Reece. If I could and you were ok with that, I would give you a massive cuddle right now. Being from a poor working class area in northern England, I can empathise strongly with everything you say in this essay. I too was the first person in my family history to go to university - in the 80s. While at uni I lived in digs in some rough areas of Liverpool too. I've also had anxiety, depression, C-PTSD and suicidal ideation to deal with, for decades. I'm in my 50s now, keeping on going one day at a time, doing it my own way, constantly reading, watching and learning - with an autodidact 'child' your age (who never went to school - home ed is the best). Right now, we live on my partner's disability (which is a stress all of it's own, as you highlighted, that small amount of money can easily be denied). Life can be so hard, but it's always worth living - and the ways in which you detail for getting through best, well, that's amazing that you've realised that art and empathy are truly the secrets to living life. I couldn't agree more. Thank you for sharing all of this, I know it's not easy to open up like that. Bless you.