I’ve been bipolar since 2015, had my first psychosis in 2013 but didn’t have my first manic episode until 2015 so was diagnosed with BP1 then. Anyways, 10 hospitalizations later (flabbergasted that the number has gotten to double digits, hopefully my last time in mid 2020 during the pandemic was my last time in a psych ward) I’m still here. I can share the full harrowing depths of my bipolar journey in full length on a separate post, but I’ll just jump straight to the main question I have here about my current horrific financial situation which is what I need the most immediate advice on: 

So my manic spending got the best of me in the past and after I was discharged with the diagnosis of bipolar, my family took extra steps to help me with my financial situation. I wasn’t working at the time and my uncle thought it would be best for me to file bankruptcy and get a fresh start to avoid dealing with menacing debt collection calls while searching for a job and also to avoid all my future employment checks going to debt I took out while manic. I was initially against it since it wasn’t too much debt (like 30k) and I was so young still at 27. But I eventually relented and filed after I learned more, and looking back was glad I did because I got a full discharge(except student loans). 

I wish the story ended there and it was happily ever after, but nope this is a bipolar story and we know it’s never that easy. After being great with debt the next 2 years following my bankruptcy, the pandemic came in and ruined me. I became more manic than I’ve ever been and took out a bunch of predatory short-term loan offers I got in the mail(looking back, ridiculously idiotic but we all know the lack of inhibition due to mania was to blame)like I would literally find my account going broke and I would just see what latest sketchy loan offer was in my mailbox and I’d apply to it like I was sending in a job resume.Sigh. I honestly don’t even remember all the names of the companies that gave me a loan(about 7 loans/companies total) because I was so high/manic. I’m trying to pick up the pieces now, but I just lost my job last week and I’m going to have to stop making payments to the oldest loan that I was paying regularly, and the last two that were in my most recent hypomanic episode I feel really bad about because I won’t be able to even start out on good terms and I’ll have to dodge them from the get go…

Anyway can’t believe this post has gotten this long but I feel like a complete moron. I filed a bankruptcy in early 2017 and now I’m already in just as much debt but this time my debt is with sketchier smaller lending agencies. And I checked the rules I can’t file another Chapter 7 until 8 years has passed since my first one. Not that filing a 2nd bankruptcy is appealing but I’m wondering what I can do to best handle this situation from the perspective of my mental health. I know I should’ve been a responsible adult but clearly this illness makes that tough. I know I owe, but I also feel taken advantage of because a couple of these loans have exorbitant interest rates of over 700%. And I was manic as shit and not sober when signing. I’m not trying to play the victim but I’m also wondering if there were any useful resources out there or advice from any bipolar 1s that have been through similar. What are my best options here? Peace and love to you all.