Surviving Job Loss
Job loss may manifest itself in a combination of physical, behavioural, and psychological reactions, including:
- Physical: fatigue, sleeplessness, changes in diet, crying, startle reactions
- Behavioural: hyperactivity, poor concentration, nightmares, loss of memory, isolation, immobility
- Psychological: feelings of fear, guilt, anger, frustration, anxiety, depression
While there are definite stages involved in coping and surviving job loss, no one experiences job loss in the same manner. Some people feel victimized, blaming others for their adversity. Others shut down, feeling helpless and overwhelmed. Most reach into themselves, discovering ways to cope and overcome hard times.
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Coping With Unfair Developments
Each year thousands of people lose jobs through no fault of their own. Corporate restructuring, economic trends, geographic, and demographic shifts: all contribute to shifting needs in the job market. Even when employers do everything in their power to let us down easily, feelings of discouragement, betrayal, and despair are likely to surface.
Adversity generally amplifies habitual ways of reacting to hassles, frustration, and disappointments.
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Overcoming the Victim Mindset
Initial responses to loss are most often emotional. We may blame others for our unhappiness, portraying our past employer and co-workers as villains. This victim mindset leads to injury of our self-esteem, feelings of isolation, insecurity, and self-doubt. We become preoccupied with if only regrets.
To end the cycle of despair, we must turn our reactions into cognitive ones. Begin to think through the situation logically, develop and implement plans, turn experience into a tool for learning. Accept responsibility for the manner in which you act and interact with others. Attitude determines well being more than circumstance.
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