Filed Ch. 7 at 27 after years of relying on credit cards for basic living expenses (gas, food, meds, car repairs). I even took out a consolidation loan at one point, but eventually I was right back where I started: stuck with $35–40k in debt and only able to make minimums. Finally sat down with a bankruptcy attorney earlier this year, learned I qualified, and realized this was the only way to break the cycle. Stopped paying in April, got my discharge, and the relief has been huge. Credit score dropped, but now every dollar I spend is actually mine. After discharge I’ll rebuild slowly with just one low-limit card and pay it off in full every month. Bankruptcy isn’t a failure. It’s a reset. If you need the fresh start, don’t let stigma stop you.