Drowning in credit card debt and feeling stuck

I've been struggling with credit card debt for a while now, and it feels like no matter how much I pay, the balance just doesn't seem to go down. I think I owe around $8,000 spread over two cards, and the interest rates are brutal. Every month I try to budget better, but unexpected expenses always pop up and throw everything off.

It’s really messing with my peace of mind. I find myself avoiding calls and emails from creditors, which I know isn’t helping, but it just feels overwhelming. I’ve looked into debt consolidation and balance transfer cards, but I’m not sure if I qualify or if those options will actually save me money in the long run.

Has anyone else been in a similar spot? How did you manage to get out of that cycle or at least feel less anxious about it? Any tips or encouragement would really mean a lot right now.