Losing a job is incredibly difficult. No matter the cause of the loss, it can leave us feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and even ashamed. We may feel like something is wrong with us or that we aren’t good enough. These feelings and this incredibly hard situation can lead to anxiety and depression, making these feelings even stronger.
But, it is important to know that you are not alone. Many of us have been there before, and while it is not fun, it is a part of life that a lot of us go through.
You are not the only one going through this tough time. Over the past few years, many people have lost their jobs and are trying to start again. It can be helpful to take your experience and think about others who may be struggling with the same thing.
How to Cope with Unemployment Depression
Managing depression can take a lot of energy and leave you feeling drained. Pair that with being stuck at home unemployed, which can create a nasty cycle of unhappiness. But, there are some things that you can do to cope with both unemployment and depression at the same time.
Practice Self-Care
Take breaks. Do things you love.
Maybe you want to go out for a walk at your favorite park or make your favorite meal for dinner tonight. Maybe you need a good, relaxing spa day where you draw a nice warm bath, do some skincare, and just take the time to give your body the loving attention it deserves.
Whatever you decide to do, ensure that you make yourself — both your body and mind — a priority. Take the time to check in with yourself and see if you are well-rested and well-fed.
Connect with Loved Ones
When we are feeling depressed, it can be easy to want to distance ourselves from others. We may just want to be alone and feel our emotions, or we may want to keep tirelessly working until we are able to “get better.”
This is doing a disservice to ourselves. Spending time with our loved ones can be an easy but incredibly effective way to boost our moods and make us feel better.
Keep Busy
One of the most upsetting feelings is to feel like you’ve simply been wasting away your days. We often feel this way if we have simply spent the day looking online or watching a TV show. This can be even more upsetting when we are unemployed because we feel like we should be doing something.
To help combat this feeling, try keeping yourself busy throughout the week. Of course, you do not want to overwhelm yourself with tasks, but creating a list of chores, resume-related work, and even social appointments, can be a great way to feel a sense of meaning in your days. Checking things off that list can also give us a feeling of accomplishment, so it is a win-win.
Work on Your Self-Esteem
It may be challenging for many of us to see our own self-worth. This can be especially true for people who struggle with depression. Taking the time to truly appreciate your strengths and remind yourself of your value as a human being can be incredibly powerful. This can become an extremely effective method of improving our self-esteem and changing how we think about ourselves.
So, take the time to think about your strengths and the things that make you who you are. One exercise that can be very effective for this is to look in a mirror and write down your strengths (as well as just things you like about yourself) on sticky notes and attach them to the mirror around your reflection. This gives you an easy visual of yourself and everything you love about yourself in just one exercise.
Allow Yourself to Have Fun
No one says that unemployment has to be a time when you only ever spend your time looking for a new job. Yes, you likely want to ensure that you are taking the time to apply for things as they come up as well as actively looking for positions where you may be a good fit, but there is more to life than just getting a job.
You can use this time to pick up a new hobby or even revisit an old favorite. A lot of times, when we are depressed, the things that we love to do can become less joyful for us. This is because depression tends to reduce our overall levels of endorphins — the chemicals in our brains that make us feel happy. So, rather than stewing in feelings of sadness or anger, try bringing up those endorphin levels by doing something you love, picking up a new hobby, or doing something active.
Try Starting Fresh
You have a variety of skills and abilities that you’ve picked up over the years. Maybe you can apply them in a new way by expanding your job search to different fields. This can be a good way to further expand your horizons and maybe even find a new job or position that you never thought about before.
Seek Support
If you find that your depression is getting worse or is starting to take over more and more of your life, it may be time to reach out to a professional. While following tips can help you to cope with these feelings, a professional therapist can provide a more personalized and tailored experience to help you more effectively address your depression.
So, if you have been suffering from unemployment depression and you are looking for guidance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at Love Heal Grow. We are here to help you through this time of uncertainty and unease, and we look forward to hearing from you and seeing how we can help.
