Mom's Foreclosure Suicide (continued)

"This is a wakeup call to how important it is to have those difficult conversations about finances," she says. "A lot of people have come to me for counseling who are greatly stressed by money. After all, money problems are the leading cause of divorce in this country. In an economic strain, people often lose perspective. They think something like foreclosure is a life-or-death situation, when it doesn't have to be. That's why talking to someone else is crucial, to help you regain perspective."

If you can't bring yourself to talk to your spouse, Hirsch recommends starting out by talking to a counselor or clergy member, friend, or financial advisor. "This will help remind you that you're not alone," she says. "Millions of Americans are in the same boat you are. Even if you lose your house, you still have your family. Your husband and your kids -- that's home. In the end, that's all that really matters."

Our thoughts go out to Carlene Balderrama's family in this difficult time.

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