At some point, almost everyone has experienced an unexpected financial disaster. Some arise from unanticipated misfortune: Our stocks tank, we lose our jobs, a medical emergency saddles us with huge bills, or we have uninsured losses.
In other cases, a financial setback could stem from dreams that never materialized.
For instance, a couple of years ago, an agent shopped Alisa Bowman's book, "Project Happily Ever After," to enthusiastic publishers. When it sold for much less than envisioned, Bowman vowed to turn it into a bestseller.
Months later, after working herself ragged and spending her own money to publicize it, sales lagged, and Bowman had to face facts: She was thousands in debt. She sank into a depression.
"I just felt like the biggest loser on the planet," Bowman says.
As difficult as it can be to bounce back from adversity, the alternative is to let adversity take you down. Bankrate spoke to several experts on strategies for retaking control of your life and finances. Here's what they had to say.