Financial stress & chronic illness: Have you ever felt embarrassed to ask for help? 💸

I've had Crohn's since age 16.. diagnosed at 17, and was dependent on my parents for almost a year. At that age it's humiliating to ask for help, especially for me. But help was there and I did recover.

Being a nurse since 20, I've done for others, plus having children early on, I did for others from sunup to sundown. Went into hospital, came out and back to caring for others and finishing college.

Now things are very different. I moved cross country to work, get my Masters and start a new life, with my family I moved with me. Within a few short months, my son was off to college and his education and my plans were off to the hospital to have an emergency amputation. My leg and my career were taken, along with my goals and plans. It took a year to recoup, as the trauma physically affected my Crohn's. Then I was determined to find work, not as a nurse but in a medical participation, and couldn't get hired. By year 3 of my move, I had many issues with my leg, A major hurricane where I lived and a World Pandemic hit.. I needed help and continued stressing over financial matters, as I've never been out of work more than 1 year, and saved money was spent, gone, I still cared for my pets and daughter but barely did much else. My writing took a far back burner( I'm a published author who needs to get published again) and healing, paying bills and trying to keep a positive attitude was all I could muster.

When I finally explained to my grown kids, I need help, they clearly were doing them and not close enough geographically to assist me. I've been trying to get help for my daughter or me for 7 yrs, still no help. It's very disheartening to ask for help, hate asking and still not getting it. I've realized,vita not as simple as asked ng,vits near insane to expect you'll actually get it. I do have a great person, my daughter's friend who's always coming by to see how she can help and she's a true blessing.