My CPTSD Has Left Me Making Poor Choices About My Student Loan Situation

Question:

Dear Steve,

Married with kids. A masters degree in Urban planning. Long story

Since I have trust issues and self-worth issues that come from untreated and misdiagnosed CPTSD I attempted to bootstrap myself into a better situation by getting a lot of education.

Now I have a lot of education and a ton of debt. Like 200k in addition to a mortgage and some consumer debt.

I am not making 6 figures so don’t feel like I will ever get out of debt or retire even without the student loan problem that is growing.

I know I am avoiding it but have gotten some really shit advice and have no idea how to kill this elephant and start eating. It terrifies me to even think about money much less talk about it.

You are the first person that has ever aligned money avoidance to the PTSD framework this way. Are there people that actually get a handle on this kind and scale of the problem?

Steve

Answer:

Dear Steve,

Financial PTSD is a real thing. CPTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder) can certainly suck in the issues caused by the debt.

It seems you are astute and aware to notice your debt is the symptom of the underlying decisions you made. The problem was the need to complete expensive education that may never generate the return you had hoped for. However, chronic education did address the issues caused by the CPTSD and negative self-perception you may have been feeling.

What kind of student loans do you have? Are these federal or private loans? Post your answer in the comment section below.

While I can help you to deal with this symptomatic debt from the CPTSD, I hope you recognize you seem to be a screaming candidate for extensive psychotherapy and probably medication to assist you to tackle the root causes and deal with ongoing symptoms.

Ultimately your situation will need to be tackled in tandem. Both the problem debt and the mental health issues will need to be dealt with to get you through to the other side. Dealing with one or the other but not both is not going to do the trick.

You may not love my answer but it is both accurate and honest.

Big Hug!
Get Out of Debt Guy - Twitter , G+ , Facebook
If you have a credit or debt question you'd like to ask just use the online form .

Last step, fill out the information below or call us for Priority Assistance.

What may we help you with? Select...Credit Card DebtCredit RepairStudent Loan DebtTax Debt

How much do you owe? Select...$1,000 - $5,000$5,000 - $8,000$8,000 - $10,000$10,000 - $15,000$15,000 - $20,000$20,000 - $30,000$30,000 - $40,000$40,000 - $50,000$50,000+

What is the status of your payments? Select...Current and/or just falling behindBehind Less than 6 monthsMore than 6 months behind

What type of student loans do you have? Select...FederalPrivateBothUncertain - I just need help

What is the status of your loans? Select...CurrentDeferredI'm behind less than 6 monthsI'm behind more than 6 months

What type of tax debt do you have? Select...StateFederalBoth

How many years have you owed taxes? Select...1 year (less than two years)2 - 3 years3 - 4 years4 or more years

Are you currently enrolled in a payment program with the IRS? Select...NoYes

What problems are you having with your report?

Late Payments

Bankruptcy

Charge offs

Debts that are not yours

Collections

Errors on your credit report

Other

first_name

Your first name is required. Your first name is required to be at least 2 characters. Your first name cannot be longer than 50 characters.

last_name

Your last name is required. Your last name is required to be at least 2 characters. Your last name cannot be longer than 50 characters.

email

Your email is required.

primary_phone

Your phone is required. Your 10 digit phone number is required.

state Select a stateALAKAZARCACOCTDEDCFLGAHIIDILINIAKSKYLAMEMDMAMIMNMSMOMTNENVNHNJNMNYNCNDOHOKORPARISCSDTNTXUTVTVAWAWVWIWY

Your state is required.

age

Your age is required. Your age must be between 18 and 99. Your age must be greater than 18. Your age must be less than 100.

I agree to the terms below.

Get Help Contact Me 

By clicking on the "Contact Me" button above, you consent, acknowledge, and agree to the following: Our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and to receive electronic communications. We take your privacy seriously. That you are providing express "written" consent for Debt.com or appropriate service provider(s) to call you (including through automated means; e.g. autodialing, text and pre-recorded messaging) via telephone, mobile device (including SMS and MMS - charges may apply), even if your telephone number is currently listed on any internal, corporate, state or federal Do-Not-Call list. Consent is not required as a condition to utilize Debt.com services and you are under no obligation to purchase anything.

By clicking on the “Contact me” button above, you consent, acknowledge, and agree to the following: (1)That you are providing express “written” consent for Lexington Law Firm, Debt.com or appropriate service provider(s) to call you (including through automated means; e.g. autodialing, text and pre-recorded messaging) via telephone, mobile device (including SMS and MMS – charges may apply), or dialed manually, at my residential or cellular number, even if your telephone number is currently listed on any internal, corporate, state or federal Do-Not-Call list; and (2)Lexington Law’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and Debt.com’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Consent is not required as a condition to utilize Lexington Law or Debt.com services and you are under no obligation to purchase anything.

Related Posts

• 

  I Have Fibromyalgia, PTSD, and a Lot of Medical Bills. – Cyndi
  I Have Fibromyalgia, PTSD, and a Lot of Medical Bills. – Cyndi
• 

  I’ve Put My Gun in My Mouth Many Times to Deal With My Debt. – Matthew
  I’ve Put My Gun in My Mouth Many Times to Deal With My Debt. – Matthew
• 

  Debt Related PTSD and Financial PTSD Quietly Hurts Many
  Debt Related PTSD and Financial PTSD Quietly Hurts Many
• My Son Just Returned Home From Active Duty in Afghanistan With PTSD and Debt. – Lori
  My Son Just Returned Home From Active Duty in Afghanistan With PTSD and Debt. – Lori

3 Comments

1. 

   S

   November 28, 2018 at 5:54 pm

   Already moving down that road. It helps a ton to know this needs to be included in the therapy interventions.

   Loading...

   Reply
2. 

   Steve

   November 27, 2018 at 1:39 pm

   Asked question about financial PTSD.

   Loading...

   Reply
   • 

     Steve Rhode

     November 27, 2018 at 1:40 pm

     Answered.

     Loading...

     Reply