Stress & Anxiety: Coping with Job Loss

Even in the most normal of circumstances, involuntary job loss is one of the most stressful events on the scale of stressful life events. With millions of people out of work and the paths to economic revival are unclear, job seekers also have to grapple with the fact that it could be months before they are able to consider looking for work again.

This uncertainty, coupled with anxiety about staying safe during a global pandemic, can take a serious emotional toll. We live in a society and culture where much of our identity and sense of worth is defined by the work we do. When it comes to losing a job, it’s so much more than losing the income. It also means losing a routine, a sense of regularity, relationships we’ve formed and feeling, ‘If I’m not doing this job and providing for my family, what is my purpose'? Eventually leading to tremendous stress.

Stress and anxiety are often used interchangeably, and there is overlap between stress and anxiety. Stress is related to the same ‘fight, flight, or freeze’ response as anxiety, and the physical sensations of anxiety and stress may be very similar. It's perfectly normal for a person to grieve the loss of a job. It's important to remember, however, that a career is not an identity. Separating one's self-worth from one's job is especially important in today's time, where employment volatility has been on the rise.

If you just lost your job, there are probably a lot of thoughts going through your mind. You may be angry at your boss, or whoever else you think could be responsible for your situation. Sadness is not uncommon either. Most of all, you are probably anxious about what will happen next—will you get a job and how will you pay the bills until that happens.

In the immediate aftermath of getting your walking papers, you could possibility analyze your life path as follows:

1. Reconcile with the Reality: Its Not Personal - Do understand that rare circumstances lead to situational decisions. Do firmly believe that its not your capability or ability which is characteristic of your job loss, but the non-availability of niche market opportunities is leading to this decision by the companies. The earlier you overcome this the better it would be.
2. Talk to Friends & Family: Cut Losses- Its a normal practice to grief alone and get into a shell. If you withdraw into a “cone of silence” and wind up isolating yourself from the very people who are highly motivated to help you might be losing out. Unfortunately, this tendency to retreat behind self-created walls and limit social interaction is counterproductive to a job search. It can greatly exacerbate the difficulty of your search. Moreover, if you are under stress, grief, anxiety and showing signs of depression then you may not be able to take the best decision moving forward. It is advisable to talk to friends and family and hear them out. Possibly discuss on avenues which could cut your immediate losses and manage your current liquidity with the best possible utilization.
3. Plan your 2.0: Its a Enforced Sabbatical- Though you may have been thinking of sprucing up your skills for a long time but were always procrastinating it for your official and personal priorities. Now is the time to evaluate / appraise your career/life and take a candid view of how it was shaping up. Take cognizance of what was working well and what was not. Create your road map for next 6 months to 1 year on what you would like to acquire as a skill and capability.
4. Make Health your Priority Too - Start working on your health with a mandatory daily workout regime. It could be a walk in your neighborhood or a routine you would like to follow on your favorite online channel. Remember your bad health will be the first bottleneck in your career if you let it go unattended. Moreover, a healthy personality helps in clarity of thought and better executions of any projects.
5. Spend time with your Loved Ones- It's never too much when you are with your loved ones. You have been working for them all your life and now is the time to be with them. It certainly changes the perspective and helps reduce stress. They do need reassurance in these matters, regardless of their age. Children also need to feel as if they are helping. They want to help and allowing them to contribute in ways such as taking a cut in allowance, deferring expensive purchases, or getting an after-school job can make them feel as if they are part of the team.
6. Enhance your Networking - The power of networking is your true Net Worth. You would be amazed at the people you have been influencing all your life and the people you always looked upon as they fast tracked their career. Its a large pool of opportunities to think tank and don't shy away from doing that. Statistics shows that most jobs are referenced through your partner network. So do increase your visibility either online and/or through direct calls.
7. Check if you are Ready for Entrepreneurship - Its never early and never too late, but you need to validate your thoughts. Today we have many of our friends and network connects who are living a 2.0 in these troubled times, touch upon the idea which could change your lives.
8.  Smile. Laugh. Maintain your sense of humor - No one wants to hire bad-tempered employees. Your personality is what people see and not what you feel you are. So develop a perspective of transparency where there are lesser Blind spots, lesser Unknowns and lesser Hidden quadrants in your zone of reference.
9. Socialize. Help Others who May Look upon You - As you are undergoing a changed phase in your life, there may be many others who are not as resourceful as you with your ideas and network. Do talk to them and extend a helping hand.

While an unexpected job loss can be an overwhelming life-changing event, it is possible to recover quickly and successfully.