Mental Illness and Unemployment

Losing a job ranks almost as high as the death of a spouse and divorce as one of life’s greatest stressors. Your risk of becoming clinically depressed is greater.  When you lose a job, you may feel frustrated, guilty, hopeless, and angry. You miss the routine and the feeling of belonging. It can be a humbling, even humiliating experience.  If it was an economic layoff, it is difficult to accept, but if we were fired, it is much more difficult to explain it to family and friends. It is important to watch for signs of depression. If you’re sleeping or eating too much or too little, if you’re finding it difficult to take care of yourself or if you’re becoming so paralyzed that you can not take action with your job hunt, it may be time to get help. Along with depression, anxiety which can result from the stress of unemployment. Physical symptoms such as upset stomach, and chest pains, headaches or shortness of breath can indicate panic attacks. Talk to your doctor. Becoming productive is answer to avoid a setback.  Avoid isolating yourself. Let others be supportive.  Stay active.  Stick to a routine, try for the one you had when you were working. Get up, have breakfast and get dressed about the same time every morning.  What can not be stressed more is be aware of the symptoms that you may have out of the ordinary.  Stay tuned with you health mental and physical.  Avoid stressors as much as possible.  There is life after a setback like unemployment how you face the challenge is up to you.  Unemployment is a part of life and should be recognized as that just one other part of life.