Are you afraid of your college debt?

Student loans aren’t scary the way roller coasters are — a quick hit of adrenaline and a silly souvenir photo to capture the moment. No, student loans are scary because they alter the way you see your future. They fill you with dread that you’ll never have a house, a vacation to remember or a secure retirement.

It’s understandable that you would avoid looking at something that gives you nightmares.

But just like exposure therapy can help people who are afraid of snakes, for example, you must face your student loans if you want to free yourself from their grasp. That dread will dissolve once you make a plan to lower your bills and say goodbye to debt.

Step 1: Find out where you stand

A fifth of those with student debt were behind on their payments in 2017, according to the Federal Reserve. You’re far from alone if you’re overwhelmed. To move beyond your fears, come face to face with what you owe, to whom you owe it and when it’s due.

Go to the National Student Loan Data System , click “Financial Aid Review” and create or enter your Federal Student Aid username and password. On the next screen, you’ll see a list of the federal student loans under your name. Click on the number of the loan in the left-most column to bring up details about it. You’ll see the total amount left to repay and the name and website of the company that collects your bill, known as your servicer. Next, check your credit re

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Ask Brianna Are you earning enough to cover not only your loans, but also the essentials like your housing costs and food? Do you have anything left for retirement or emergency savings? If the answer is “no” to either or both, cutting your loan bill is your priority now.