(Continued from the main Credit Card Addiction Stories page)

George felt limited and "less than" when he had to live within his meager means. He always wanted to be accepted and successful. He felt less than because he couldn't afford the same things other people around him seemed to be able to afford with ease. "Credit made me appear responsible. I have such a poor self-image that credit validated who I COULD be", George admitted. "I never believed I could actually control my finances or my future, so credit gave me a false sense of control and achievement. After a while it finally dawned on me that poor use of credit actually contributed to my lack of control. By then I felt too defeated to care." George's debt made him feel like a complete and utter failure. "The negative programming I received as a child basically came true. I am nothing and I'll never be anything," said George.