Another sound bankruptcy alternative would be to downscale as much as possible. This means moving into a smaller house or apartment, taking on roommates, driving a less expensive car, selling off any assets that you can part with, etc. The more money you can scrape together on your own, the less additional debt you'll have to incur in the future.
As you can see, there are several sound bankruptcy alternatives for you to choose from. Everybody makes financial missteps from time to time; however, you shouldn't compound your problems by declaring insolvency and blowing off your creditors. Instead, choose the bankruptcy alternative that sounds the best for your particular situation and start working to repair your credit now.