How to Cope with Job Loss Stress

By Dacia L. Moore, LPC

Losing one's job is one of the most stressful events in an adult's life, right up there with divorce, moving, and dealing with the death of a loved one.

Most Americans spend the majority of their waking hours at work. We develop work friendships and often our job becomes part of our identity. When we lose that job, a large part of our life changes which causes significant and prolonged stress.

Judi knows exactly how that feels. She has been unemployed since May 2011 when the company where she worked went out of business. Judi explains, "For a while, I felt like a loser; it's been really hard and IÕve had to battle against many dark and negative thoughts. Sometimes I felt like a failure."

Randy, an entrepreneur who lost his remodeling business, says he felt the same way "I was really depressed at first; I could hardly get out of bed. Not only was I unemployed due to the recession, but I was having serious health issues as well."

These two examples are typical: negative thoughts, excessive worry about money and the future, feelings of low self-worth, depression and even health problems. Other signs of stress are anger, apathy or fatigue, avoiding responsibilities and relationships, self-destructive behavior, self-neglect, poor judgment, exhaustion, over using medicines, physical ailments and complaints.

What can you do when faced with serious stress due to a job loss? The best thing is to not give up. Instead, create plan of action! Talk to others who can help and be proactive in seeking another job.
Judi was able to get help from the Full Employment Council (FEC) and is using grant money through the Workforce Initiative Act. She has returned to school and is in training for a new career while still receiving her weekly unemployment check. Randy sought help from the Vocational Rehabilitation Office. Help is available while you are unemployed but you have to seek it out.

Take action to reduce stress by doing more health-promoting behaviors such as exercise, controlling smoking and alcohol use and maintaining a well- balanced diet.

Losing a job can be a blow to your ego but don't let it blow your mental and physical health. Get back on your feet, find positive people who will help and encourage you, create an action plan and get going! Before you know it you will find that next job that was waiting for you all along.

Dacia Moore is a Licensed Professional Counselor and President of Second Wind Counseling & Consulting in Kansas City, MO.