Debt and Depression Go Hand in Hand

Debt is normal and everyone has a few. Even if you have no charge cards or mortgages there is monthly electric bills, water bills, telephone bills and the normal monthly bills that need paid.

Overwhelming amount of debt can lead to broken marriages, depression and even suicide. What is a person to do? It is easy to throw advice around but when dealing with the debt you can feel that it is too vast. Debt is like a snowman that started out as a tiny flake of snow. You take a few of those snow flakes and make a snowball, no bid deal. Next you roll that small snowball cross the yard and it starts to get bigger. Before you know it you've reached a hill and the snow ball takes off and makes the start of you snowman. Think of your debt as snowflakes, first you add a credit card making a small snowball, next you add a mortgage payment, the ball gets bigger, your interest is adding to your debt. Then you find yourself short of funds and payments run together before you know what is happening the payments are double and the phone is ringing off the hook with bill collectors. That innocent card or two now has turned into a mess.

What is a person to do? Fighting with your partner is the last thing that you want to do. You went in as a team and sticking together as that team will make your marriage stronger. Depression seems like an inevitable emotion when a person finds him or herself in a pool of debt. At the time you may blame yourself or your spouse but the responsibility lies with both parties. Some may spend too much money while the other is letting it happen. How can we stop the snowman before it happens?

One family is self-employed. The business has many ups and downs (money wise). To make the money the father is away all week long (5 days a week), the mother stays at home and takes care of the children. As part of her job she cleans, cooks, takes care of the kids, volunteers for her children's activities, the paper end of the business and the list goes on. The bills compound and the health insurance seem to raise its premiums every 6 months. The bulk of the income made goes out to pay insurances and business travel. When this family has a bad month or two how can they catch up? It would seem very overwhelming when you know that the bulk of your bills are insurances that can't lapse. What is it that this family could do to change the situation they are in?

Another family is a single mother. Employed but not making much money. You can see how it could be frustrating when she asks for some assistance to help pay her heating or food bill and gets turned down cause she make too much money. She can barely make ends meet and in order to do so she fills up her oil tank with a credit card. Next she needs groceries and funds are low, she uses her credit card. Before she knows what has happened she has put herself in debt. What is this women struggling to keep her family feed and warm supposed to do?

Depression is an emotion that is real and if you think you or someone you know are overwhelmed by bills and are showing signs of depression call the doctor and get help. It won't change your money situation but with the right treatment you will be able to manage your bills sensibly and more rationally.

Don't you wish you could ask the government for a bailout? Or maybe since I'm running short this month I could ask for each wage earner to give me a dollar (we'll call it a depressed mother tax)?

Debt is normal and everyone has a few. Even if you have no charge cards or mortages there is monthly electric bills, water bills, telephone bills and the normal monthly bills that need paid.

Overwhelming amount of debt can lead to broken marriages, depression and even suicide. What is a person to do? It is easy to throw advice around but when dealing with the debt yourself it can seem very