help

LegacyUser

Hi,

I apologize first of all if this is all over the place, that's just the way I am at the moment.

I am 26 years of age. I have a very complicated past to say the least. I have suffered from depression on and off since the age of 13 and have tried to kill myself 3 times. I haven't spoken to my father in 5 years and I don't think I ever will again.

All my friends have moved away to different countries. I have a good job and I am getting on well there now, however I don't have any real friends at work either.

I am alone. I have no interaction with anyone outside of work basically ever. All I want to do is emigrate and try to see if it will improve my life.

I was raped at 17 years of age. That was life changing for me. I spiralled out of control at that point and turned to alcohol. I got a DUI when I was 18 years old. I am not trying to excuse it in any way, I know it was wrong, but at the time I was out of my mind. I did not care if I lived or died and tbh I think I was purposefully living life on the edge, trying to ensure I was killed.

So fastforward to 9 years later... I am finally at a stage in my lie where I am not suicidal. I am a functional responsible adult with a good career. This is a place I genuinely once thought I would never be. But my past keeps showing up and holding me back. I had an amazing opportunity come up for Canada recently with work but I had to turn it down over my previous DUI. It just seems so unfair, the difference between me now and me then is unbelievable.

I so want to emigrate and travel the world. But I could never tell anyone about my past so how would I get a visa? Seems like I will be punished for the rest of my life for my past experiences and mistakes.

Yellow pack crisps

I think you can write to the embassy and explain your circumstances. Also well done for putting your life back together.

patsypantaloni

Sorry to hear you've had such a tough time OP.

I'm not sure if you're aware that the govt passed a spent convictions law earlier this year. I've no idea if it'd apply to you but might be worth looking into it to see if you qualify to have your conviction wiped from your record
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2016/act/4/enacted/en/pdf

Big Bag of Chips

You seem to have written yourself off without looking in to it. A driving conviction from 9 years ago may have no affect on your application. Look into it. Properly. Contact the embassy. They might invite you for an interview, and decide based on that...

But be aware of the old saying - wherever you go, there you are. Which means emigrating is not likely to completely change you as a person. You will still be the same person, with the same past and history. You are doing well to get yourself back on track and maybe moving away is the natural next step and will be hugely beneficial for you. But be careful about expecting too much from another country.

Is there a specific reason you don't socialise with colleagues? Will that reason definitely not be present in another country? Is there a specific reason you don't socialise outside of work? With other groups? Not just friends, or old school friends or whatever, but other groups of people? Organisations you could join to meet others?

Moving might be the best thing to ever happen you. But you will still have to build your life wherever you go. Nobody will hold your hand and build it for you.

Fakediamond

The information here might be helpful to you:

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/justice/criminal_law/spent_convictions.html