Hello everyone, my name is Robert and I’d really like to ask you for some help – a kind gesture.

Because I have spent practically my whole life confined at home or, at times, in a psychiatric hospital, the outside world, the freedom of the outdoors – incidentally, this is: SOMETHING THAT IS ABSOLUTELY ORDINARY FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF YOU

and for me, it is almost impossible to experience it, due to my persistent and severe psychiatric diagnoses, disorders and illnesses. I have never known that inner freedom in my life.

Two of these many illnesses, or disorders, are agoraphobia and, above all, extremely severe social phobia, which has effectively ruined my life, because even just going outside is almost a superhuman task for me. And what about when I have to go to the doctor or other important places to sort out necessary matters that you simply have to deal with? How am I supposed to get there when just stepping out of the flat causes me such agony? 

And on top of that, making my way to the stop, waiting there with loads of other strangers – and that’s just the start – then getting on the bus. Being on a tram with strangers completely paralyses me and I experience indescribable fear and massive anxiety. What if I were trapped on a moving bus, or heaven forbid, on the underground? Simply being in the company of people, let alone being in their vicinity, is an insurmountable problem for me. 

What’s more, my mum’s legs are already quite bad, so she can hardly walk anywhere. She’s suffered from this practically all her life, but in recent years it’s got incredibly worse, and the worst thing is that it hurts even when she’s not going anywhere and isn’t putting any strain on her legs at all. I think she is entitled to some form of medical assistance given her age; she was born in 1953. We would like to ask for help in buying an older second-hand car, which would make it easier for us to get around town, but also provide a much-needed mental break from being practically shut away at home for practically her whole life – that is unimaginable even for a healthy person. 

The car would be a means to freedom and a break from the city, whilst also allowing us to explore the beauty of our country, or simply to get away and relax from the endless daily routine and suffering.