Do you think that it is tough battling this economy with two incomes? Try it with only one - by yourself. That is the stark reality that many single parents face today. What makes it worse is if there is significant debt involved as well. Painting a bleak picture like this can easily cause some to fall into depression. But that does not need to be the case, since there are ways to get assistance.

While help with debt is not targeted at just single mothers, they too can benefit from things that can help with debt problems. You need to develop an inquisitive attitude about obtaining support. This has nothing to do with a sense of entitlement, but rather tackling your situation head-on and finding answers. Refuse to be man-handled by your circumstances.

Communicate the need. The first thing to do when faced with being single, raising children and finding yourself drowning in a sea of debt is to tell others about it. Do not be embarrassed about the setting in which you find yourself. There are many more that you do not even know about who are there as well. Finding answers often starts by being open about your situation - both with yourself and others. The only word of caution here is to avoid sharing personal information as it regards your account numbers, etc. Do not put yourself in the position of becoming a victim of identity theft just because you are giving out too much information.

Creditor help. Contact your creditors right away, so that they will know what your circumstances are and why you are having problems paying your bills. They might have some programs that can help you. Be sure to ask about that in your conversation. You will be surprised at how willing they are to help you. It is to their advantage to do this because they will help themselves avoid losing all of their money from your in bankruptcy court. If you have a house and are facing foreclosure, then contact your mortgage company as soon as you can in order to see if you can get help from a loan modification program.

Government help. Look to the Federal, state and local government entities for help. This means getting over the “I’m too good for that mentality.” If you need help, and the programs are there, then use them. Then, once you are back on your feet, get off of them. You can search for help from the U.S. Government here. Then, check your state and local governments to see what is available close to you.

Community help. There are many non-profit organizations that offer food, clothing and even shelter if needed. These are available at no charge to those who qualify. Getting out of debt might involve using these organizations temporarily.

Family help. Your immediate family needs to know what you are facing. And, if they are able, provide help and support where needed. Can they do some babysitting while you work? Would they be able to provide transportation? What about helping with food and money for utilities? These small things can add up and make the difference between getting through or failing.

Friend help. Become a part of a group of friends who are faced with similar circumstances. Not to cry on each others’ shoulders, but to provide support by offering tips that can help each other and by banding together to help each other out. There are Church groups that are good for this purpose.

It is not going to be easy to get through a difficult time, but things will improve over time. And, with assistance that you find above, it can happen sooner than you think.