When I started my new profession, I worried I might lose it. I would most likely have to couch-surf or live in my car if I went unemployed. My family members were depending on me, and we will all surely have to survive a job loss, affecting our emotional health as well as our mental health. Mind you, career opportunities are not around always.
Facing job loss can be a challenging time, leading individuals to feel uncertain about their skills and the future. During a job search period, it’s essential to prioritize mental health and wellness, allowing time for self-improvement and skill enhancement, ensuring individuals are better prepared for new job opportunities when they arise. Do continue reading. We hope you find this article helpful.
Coping With Job Loss -Handling My Mixed Emotions Due To Job Loss
Losing a job can adversely affect your confidence, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Seeking the help of a career coach can be a valuable resource in helping you survive a job loss and navigate the grieving process. Applying for unemployment insurance can also provide some relief while searching for a new job. Building strong support networks and practicing self-care techniques can help manage stress levels during this difficult time. Additionally, learning a new skill, such as a foreign language, can provide a sense of purpose and growth while boosting employability. Remember that losing a position or career can adversely affect regular income, but it’s important to remain optimistic and proactive in your job search.
Because of my fear of surviving job loss, I tried hard to be likable to the employer and learn everything in the team as fast as possible so that my bosses would not think of replacing me immediately. I showed self-confidence and tried to stay positive in my daily routine. Dealing with unemployment entailed spending my office break at my desk, typing away, learning new skills, and attempting to forget the stress so it wouldn’t feel overwhelming for me. The incident caused me to be always on my feet. Coping with my new position and career interests was truly challenging, especially for my feelings and mental health.
But I would say it worked. My sacrifices and determination worked, despite my physical health being affected, and I didn’t have to deal with being depressed about getting sacked or being unemployed because I was receiving a regular balanced income. After all, there was a vacancy for a senior in marketing a year later, and I took a shot and applied for it. My employment status was quite stable – and so was my mental health.
In The Dream Profession That I Want, But I Lost It
Others might have been discouraged to do that, especially if they were still rookies in the field like me, but since I got close with my bosses and earned their respect and, my self-worth, I got the new promotion. It allowed me to have an office of my own and a higher salary. When you have the determination and a sense of responsibility, dealing with losing a job or unemployment is challenging but doable as it is not the end of the line, only a way toward the control of the next phase.
I managed to stay in the same workplace for a decade, doing my daily routine and caring for my well-being by seeking social support from family and friends. I took on various vital roles until I decided to stick with a marketing executive post. I had financial stability. As I mentioned above, one of my career goals was to avoid job loss and not become one of the thousands of job seekers in the country. I knew that losing my job and going on a job hunt again would make a huge difference in the well-being of my family members. I thought that it would be almost impossible since I was no longer at the base of the hierarchy. It was perfectly normal for me. I can accept and rest with that.
When the pandemic happened, my company decided to make us all do our employment in the safety of our homes. I missed going to the office every day and chatting up my coworkers between breaks – they were part of my support network after all. Ever since I worked from home, I got all the energy I needed. I got to revive my plants, catch up with the movies and TV shows that I did not get to watch before, and even learn some techniques to help me overcome the stress and negative thoughts that kept me from focus and self-esteem. I found the importance of life without stress. The company even tasked a mental health professional to regularly assess and boost our mental health and make sure we were okay and whether we needed to seek support from other public health care providers.
Even so, working from home for me was very challenging. The lack of social support, moments of isolation, and fear that you could lose your job anytime was real. It was hard to cope with job loss and I always feel sad, especially that there wasn’t much opportunity during the pandemic.
Despite all that, I was among the millions of people who assumed that the pandemic would disappear after a few months. Once the lockdown was almost over, I even ordered some new clothes online to prepare myself for new opportunities and for when the bosses would call us back to the office. I couldn’t wait to see my co-workers again. But something unexpected happened…
My Job Position In A Shaky Status – How I Lost Focus
Hence, you can imagine how surprised I was to be one of the unemployed people. I received an email from the HR department informing me that they were laying off 200 people – and that number included me. The fear and stress crept in, and my focus slowly waned. Am I always doing the wrong things at the company? How was I to fulfill my family roles now? How can I deal with unemployment and getting sacked and focus on my next job moving forward? What about my priorities? I lost even the last relationship I had with my self-thoughts.
On the same night, I received countless texts and missed calls from my co-workers who received the same email. They also experienced extreme stress just thinking about how to support their families. Research shows that people lose their jobs more than they find new ones, but you feel overwhelmed when it finally happens – losing your job does push you to re-evaluate yourself. And it does have an immediate impact on your mental and physical health.
Some of them said they expected it to happen, but many were devastated and lost their self-esteem because they could not survive job loss. Coping with job loss became a significant challenge for most. The company would provide severance pay and some unemployment benefits for all, but there were so many of us, so it might take weeks – if not months – before we could collect the money.
The Incident That My Family And I Were Not Prepared For
My mother learned about the bad news through her favorite morning show the next day, and she called me immediately. When I informed her that I, too, had lost my job, she felt sad and worse. She was well aware of my initial desperation to keep my job and how took manageable steps to stay for ten years.
“Honey, if you need anything – food, gas money, or rent money – just let me know, okay? You lost your job. It must be hard,” my mom said. I tried to stay positive for her.
“Oh, no, Mom, you can keep your money,” I replied with a short laugh. “I have enough savings. I already paid off my car earlier this year, and I gave my landlord 12 months’ worth of rent, so I’ll be fine. Perhaps I’ll make a job search plan later or just do freelance work. A vast majority of my co-workers are thinking about finding a job. I can reach out to them so we can support each other.”
My other friends called after my mother, and we had the same conversation. They were all sympathetic, but they also sounded surprised when I insisted that I was okay. They wanted me to get professional help so that my mental health would not suffer. Of course, I could not blame them because it was the worst time for most people to lose a job, but I was already financially secure, so I was not worried about it.
When the office counselor called to help me offer professional help and support, she was so fascinated by my way of thinking that she encouraged me to share it with the world. She invited me to speak with support groups to inspire others who had lost their jobs, and to let them know that I had lost my job, but not my sense of hope and my will to make plans. I told them to still do a job search from time to time and to always find a support network to help them through difficult times. Stress is inevitable but overcoming even a single sign of stress is equally important too. It is also great if they could do something new – a new hobby, perhaps to battle stress.
Experiencing job loss can be a challenging time, but there are ways to cope and feel good again. Joining a book club or other social group can help you connect with others who are going through similar circumstances and provide a sense of community. It’s important to lean on your friends and family for support and use them as an example of how to navigate difficult situations. While being laid off can disrupt your life, it’s important to stay positive and keep moving forward.
Final Thoughts
In reality, I did not feel any different. I worked hard in the last ten years and saved a significant portion of my salary every month to have enough money to spend in cases like this. I did not expect it to happen during my early 30s, but fate led me to this card, and I won’t let it bother me. So being unemployed is terrifying, but preparing for it makes it so much easier and stress-free. That’s one of the best tips I could recommend.
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