If you feel like you're in over your head with personal debt, you're not alone.  Millions of Americans have become overextended, many as a result of easy credit and the recessions.  Credit cards, medical bills, personal loans and raising interest rates do not make a good financial mix.

The 5 strategies you may want to avoid:

The first advice of experts in the field is to be sure you don't make your situation worse by making common mistakes.  In particular:

1.  Beware of just paying the minimum payments on your debts. This will results in your overall debt actually growing and your problems will only become worse.

2.  Beware of relying on friends and family as it could damage relationships with the most important people in your life.

3.  Beware of unscrupulous credit counselors that demand cash upfront or high fees for help they promise, but don't deliver.

4.  Avoid taking out a new high-interest loan to pay off lower interest rate loans.  It may be easier to just have one payment but it will actually increase the amount you have to pay back.

5.  Declaring bankruptcy when debt settlement may work for you...