The term “bankruptcy” is incredibly loaded, incredibly stigmatized—and, more often than not, incredibly misunderstood.

Many people are told to avoid bankruptcy at all costs, and that filing will mean the end of their credit and financial solvency forever. It is commonly believed that filing for bankruptcy is a shameful act through which the filer will lose everything—now, and in the future.

The good news is that those misunderstandings about bankruptcy couldn’t be farther from the truth. Yes, bankruptcy might not be ideal in all cases, but the fact of the matter remains that it is nothing like the life-ruining failure or catastrophe that it is often made out to be.

On the contrary, bankruptcy is a tool of financial relief that was designed to be used by people who need it. In Harrisburg, PA, and in the rest of the country, bankruptcy is utilized by many Americans who find themselves in need of that tool—for one reason or another.

Anyone who has lived through the past few years in America knows that most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck—which is as true in Harrisburg, PA as it is in the rest of the country.

Even if that doesn’t describe your particular financial situation, it is easier than ever to get hit with an unforeseen expense or series of expenses, or to suddenly be out of a job and without your usual forms of income. Costs of living continue to rise, with or without a new form of income, and despite emergency expenses like medical bills and car repairs. With fees and interest and other traps awaiting the average American trying to finance their own life, debts can snowball to truly unmanageable sums before a debtor even has the time to realize what’s happening.

It is easier than you might think to suddenly find yourself in over your head with debt. Bankruptcy is a financial tool for people who have found themselves in just that situation, and who need a financial fresh start.