The Psychology of Job Loss

Welcome back empowered readers,

If you are like the millions of people around the world, you might have lost your job recently amid the current COVID-19 pandemic. How should you handle your emotional reaction and psychological stress during this time?

During the past month, unemployment insurance claims in Canada soared past three million. After the final numbers are tallied, Canada’s job losses will likely be record-setting. All around the world economies are all experiencing similar situations as millions of people are laid off because of the pandemic. According to Professor David Blustein, a professor of counselling psychology at Boston College, “this is going to be a global pandemic of unemployment”.

Furthering the presenting psychological challenges that these dramatic changes have presented for Canadians, common stressors that we are facing today include…

• Financial stress
• Trauma response including…
  • feeling hypervigilant
  • anxiety
  • hypoactive or depressed
• Grief

Processing Loss
Losing a job often equates to the grief of losing a loved one; the emotional trajectory can include any of the stages of grief, which run from shock and denial, through anger and bargaining, and eventually acceptance and hope.
Losing any job can be emotionally wracking, but to do so in our current environment of heightened uncertainty can add additional stressors into the mix.

What I have found most helpful with clients is pointing out that they are going through a loss. Once they realize this, they have become more compassionate and understanding with themselves and give themselves permission to feel what they feel. Whether that be anger, sadness, numb, anxious, helpless, confused, relief etc.

Stay Balanced
The best piece of advice that I can give during these circumstances is to try and maintain some measure of equilibrium during this unprecedented situation. Studies have shown that people who suffered financial, housing or job-related hardship following the Great Recession were more vulnerable to mental health problems.

How can I maintain balance?

Recognize elements of your environment that you can and cannot control and focus on what you can control. For example…

• What you spend your time doing (i.e. limiting exposure to the news and social media)
• Finishing projects at home that have been on your “To Do List” (i.e. spring cleaning, organizing)
• Take up a healthy hobby (i.e. meditation, knitting, drawing/painting etc.)
• Get moving (i.e. yoga, go for a walk around the block, stairs)
• Your positive attitude (i.e. share memories, picture albums, focus on what is good)
• Kindness and gratitude (what are you grateful for? How can you support your community?)

If you are needing additional support during this time, please reach out today. My approach and services can be tailored depending on your unique circumstance.

To your empowered wellness,

Exchiela
 

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