I am 33 I have a diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder and live on a small disability allowance under financial neglect, in an emotionally abusive and toxic household, and under general opression and lack of opportunity in a small town in Romania. ASD in adults is largely unlooked at and the perceptiveness or even receptivity of this notion in this country, medically, does not exist. I have however recently found out about a doctor that could be open to evaluate ASD in adults here. However the costs of this, being a private office, and their location, can range from 100 Euros and up. My allowance is less than 100 Euros per month and my expenses go to things like basic necessities and travel expenses.

Because of this I am forced to prioritise my medical tests and treatments on a monthly basis and many of my other illnesses remain uninvestigated and untreated. I am in need of tests to look at my gut as I have IBS and not currently following any recommended treatment and tests can be quite pricy starting from 50 Euros and up.

My medical needs include:

A long standing nose and throat condition (chronic rhinitis) that has remained unchecked and treated for the last 6 months at least and I need an endoscopy for that, which costs around 50-60 Euros.

Back pain and Lumbar and Cervical Degenerative Disk Disease that I can undergo physical therapy that is mostly compensated for by the public health system, however, I need to take up swimming classes to best manage it. I have taken up soft exercise in my own home - which has greatly improved my pain and mobility - and have tried jogging but the latter can be detrimental to my back and I usually need a long time to recuperate, which makes sticking to it hard. Exercise is essential in managing and regulating my mental health.

My special needs in terms of food for my IBS, for my nervous system and brain are totally neglected and I am being refused the autonomy and independence of having an allowance that I can use for my own food shopping; a lot of times I have gone hungry out of a need to avoid IBS symptoms.

IBS: long standing condition closely related to my mental health but due to being financially dependent on someone else I rarely make my own food choices and have a poor diet. For my IBS I need tests that can start at 50 Euros and up to clarify my needs and treatment.

I have started making youtube videos where I talk about my experiences as someone with a mental health condition in this country and how the mindsets and narratives and medical models do not aid or capacitate truly and rightfully individuals living with invisible disabilities, living with a form of ASD or neurodiversity and so on. My intention is to get clarity and reaffirmation of my diagnoses, and hopefully be a voice of change for this country's approach to and integration of mental health and of those suffering not only by their conditions but by the disabling structures that force them be dependent on or interact with, in undignified and unjust ways.