Chloé Johnson, 22, has been feeling hopeless lately. She’s struggling to focus on classes at her local community college in Dallas while also working full-time, making $18 an hour as a receptionist. Her car broke down, so the $500 that she had managed to save will now go toward a down payment for a used vehicle. “Right now it just feels, like, very suffocating to be in this position,” said Ms. Johnson, who was diagnosed last year with bipolar II disorder, depression and A.D.H.D. “I’m not getting anywhere or making any progress.”It’s an endless loop: Ms. Johnson’s mental health has worsened because of her financial difficulties and her financial problems have grown, partly because of the cost of mental health treatment but also because her disorders have made it more difficult to earn a college degree that could lead to a more lucrative job.

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Persons: Chloé Johnson, She’s, ”, Johnson, “ I’m Locations: Dallas