After filing for bankruptcy, our lives turned around.  We had been drowning in medical debt, housing debt, and credit card debt.  After being forced to quit work because of a disability, we couldn’t keep up with the payments. After a few years of struggling, we made the difficult decision to file for bankruptcy.  We were so nervous going in. We felt like complete failures and horrible that we didn't know any other way out. We came out of the attorney's office completely different.  We had a sense of relief after speaking with him. We hadn't used our credit cards in over a year and based on our income, we couldn't even pay the basics. He helped us understand that we really did try and that the bankruptcy system existed for people in our situation. It was a difficult process, but we made it through. We struggled for several years with a bad credit rating, but even that changed with our patience and dedication. Not everyone needs to file for bankruptcy, but some families do and that is why the system is there. Thankfully, we overcame our obstacles and are more prepared now that we learned and are learning what credit means and how to use it properly.