January
2008
|
January
2008
|
| Of Like Minds is now Mood! Over 175 articles on: Help support Mood --
Bookstore
|
How to survive unemployment
Take steps to maintain a healthy outlook |
Have
you read these? Essential information
|
|||||||||||
|
Your unemployment has stretched into weeks, perhaps months. Your bank account is shrinking and so is your self-esteem. It’s getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning. Losing a job ranks almost as high as the death of a spouse and divorce as one of life’s greatest stressors on a standardized scale. It doubles your risk of becoming clinically depressed. It’s painful to feel rejected. When you’ve lost a job, you may feel frustrated, guilty, hopeless, and angry. You’re worried and afraid and feel as though you’re not in control of your life. You miss the routine and colleagues of the workplace and the feeling of belonging. It can be a humbling, even humiliating experience. “We tend to identify with our jobs,” says Lynn Hagan, PsyD, LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker). “It’s so strongly a part of us, that if we lose it, we feel personally inadequate. If it was an economic layoff, it’s difficult to accept, but if we were fired, we find it much more difficult to explain it to family and friends."
How can I keep a healthy outlook while I’m job hunting? One way we can break through depression brought on by unemployment, says peak performance coach Skip Weisman, is to use the power of our own mind. “Learn to focus your thoughts on a positive, compelling and exciting future,” he says. “Create a powerful image in your mind of the future you desire and see yourself in your mind's eye successfully taking the action necessary to make it happen. Then, create a specific action plan based on the future image you created in your mind, and take three actions each day that will create momentum.” Do this every day, he says, to develop a sense of self control. Becoming proactive is key, says Hagan. These four steps, she says, can help you keep a healthy frame of mind as you pursue your job hunt. 1. Rely on a support system. Avoid isolating yourself. Let others be supportive. Seek out networks of others in similar situations. (See How to find a support group)
|
|
3. Manage your resources carefully. Involve the whole family in budgeting decisions. Contact your creditors to arrange payment plans and avoid falling behind. The more in control you are of your financial situation, the less it will contribute to depression. And, manage your time as well as your money. 4. Take care of yourself. Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating right and getting enough sleep and exercise. Avoid alcohol and caffeine which can increase anxiety and depression. Make time for pleasurable activities and involve family members in planning them. How can family members help? Resources for job hunters Related articles Sources |
|||||||||||
No one enjoys being involuntarily unemployed, but it’s important to watch for 
2. Stay active. Don’t put off getting started on your job search. Stick to a routine, much like the one you had when you were working. Get up, have breakfast and get dressed about the same time every morning. Volunteering can be a good way to keep your skills sharp, but don’t let it interfere with your job hunt.