Being unemployed is depressing. For many of us, work is part of our identity. I frequently am asked by others I meet about what I do. But what is the answer when you have become part of the latest unemployment wave that is plaguing our economy and society? A loss of a job is a loss of a part of your life and with that, it is normal to go through the emotions of dealing with a loss of almost any kind. Recently, I was reading some posts online where people actually became suicidal because of their lack of success finding work. When life and death issues are at stake, we have to take notice and that is why I am writing about this topic. All things in life are temporary, but depression clouds that understanding and can lead to terrible decisions if it gets out of control.
It is easy to get caught up in cycles of depression when you find it impossible to replace that job or discovering that you cannot maintain the level of income and employment you once enjoyed. It’s important to come to terms with your situation and being honest with yourself is critical to coming out ahead. So lets look into what depression is, how it is triggered and how to identify it:
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV), the symptoms of depression include:
- sadness during most of the day
- altered appetite or body weight
- change in sleep patterns
- agitation
- lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- lethargy
- feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- concentration problems
- suicidal thoughts
These symptoms are typically used to identify “clinical depression,” or depression caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. The diagnosis list above is used to determine how to prescribe treatment in clinically depressed patients. But, major life changes like a job loss can trigger the same symptoms in people that are not clinically depressed. Deep depression because of unemployment is real and should be taken seriously. These symptoms are normal human emotions that can get out of control when issues in ones life fails to improve quickly. It is perfectly normal to experience symptoms of depression when important parts of your life are out of your control, but it’s important to be self aware, so that you can maintain perspective and have the energy to pull out of it.
So your depressed, now what do you do? First, you have to manage your state of mind if you are to succeed and come out of this. Over 1 in 1o people are in the same situation you are in, so don’t take it personal. While this statistic doesn’t improve your situation, you are not alone and your employment status is not a sign of a character flaw. Also keep in mind that collectively, the entire country is caught up in “recession think,” including prospective employers. They all have had rounds of layoffs and are not feeling stable themselves. So, this alters their thinking a bit and makes it harder to get a foot in the door or make an impression on them. Also, keep in mind that because 1 in 10 of us are in the market, there are lots of us out there looking for the same jobs and if you have ever been a hiring manager who has to screen 100+ resumes you can understand that the level of attention to specific things in your resume may not get his/her attention right away.
So, that is the reality of our situation. We have no control over it, so accept that you can’t change that and adjust our approach. Once you understand you are depressed, you need to find ways to manage it and overcome it. If you are just generally bummed, the worst thing to do is sit idle; getting exercise is a great way to keep your creative juices flowing. Use your time to get in shape. An hour of exercise a day will do amazing things to your state of mind and will get you in shape to make a positive impression with prospective employers. Maintain a regular schedule/regiment in your day. Get up and “go to work” just as if you had a job. Maintaining appearances will help you maintain your state of mind. As I have wrote in the past, look for work–establish meaningful connections, but also make time to keep your skills sharp. Do the things you love doing at work for yourself. Who knows, you might end up being an entrepreneur.
The key is not to succumb to depression if you can help it. Being depressed, negative or desperate will not help you find work. Confidence, optimism and a can-do attitude will prevail and likely set you apart from the crowd. But, if you do find yourself getting caught up in cycles of depression, you need to take this serious. If you cannot pull out of your mental slump, you need to seek help from your family, doctor and/or therapist. Even if depression is triggered by life changes like unemployment, its real and it is serious with real consequences if left untreated.
Be well and we will get through this.
~DK
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