to get isolated if you you're not working. New York is a place where, take my word for it if you don't believe me, please, it is very, very easy to get isolated, not necessarily through any fault of one's own.
It is easy to despair in circumstances such as those I must endure every day. I am a writer, but that isn't exactly paying the bills. I do some freelance computer tech work every now and then, but there is no way I can reach the point of paying my own bills in this city, not starting at 45.* Until three years ago, I was almost entirely disabled due to OCD, and an anxiety disorder. This cluster of psychological problems/diagnoses began, I believe (as does my father), when I was around two and a half years old. Until three years ago, when I started on Zoloft, no therapy or medication ever worked. I was almost entirely dysfunctional due to the anxiety and OCD. So, in a sense, I was "born" three years ago (at the age of 42). But try starting out, being mentally ill, at 42 on the streets of New York (proverbially, or figuratively speaking).
This is my current predicament. Thank you for your time.
* At least realistically speaking.
(Kinda dumb joke....)