How to deal with job loss and unemployment stress

The stress of losing a job is substantially more than the stress of the job itself. It’s common for people to experience extreme anxiety and even depression about their unemployment situation. However, with some planning and professional help, you can learn to deal with job loss and unemployment stress.

How to deal with job loss and unemployment stress

To manage your job-loss stress, try some of the following tips;

• Accept that you have lost your job.

Make sure you truly accept that you have lost your job and there is nothing you can do to get it back. It may be easy to get angry with yourself or others – especially those who are still employed. But getting stuck in this mindset will only make things worse for you. Believe in yourself. Even though you might feel like a failure and might hate your current situation, tell yourself that you will find new employment soon. You’re not a failure if you’ve been fired – that happens all the time – but how you respond and how quickly you move forward will determine if these events were a setback or a blessing in disguise.

• Be open about how you feel.

Talk to friends and family about what has happened to you and how you feel about it. Sometimes talking to others can help you gain perspective on your situation.
When people are stressed, they find comfort in others who’ve been through similar situations. Social support improves physical and mental well-being. Consider attending a support group either online or in person. You also may want to make new friends while looking for work; being around supportive people will help you get through this difficult time.

• Don’t be too hard on yourself

Stay positive by thinking about all of the opportunities that losing your job has opened up for you. Think about ways that you might be able to turn this into an opportunity for personal growth and change.

• Buy less stuff

It can be tempting to spend more now that you don’t have to pay rent or other bills. Don’t do it. Instead, go out for less expensive activities such as hiking or reading. That way, you’ll save money and take time to de-stress.

• Trying something new

If you are unemployed, it means that you have free time on your hands. Use this time to try a new hobby or skill that has been on your bucket list. This will keep you busy, and avoid boredom as well. It will also help you build self-confidence and self-esteem as you discover new talents about yourself that you never knew before.

• Have a vision for your future

A good goal will be something you can accomplish in a reasonable amount of time, such as completing an online course, volunteering or applying for five jobs each day. When you are unemployed it is easy to lose sight of what you want in your career and personal life. To avoid this from happening, create a vision board where you can post pictures or words that remind you of what you want in your career or personal life.

Take away

Job loss or unemployment is not the end of the world. It is a bump in your journey to success. If you are jobless, do not start beating yourself up. There are ways to handle unemployment stress and depression during this difficult period of your life.