The year 2020 feels like a long nightmare. As if the pandemic wasn’t enough, one challenge keeps on popping up after another.
Calamities occurred, economies went down, companies were forced to close down or lessen manpower. Lives turned upside down across the world.
In the United States, even powerful and what seemed like stable companies were not spared from business losses like General Electric, Frontier Communications, Aldo Group, and more. Some went to the drastic decision of laying off people and declaring bankruptcy. It is heartbreaking for employers to let go of talents, and equally distressing to employees who suddenly find themselves without employment.
Going through sudden unemployment is saddening and may affect a lot of areas of people’s lives including health and wellbeing, relationships, and families, as well as how they see the future. The distress may be worsened by the uncertainties that COVID- 19 brings.
Losing your job may trigger the following feelings and emotions:
- Disbelief
- Feeling of numbness
- Uncertainty about the future
- Anger
- Worthlessness
- Confusion on why this is happening
- Powerlessness and helplessness
In these circumstances, you may experience common reactions that can manifest physically and mentally such as:
- Problems getting to sleep or staying asleep
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Appetite loss
- Feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and fearful
- Mood swings or overreaction to small things
- Muscle tension or pain
- Feeling angry, intolerable, and irritable
- Physical symptoms such as heartburn, headaches, skin rashes, and stomach aches
- Memory and concentration problems
Some may experience more severe things that may need a mental health professional like the inability to function and carry out day-to-day tasks or even thoughts of harm and suicide.
While losing a job is difficult, the good news is that there are steps that you can do to lessen the stress and feel more in control of your situation. Working through your emotions and trying to remain positive will make it easier to cope with the situation.
Write down your worries
This can help you process the overwhelming emotions you have. Identify the specific feelings you are experiencing and your worries and concerns that go along with the feelings. From your list, you may choose which issue to focus on first.
Become financially literate
This is the perfect time to learn how to manage your finances well. Read and learn more about budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debts.
Manage stress the right way
Maintain being healthy! Now that you are going through a challenge, it is but the perfect time for more self-care and self-love. Drink your vitamins and medicines. Do not neglect daily exercise. Exercise will not only keep you healthy but it is a way to release happy hormones.
Do not expect to know all the answers
A lot of questions will surely linger on your mind. This might even keep you awake at night as you try to come up with answers. Do not be too hard on yourself! Remind yourself that it is okay to not be okay. It is okay to be unsure of the future. Make sure to hold on to your anchor so that you will not be lost in all the uncertainties.
Learn from the past
Introspect and recall the times where you experienced hardships yet you were able to overcome them. At that time, you might have felt hopeless but you survived it anyway. Think of what worked then and try to think if it will also work now.
Draw on your strengths
Think of untapped potentials and strengths that you have. You might be able to use it to widen your horizon. You can start an online business, do freelance work, or use your talents and strengths to earn money. The possibilities are limitless!
Protect your peace
Protect your peace by not letting negativities consume you. It is okay to feel sad and worried or anxious, but try not to hold on to that. Whenever you are in that, shake it off by looking at opportunities that happened with this crisis- perhaps you now have more time for your family, or this might open new doors for you.
Keep your support group close
Now is the best time to connect with your family and trusted friends. You may even reconnect with your previous close colleagues, boss, and workmates. At times that you feel down, these people will be the ones to support you, cheer on you, and guide you.
Losing a job or going through a financial loss is tough. But as in all challenges, this too shall pass. Hold on to that. There is no way to go but up!
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