YOU ARE NOT ALONE - A companion online community discussion board for The Mental Illness Happy Hour podcast with Paul Gilmartin

Ok. So I’m freaking out a little. My forbearance on one of my student loans is going to be up the 22nd. Not, I am no longer underemployed. I’m now unemployed. No money what so ever is coming in. I don’t know how long I have left or if I even have any forbearance left that I can use to extend things. I was thinking that maybe I could take some time .Get back on my feet here. Take a few months and get stable. But life has to crash in and shatter that notion. I was really hoping that this time, things would be different. I wouldn’t have to rush out right back to work to keep them from taking everything I own. What little I DO own. Maybe I should just let things get so bad that they garnish my wages. I hear they can’t take out more than 20 percent of what you make. That is cheaper than what I am paying now. I may be able to live and afford food if that is true…I may even be able to get off food stamps. God, I am just so tired of this. I wish I could go back. I desperately wish I could go back and not take out all those loans. I don’t know what to do. I had decided to take some time and set things straight. Now, I’m not sure that is possible. All I can do is keep going I guess. No use stressing about it now. I will call them tomorrow and find out all the facts of the matter. Just wish I could call them tonight and get this worry off my chest…
Lawlessness45

P.S. I actually feel better getting all this out. When I got that letter in the mail, for the first time in nearly 6 months all I could think was, "I need a drink. Dear god, I need a drink." Now, I don't need one. Or want one. So...thank you.

Comforting vibes. You will get through this and it will eventually be something you are looking at through your rearview mirror.

Thank you for the encouragement irrationalpersist.

Good vibes and internet hugs. We are here for you.

Hey!

I am glad you feel better. If we truly are only as sick as our secrets, then you are a little more healthy and whole. Good for you.

As far as going back and not getting the student loans, well, it is a little late for that. Remember, an education is a wonderful privlidge.

Also, congrats on applying for forbearance. You took action.

Tempting as it may be to call them immediately and "work it all out, right then", consider that collection agencies will use all the legal means they can, and more, including emotional coercion. They'll try to rile you up, get you afraid, threatening your "credit score".

And believe, it takes them a long time to garnish one's wages. A long time. And they have to mail stuff and go through a whole process. Further, IME alot of employers won't go out of their way to help the creditors garnish your wages. That is, creditors are supposed to follow certain laws, they then invariably don't, so ergo many employers protect themselves by not dealing with creditors who won't follow the law (which is all of them, IME).

What I am getting at is don't fall into their trap of emotionally over promising what you can pay. Don't agree to anything until you at least have a spending plan (budget) and I also suggest tracking your spending.

But that is a long way down the road for you.

I am pleased to see that you know the term "underemployed" and that you are getting food stamps. Been there, done that myself.

Though I am not fully out of underearning myself, I can tell you that life is wonderful on the other side of underearning. It is amazing.

btw, drinking won't help you out of this situation.