Jul. 26, 2008

The Darker Side of Foreclosure
I just read a story at Fox News.com about a women that sent a fax to the lender on the day of her house being auctioned. She said in the fax that it did not matter she would be dead before it happened.
When buyers came to preview the house before the auction her body was found in the house. This 53 year old wife and mother had shot herself. Her husband stated he had no idea they were in financial trouble. What? How could he not? This happened in Massachusetts but it could happen anywhere.
Our homes tend to define who we are. How well we are doing in life. Where our children have grown up and we have kept up with the Jones. Dr. Ablow who contributes to Fox News.com is quoted as saying,“People’s homes are tremendously important to them emotionally,” “It’s an American and human fact that we project our self image through the houses that we buy and redesign and where our children grow up and to some measure it is our face to the community and to ourselves.” “There can be feelings of desperation, hopelessness and shame,” Ablow told FOX News.com. “Financial chaos in ones life brings up very deep questions related to much earlier life stresses and experiences. For example, financial turmoil in your family of origin or questions about whether you measured up personally or economically.”
If you are in a position where you could lose your home, seek help just as soon as possible. If you ignore it things can only get worse. Take control of your future before it takes control of you.
If you know someone who is in financial distress there are warning signs to watch out for.
- When someone seems to be drawing a line in the sand psychologically and saying that they cannot envision the future
- Signs consistent of major depression including:
- Episodes of tearfulness— Low self-esteem,
- Inability to concentrate
- Lack of appetite
- Inability to sleep or sleeping too much and any expression of suicidal thinking