“I felt incapable of doing any basic task, so I was scared to speak with Crosslight.”
In her own words, Nancy* shares the turbulent times she has faced over the last few years.
When I moved to London 16 years ago, I was working really hard to support myself with a proper job. Unfortunately, I was in a very abusive relationship for many years which escalated in 2019. My ex-partner was finally forced to move out when I went to the police. As much as I was relieved that he was gone, my anxiety, chronic stress, PTSD and depression would not go away. Things were going downhill.
However, I didn’t have time to process anything because when Covid-19 struck, I was diagnosed with acute respiratory Covid infection. I was isolated and bed-bound. The exhausting fatigue and all the other side effects, including a heavy brain fog, memory loss, chest pains, blurry eyesight, dizziness with nausea, tinnitus 24/7 and massive headaches went to the extreme. Eventually I felt suicidal.
I went through 6 months of treatment. But this meant that I fell into debt as I wasn’t able to work. My GP referred me to a Social Prescriber [who] referred me to Crosslight. Before Covid, I was able to do everything, support myself, work, pay rent, pay bills. After Covid, I felt incapable of doing any basic task, so I was scared to speak with Crosslight.
I was shocked because my adviser was patient, understanding and really compassionate. I felt like I was speaking with someone who really understood what I was going through. It was absolutely life changing. I cannot describe how grateful I am for my debt adviser for everything they have done for me.
When I applied for PIP [disability benefit], my adviser was there to support me every step of the way. It was one of the most complicated forms I have ever had to go through. And because my application included my mental health struggles, my adviser actually joined the telephone interview session with me. I couldn’t believe that she did this for me. I could not have done it by myself as I knew I’d break down. I was so relieved when PIP was awarded.
My Crosslight adviser went above and beyond. She supported me with so many different things. She made me aware of the help that I was entitled to and made sure I applied for it. Every time we did something new, she was extremely patient. We would have a telephone conversation for an hour every single time. She is so informative but also so compassionate. It really made me trust her and made me feel at ease, which is something I hadn’t experienced in a long time. Every time we spoke, I felt less and less stressed. She felt more like a caring friend than a debt advisor.
It is because of Crosslight I can now afford my rent. I no longer have to use my local foodbank at the moment and I can pay for my monthly medication and bus pass. I never would have been able to do that before Crosslight’s help. I still have to be careful, but I can now the heating on which I couldn’t ever do before.
Since working with Crosslight, I have become a better person myself. I have changed the way I think and become more compassionate towards myself. It Is amazing that my debt advisers could impact me and my life so deeply. It says so much about them. They are truly inspirational people.
Since things have got better, I have even started to become creative again. By trade, I am a designer and artist and I had not been able to create in so long. Thanks to Crosslight, I have been able to take part in a charity art exhibition to help give back as my pieces were sold to raise funds. If it hadn’t been for Crosslight, I’d still be in bed, unable to do anything.
I cannot find the right words to explain just how grateful I am. Crosslight has been life-changing, not just for my finances but also in my personal life. My debt advisers have given me such hope and it really felt like they gave me this hope not from their job descriptions, but from their heart. I have such gratitude for the work of Crosslight, and would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
*Name has been changed to protect identity.