I do not understand what you want explained......

Sorry....a part of my illness, I guess. I didn't explain further. I've been so anxiety ridden that I haven't checked in on my medical debts or cc debt in a while. I guess what I'm asking for is just someone who can explain what options I could possibly have as far as what to do. Because my anxiety has me believing that I could lose everything over this 5 grand of combined debt I have hanging over me. And as hard as it is for me to admit it, as a 41 year old man, I still have fears of people yelling at me.

Seek a firm that handles bankruptcy or debt consolidation. They provide free consultations.

You might look on Dave Ramsey's website. There are non-profits that help people get a handle on paying off their debts but please be careful of the ones that simply stop paying your bills while collecting your money. These are the ones to steer clear of. Because your credit gets wrecked. They say they don't pay the bills to get the companies you owe to settle with you but you'll have a nightmare of daily collection calls and demands. Five grand is really not that much debt, let me reassure you that you can do it on your own with a plan and a purpose.

I think Ramseysolutions.com would give you the tools you need. First, sit down with wife and write out a written budget. What are your monthly bills, what is the monthly income. What is the debt, listed out bill by bill. Doing a written monthly budget every month to spend every dollar on paper will help your anxiety. You may avoid doing this but that will increase the anxiety. Ask your wife to sit down with you and plan every dollar on paper. She gets input and you get input. Go down to the very basics, shelter, food, electricity, current medical costs, etc. Take the leftover money and figure out how to get the debt paid off, how much per month goes to each bill. Dave Ramsey says concentrate on making minimum payments to all of them but the smallest, and take every single extra penny to throw at the smallest. Get that one paid off and take that payment and throw it at the next debt. He calls it the debt snowball. You'll feed elation and self esteem as you pay this every month and as each one is killed. Eat at home, bring a sandwich to work, cut back everything that is not absolutely necessary. Put every extra dollar to your debt. Wife needs to be a partner, hold each other accountable to not spending on things not needed or going out to eat. This will give you both a purpose of working together with a plan. You will feel less anxiety with a purpose and a plan. I wish you the best. I know you can do this.

If you have fears of people yelling at you, you don't want debt collectors calling you! They are the worst, they say horrible things. I don't like people yelling at me either.

5 grand in debt is really not that much these days. However, you could contact those people, explain your circumstances and ask for help in working out payment. Most are willing to accommodate. And don’t be spending money on things you don’t need right now.

Tuesday.. I have been where you are. There is no shame. It takes knowledge and action to empower yourself. What has helped me is a written budget checking my bank account daily paying everything in cash that I can using free resources even food banks low cost medical care( I have insurance) shopping at thrift stores . I do not have cable TV or any subscriptions.. Having firm boundaries, determining needs vs. wants.