If you've been laid off, you might have trouble staying mentally strong as you go about your job search.
Being let go from a job is really tough. Whether you were fired or laid off, it still is one of the hardest things you can go through. It is made more difficult by the fact that even though you might feel as though you have lost a very crucial part of your identity, you still have to be able to pull yourself together and launch a job search.
In order to be successful in that search, you'll have to be able to present the image of an upbeat, positive and enthusiastic applicant, rather than someone who has just had their teeth kicked in; which is probably how you feel.
It's only normal to mourn your loss and take a little bit of time to wallow in self-pity, but if you don't deal with these emotions in a healthy way, they can turn into depression and anxiety. Both of which can seriously effect your ability to find a new job.
If you are having trouble getting over your loss, it may be time to get some help. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
- Inability to sleep
- Excessive sleeping or fatigue
- Significant weight gain or loss
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Increased substance use or abuse
- Irritability
- Anxiety around leaving your house or your bedroom
- Stopping activities that you used to enjoy
- Losing your temper easily
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of shame
- Restlessness
- Fantasies of hurting yourself or revenge
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms for more than a week or two, you may want to ask yourself if you are just feeling blue or if there is a bigger problem. Depression is an illness and there is help. The problem is that when you are in the midst of it, it can be really hard to clearly see where you are. Many people don't even realize that they need help until the disorder has taken over a good portion of their lives.
This can result in weeks, months or even years of suffering needlessly. Although medication may not be the answer, getting professional help and coming up with an action plan to help you get through this tough period in your life can help you get back on track quicker and make you more effective in your job search.
Don't be too afraid to ask for help. Look around and talk to people. It's very likely that there are low cost or even free services available to help you through it. You aren't alone, even if it feels that way sometimes.
What have you done to cope with job loss? Have you gone through periods of depression in your life? What did you do to help? I would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for ManhattanJobsBlog. Along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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