Bankruptcy is a common occurrence in the United States as thousands of individuals and businesses each year find themselves in an impossible financial situation that they just cannot get out of without some sort of legal help. Bankruptcy protection may be the answer these individuals or businesses are looking for to get debt relief -- but is it the best answer? For some, filing for bankruptcy is the only answer.

If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, chances are you are already on an emotional roller coaster. Not only do severe financial stress, financial burden, and being financially overwhelmed cause feelings of anger, sadness, and even depression, it can also affect your self-worth, your self-esteem, and confidence. For many, a loss of money can also mean a loss of identity. So, what can you do to survive the emotional effects of bankruptcy?

First, understand that bankruptcy is not a death sentence. While it is true that a bankruptcy will remain on your credit for up to 10 years, bankruptcy can help get you on the road to a better financial future by giving you a fresh start (in most cases). Once you realize that your bankruptcy is not the end of the world, and that you can start over, only then will you be able to set goals that will help get you back on track and keep you there.

Some of the goals you can set are to: learn new skills that will help protect your financial well-being -- especially during economic hard times; learn from your experiences and take the necessary steps to ensure future financial security; know that once your finances are under control, a greater sense of control will naturally follow; let go of blame and resentment; learn that it is possible to detach self-worth from financial worth, and finally understand that it is ok to feel anger, hurt, pain, resentment, sadness, shame and feelings of loss – then let go and move on.

If you have decided to file for bankruptcy and you need help, it’s best to contact an experienced bankruptcy lawyer or attorney to assist you with your case. To find a bankruptcy lawyer or attorney in your area, visit the American Bar Association (ABA) website. The ABA features a lawyer locator, which allows the user to search through bankruptcy lawyer profiles that match your needs. Access to the site and profiles is free.