I lost my job in 2008 just about when we had welcomed a new bundle of joy into our family. I took it hard, but I am truly blessed to have a husband who saw things in a more positive way.

Unfortunately, however, my job loss took a toll in our HHI. It meant that we wouldn't be able to pay our bills. When we started using a credit card to pay for groceries, we knew trouble was looming ahead.

We decided to write our creditors a letter stating our situation. We couldn't pay the monthly minimum, but we could pay something, an amount that is workable with our current income and budget. We were thinking that creditors might want to work on an agreement with us given our good track record. Our bills were always paid on time prior to the job loss.

Naivete is what it was.

SallieMae was another thing. Before I was way behind in payments, I called and asked for a payment plan that's workable. I felt bad that I couldn't pay the minimum due—after all without my student loans I wouldn't be able to have a college degree. However, no one was able to help. All I could get was "An adviser will contact you." A few months later when I was in too deep, the SallieMae calls came nonstop. A woman there tried to intimidate me with 25-50% interest rate, wage garnishments, etc. When I asked her to explain why no one could help me months before, she said I didn't owe that much yet; therefore, I was not qualified to participate in a payment plan. But now, she said, because of the significant amount owed, I can discuss it with her. This time, of course, I couldn't afford the payment plan.

I cannot describe enough the emotions going through inside me. I became depressed but I had to force myself to be strong. I had an infant and two other kids to support. I felt that one day, despite my husband's positive outlook, he might just get tired of me and my anxieties. I felt trapped and I had no one to talk to about my situation.

My husband and I felt so bad we couldn't pay back our credit card debts and my student loans. We don't like the idea of not paying back what we owe. We don't have assets. We don't live a luxurious life, just comfortably enough for a family of five. But life has thrown us a curve ball that was out of our control. That was when we decided that we should consult with a bankruptcy lawyer.

To be continued...