There's no denying the feeling of power you can get from using a credit card. Unfortunately, if you're not wise about your purchases and are prone to using your card excessively, that feeling of power can be replaced by something else: helplessness. Because if there's one thing imprudent credit card use can result in, it's debt.

Being in debt is something we never want to experience in our lives. Once it becomes a reality, however, there's no use crying over spilled milk. Instead, take a proactive stance on your situation. To help you out, we've listed seven things you can do in the gallery below.

For more articles about debt, check out these links:

• 5 Tips on Paying Off Your Credit Card Debt
• Money Matters: 4 Tips for Getting out of Debt
• Budgeting 101: 15 Tips for Wiping Out Your Debts

(First published in the July 2009 issue of Good Housekeeping Philippines, Good Money section as "Surfacing from Debt;" adapted for use in Female Network; photo by Images_of_Money via Flickr Creative Commons)