If you are in debt one the worst things you might have to cope with is isolation. A lot of people are ashamed of their debt problem and try very hard not to share it with anyone. This of course is the wrong way to go about solving any problem.
Even if you decide not to share the details of your debt problem with your friends and family (and I would seriously suggest that you ought to do so with your close family) you still need to have an outlet for all your concerns and emotions. This should help you to keep your problems in perspective and makes it more likely that you will be able to find a solution to your problems.
In my case the two people that I discussed my problems with most were my sister and my doctor (as I was depressed at the time). My sister provided non-judgemental support and I really looked forward to our weekly conversations. The experience of discussing my problems with my doctor was similar, but he was totally detached from my situation so in some ways it was easier to talk to him. Both were invaluable as I battled to solve my debt problem.
So who should you choose to help you through your debt problem? It could be a family member (ideally one not directly affected by your problems), a minister, a close friend, a doctor or even a debt support group. You need to make sure that whoever you choose is able to listen to your problems and offer advice if requested without being judgemental. They also need to be available and willing to help you. My experience of asking my sister for help was that she was pleased to be asked (although of course a little sad at the state I had got myself into).
Once you have started discussing your problems with someone you must keep on assessing whether this is helping you or not. If it isn’t working for you then never be afraid to stop the conversations (politely of course).
