Returning to the UK from thailand

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear you're going through such a tough time right now. Living on the streets seems really rough, especially since you need a wheelchair and proper housing. It sounds like the UK only offers temporary accommodation until you get back on your feet, but that doesn't seem helpful when you have medical bills piling up.

I'm wondering if the hospital can work out some kind of payment plan with you? maybe sneding them a little bit each month would help ease the burden. And have you looked into Alcoholics Anonymous meetings online or in person? I met my friend who's recovering from alcoholism at Al-Anon, and it really helped her.

Also, are there any social services that could send someone to assist with daily tasks if you can't manage them on your own? There's a website called dbsalliance.org for people dealing with depression-it might be worth checking out if you have access in Thailand.

I hope something wrks out soon adn you find the support u need.

Thanks so much for your advice.

I tried going to the local AA meeting, but they said sorry, they couldn't help since I'm agnostic. No luck finding any groups in Thailand either.

There's no social or welfare system here-everything's family-based. Families take care of the sick and elderly themselves. It's tough seenig news from back home about illegal immigrants getting fancy hotels, free healthcare, and pocket money.

I posted last night out of despair, alcoholism, and mental health struggles. I guess I just needed someone to listen.

Your reply has been a real comfort. Knowing that people care means the woorld right now.

Thanks again!

I hope you are well. What led you to visit Thailand?

So yeah, I came to Thailand because it was super cheap and I had a Thai girlfriend back then. But I lost my job in the UK and couldn't find anything affordable here at home so I ended up staying put. At first, I thought everything would be fine, but when my insurance denied me coverage on some claim, well...that's when things started to go south.

I really hit rock bottom with drinking and it got so bad that I had to use a chunk of my savings just to get into rehab. That helped for a while, but I've since fallen back into old habits. And let me tell you, the anxiety and depression aren't helping any. So when I thought about going back to the UK, I imagined getting free healthcare and housing, but turns out that's not the case at all!

The NHS isn't what it used to be, and finding a place to live? Forget it. Plus, my health issues are piling up-alcoholism, anxiety, colon cancer, you name it-and dealing with all of this without proper help is tough.

My latest bit of good fortue was stumbling upon Tramadol at the local pharmacy; I hadn't been able to find it before and that's made a huge difference in managing my pain. It's a relief just being able to take a shower in the morning now, with barely any discomfort.

Yeah, I tried heading back home last year but got turned away by hospitals. My GP said he could put me on an 18-month waiting list for specialists! And Blackpool council told me they couldn't even guarantee temporary shelter. So I'm stuck here and trying to eke out a living doing whatever it takes.

Rent, electricity, internet-everything's cheaper in Thailand. Even if food and gas are about the same price as back home, taxis here are way more affordable. Healthcare? Not so much. But at least things are doable on my pension.

So I'm going to keep struggling along here. It may not be ideal but it feels like a better choice than trying to survive in the UK right now. At least Thailand lets me get by, even if it's just day-to-day stuff and managing my pain with whatever meds I can find. Thanks for listening, whoever you are!

no problem at all! i can only imagine how rough things must be for you, honestly. waiting 18 months for the help you need seems like a really long time, though-how realistic is that? meanwhile, have you thought about connecting with some peer support groups or something for your anxiety and depression? what do others do in situations like this

It sounds like it's not a mistake to reach out for help. Maybe there was just a misunderstanding at that AA group, or maybe they misunderstood your position as agnostic. You don't have to be religious; believing in a higher power can mean different things, even something simple like your pet. Have you tried looking up other AA meetings online?

I hope you're not too hard on yourself rigt now-it seems like you've got a lot going on.

It's really unfortunate that there aren't more social services available to you and that the NHS isn't providing the support you need. I'm sorry for what you went through.

I guess being where you are is better than living on the streets in the UK, though it must be tough.

I'm thinking about you and hoping things get better soon.

Feel free to share anything you want hree; there's no judgment.

u gotta present ur stuff 2 the local council when u come back & do a homeless pplz app. they'll check if u r eligible 4 housing. if u r british, u might get emergency shelter, probably just 1 room tho.