Find Help Coping with a Job Loss

Are you or is someone you care about struggling to find a new job after losing one this year? You’re not alone. 

In July, the number of people who were considered to be “long-term unemployed,” jobless for 27 weeks or more, increased by 179,000 to 1.8 million according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. People are being affected psychologically on multiple levels, and they may not fully understand their emotions.

Identifying Grief with Job Loss

Though many people understand they may feel sad after a job loss — they may not understand that the emotion they’re feeling is actually closer to grief. 

Losing a job is an immediate, life-altering change for many people, who usually connect their identity and self-worth to their career. Devoting eight hours a day, five days a week, at a job for multiple years tends to shape your identity. Losing a job can feel like losing part of yourself. 

Thus, reactions may follow the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. For example, people may deny they have lost their job and may direct anger toward the people they deem responsible.

Chronic stress and anxiety are also common mental health issues unemployed people face. The symptoms tend to get more severe the longer the person has been out of work.

Coping with Job Loss

The emotional fallout from losing your job can be difficult to manage, but cognitive behavior techniques can help. You can practice many of them on your own, such as:

• Meditation
• Breathwork
• Focusing on the future

You can also join support groups for unemployed people or even just try to keep in contact with employed former coworkers. Avoiding isolation and keeping busy will help you manage your mental health.

Getting a counselor can also help.

Choosing the Right Counselor

People managing job loss should seek a counselor who matches their needs and who can help them deal with painful feelings. For example, counselors who focus on grief-informed therapy techniques can help you understand and accept the loss of your job. Counselors focusing on cognitive behavior therapy techniques can help you manage your emotions and direct your plan for the future.

In the meantime, dedicate time for self-care. Don’t devote every hour of the day to finding a new job. Spend time on your hobbies or find new ones that fulfill you, because you never know where these experiences will take you.