While suddenly joining the ranks of the unemployed will likely leave most of us feeling lost and confused, there are steps that will help you regain control, says therapist Simon Coombs. Photo / Getty Images
While suddenly joining the ranks of the unemployed will likely leave most of us feeling lost and confused, there are steps that will help you regain control, says therapist Simon Coombs. Photo / Getty Images
Facing an unexpected job loss can unleash a whirlwind of emotions, but finding your feet will help you manage it.
“It pains me to think how many good colleagues who contributed so much to their communities and our country will now no longer sit in the House of Commons,” the former Prime Minister said. “I thank them for their hard work and their service.”
Among these colleagues are Liz Truss, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Penny Mordaunt and Grant Shapps, who may now be scrambling to secure new jobs.
It’s a feeling Ash Hussain, 52, knows all too well. Hussain was working as a senior picture editor on a national newspaper, a position he had held for more than a decade, when one afternoon, in the autumn of 2011, he learnt he had been made redundant and was out of a job due to company cutbacks.
“It was completely out of the blue and a total shock,” he says. “It is probably one of the most horrific things I’ve ever experienced in my life. I had a young family and all I could think was, ‘How will I pay the bills and mortgage? Am I going to lose the house?’ The redundancy package helped but I was still incredibly anxious and became quite depressed. I kept thinking, ‘What did I do wrong?’”
Hussain eventually found freelance work through an old colleague, which led to a full-time position within a year. “Looking back now, I would tell people not to panic - take a deep breath, clear your head and then get back to looking for a job. Reach out to friends and family and former colleagues who can help you through the process.”
Losing your job can be stressful, but you also get to choose how to go forward. Photo / 123rf
Simon Coombs, a therapist registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), agrees with his sentiment.
While suddenly joining the ranks of the unemployed will likely leave most of us feeling lost and confused, there are steps that will help you regain control, he says.
Acknowledge how you feel
“It’s death by 1000 cuts if you’re in a situation where you know you’re soon going to be out of work,” says Coombs, while a sudden unexpected job loss can hit us even harder. “It can have a massive psychological impact and trigger trauma, which presents itself in different ways.”
“There’s often a feeling of dejection or betrayal, especially if you invested your heart and soul into your work and were performing well but were let down by others,” adds Coombs, who is also the founder and director of Working Minds, an organisation supporting unemployed people with their mental health and wellbeing. “Where MPs are concerned, they may have been doing a good job in their constituencies, but the bigger picture has failed them.”
Loss - of power, identity, routine and meaning - can leave people feeling isolated and cut adrift from society and the world of work, he says.
“We’ll be wondering what we’re going to do with ourselves and feeling rudderless. Then, there’s anxiety due to the fact that we’ve lost the certainty of our monthly paycheck and, potentially, the ability to pay the mortgage,” Coombs says.
“Even those individuals who have financial security and stability need to start thinking about what they’re going to do to keep the lifestyle that they’re used to.” They may need to come to grips with the benefits system, which is a difficult landscape to navigate, he adds.
All of this uncertainty and stress can lead to depression but those who find themselves jobless can take practical steps to feel more in charge.
Take time to process what’s happened
“When we don’t have a job, the first thing most people do is desperately look for another one,” Coombs says.
This can help people process what they’ve been through and reduce their risk of rushing into decisions they might later regret, such as taking a job they don’t actually want.
Take a short break from anything work-related if possible by doing practical jobs, like cleaning or gardening. Photo / Getty Images
Make a plan
Consider how you’re going to replace your lost income and whether you want to remain in the same sector, work in another industry or study towards something new.
“Some people go back into education, some retrain, some upskill - there are genuinely a lot of opportunities, regardless of age or the stage of your career,” Coombs says.
After reaching a decision, make a time-bound plan that sets goals, he recommends. These could include making sure your CV is up to date and well-presented, getting up to speed on how to search for jobs online and signing up with recruitment companies.
“You’ll suddenly start to feel more in control of your own destiny, and your mental health and wellbeing will benefit accordingly.”
Create a healthy daily routine
Create a healthy routine which includes exercise, eating healthily, drinking enough water and spending time with loved ones, Coombs recommends. “This is key to recovery and claiming back a sense of control. Ensure you have a daily focus and stick to it.”
“What we mustn’t do is shrink into an isolated kind of existence,” he says. “If you live alone, make sure that you’re reaching out to friends and family.”
Anyone struggling to cope with being unemployed should consider turning to therapy, with six to 10 sessions usually required to come to terms with a job loss, Coombs says. “The BACP has a directory of registered therapists who can help you get away from the ‘why’ and ‘what if’ to help you look beyond it, so you land on a more positive outcome.”
Create a healthy routine by combining good practices and time with loved ones into your lifestyle. Photo / 123rf
How to cope with taking on a high-pressure role, according to therapist Simon Coombs
Prepare: The new UK Prime Minister will have been preparing for this role for at least six months - after the Government’s position became virtually untenable. Anyone looking to take on a big new job should follow this example and give themselves plenty of time to understand their new responsibilities and the expectations placed on them.
Improve your health: Ensure you’re in good physical and mental shape to face new challenges and pressures at work.
Weekly check-ins: Maintain a healthy awareness of how you’re getting on, asking yourself if you’re feeling focused and positive. If you’re feeling down, consider what you can do about it, whether that’s making the time for exercise or improving your diet. If that doesn’t work, it may be wise to reach out to a counsellor or coach who can help.
Speak to a therapist: They can guide you through massive life changes, such as gaining a new, possibly hugely responsible role. Many people in the public eye are now very open about seeing a therapist to work through current or historical issues. This can only be a good thing going forward.
