you could call consumer credit counseling and get on a payment plan, reduce your interest rates. It also is supposed to rebuild your credit.

It took me along time to get control of spending but it can be done. In 1993 ex and I declared bankrupt, thanks to ex. I haven't had a credit card since. I'll spend what I can but I have to keep enough to pay bills and buy groceries. When I get the urge to splurge I immerse myself in online and real-life shopping. This last winter I decided I needed another guitar so I shopped online, went to music stores and after doing that for a couple of weeks I lost interest and realized I could live without it. That works for me. You can find what works for you. Your therapist has probably never been in debt due to compulsive spending so don't let her enable you!

hi, try not to worry l have a not so great credit rating but it does get better its not about how much debt you have. lts whether you pay what you owe and pay on time. Everytime a bill is paid late it shows on the credit rating if you go to court it shows as red but once the debt is paid 2yrs later your rating rises back to normal. The higher the rating number the better the credit rating you have mine is lowish, it's the first time l've known a job application ask for permission to look.

l'm a spender but not as bad as l used to be thanks to being on meds that have helped, maybe talk to your Dr you can get better help for the mood swings. l also can't have a credit card or cheque book, and l can cope with a debit card as it has visa facility, l can use it online etc without getting into debt.

Hi Hope,
I can totally relate to over spending when manic. I'm normally a big shopper but it seems to escalate when my mood elevates. I have gotten myself into a lot of trouble w/ credit cards & I'm paying for it now. My therapist acted the same way. I no longer have credit cards due to this problem. Maybe you could make payment plans. I'm sure things will be okay! 8-)

If I were you, I'd not only cut up the cards, I'd cancel them. I am a compulsive spender too. You're not alone.

Take the i out of Debit and you have Debt....author unknown

The high I get from spending is unbelievable and the mania shopping alone sparks is insane. I too am in need of filing for bankruptcy but have never even been able to balance a checkbook much less do important things like keep my credit good.....I feel your pain.

In a mixed episode, sort of mini manic, I walked away from my condo mortgage and was foreclosed on. Extremely unwise on my part but like always, I didn't give a damn at the time. How I manage to maintain my career is beyond me. It does feed my mini mania though so I suppose that's why. I wish you the best.

This can be a very dangerous sypmptom of BP. I had to work at it but have it under control now. We have only one credit card with a limit and pay cash for anything else unless it is an emergency we dont have the money for. I try to look at it this way......if I am using a credit card, I am not spending money, I am taking out a loan. If I cant pay it back, I feel like I am stealing from others. Because that bothers me so much, I am much more careful not to make my BP someone elses responsibility by stealing their money. It has been a serious change of mind and perception for me.

You are not alone in this as it is very common. But, there are safeguards you can put in place and learn to use them when you are manic. Find other healthy ways to "feel good" when you need to. xo

i'm in this situation as well, i have cut up the cards, called the companies, put on payment plans, the whole nine yards. i am now trying to be more conscious of my spending, but it could also be that i'm so far into bills that i have no money left over and i won't get accepted for new cards cos my credit is so bad. it was over a six month period i think, maybe not even, but i went on this crazy spending spree. i was shopping everyday! its amazing how short of a time it takes to rack it up and how long it takes to get rid of it.

im terrible with money...
my partner and i are getting married soon and are trying to get our finances sorted..i have very bad credit dur to over spending.
we have opened a joint bank account so any money that comes to me can just be paid directly into the account..i dont have to touch it at all...my partner will pay some wages in and this account will be left to pay our bills ..all set up so we do not have to draw a penny out.
this is the only way we are going to keep on top of the bills..out of sight of mind literally. and im not going to have a debit card for this account either.

i also have a credit card which has been maxed for 7yrs and is just gaining interest...my partner paid a loan off for me , and we are arguing with the banks over ridiculous accumulating charges.
so we have seriously considered going bankrupt.
but i dont know how this would leave is regarding bank accounts.

I am nearly 50k in debt and should probably file bankruptcy because I cannot longer make any payments because I have no money. My husband and I are separated and he is afraid if I declare bankruptcy it would adversely affect his credit. He tries to give me a little bit of money, but it doesn't even cover bare bones expenses.

Get rid of all cards but one debit card. Call debt relief companies that are non-profits and see what they can do to negotiate lower rates and payments.

When you get urge to spend, online--put things on your wish list instead of your cart. Buy something only after you have written down 3 reasons you need it now.

go to an over spenders sort of support group, maybe?

Books on-line, esp. late at night. I make a list of books I want, then then hold off for a few months. Then I can go back and decide if I really want and need them. For personal spending, I also make a list. Then I hold on to it for a month or so. Then I reevaluate if I need it. Sometimes I do. My socks were all shreds, so it was on the top of my list. I found a pair on sale that I wore that night, and my foot actually felt better. I went back and bought 11 more pairs. My pdoc was upset, but I waited till I found the best deal, that worked the best, and now I won't have to buy any more for years.

I don't have to worry much about over spending. I have always had a rule, from my depression era parents, never to buy more than you have in the bank. It seems to work.

Your therapist's approach sounds whack btw. :(