Greetings SASSY Women,
I apologize for lack of involvement over a course of several months. I was trying to balance my life after several catastrophes. Finally, I have regained some stability, and am making an uphill climb in combating depression in my life as well in the lives of others. I am sharing this information with you because this article will describe what I have suffered from for the past six months. Unemployment depression if not detected and combated immediately can drain and destroy one’s livelihood and will to live. I hope the description of this information along with my personal testimonial will help inform you in helping yourself and others around you especially during this time of economic recession.
Recent studies indicate that a person will become depressed in about one to six months of unemployment. This is not surprising because one’s profession plays an intricate part of defining one’s self esteem, worth, and life purpose. The absence of compensated contribution to society places strain on how one views themselves and others. Relationships become strained, especially if the person that recently lost their job is the breadwinner of the family.
Long term unemployment erodes the self confidence and increases self blame. It forces one to focus on their own faults and insecurities and capitalizes on them. This heightened scrutiny transfers to how one views others, and relationships are strained. The person is always irritated and lashes out at others who try to help. Worry increases, and one becomes lackluster and uninterested in things that they used to enjoy, often times they keep to themselves and remain indoors. Other symptoms include physical ailments, such as headaches, insomnia, gastrointestinal distress, and sexual dysfunction.
The most fatal result of untreated unemployment depression is suicide. Experts say that unemployment triples suicide risk. According to an article written by the BBC says that being isolated, not being part of a work community at all can increase feelings of vulnerability and worthlessness. If this feeling of worthlessness is not dealt with immediately, one can and will try to take their own life.
Although I never desired to take my own life, during this time of unemployment I suffered from all of the mental and some of the physical symptoms. Luckily, I had people in my life that believed in me despite the circumstances. My boyfriend and other loved ones noticed the drastic change in my behavior and started to make sure that I came out of my defeatist mentality. Over a period of time, I was able to get out of the lowered mental state I was in, and change my attitude. Although I am not employed full time, I am excited and hopeful and I believe in myself again. Yay.
What You Can Do
If you or someone you love has developed symptoms of unemployment depression here are some ways to combat it:
- Talk about how you feel. Find a way to express how you feel. If it’s to your significant other, to your loved ones, to your pastor, to your dog, through prayer or meditation or even through a blog or a journal. Get your feelings out. You will feel better. If you are comfortable with sharing your feelings with a stranger and have the means to foot the bill, consider finding a counselor or therapist to discuss your problems with.
- Stay active. Get involved in some community efforts, or if you joined a sorority or used to be active in a church group, become active again to rekindle pride and self worth. Staying productive will fight off the depression that comes with feeling like you’ve got nothing to get out of bed for.
- Spend a lot of time with friends and family, people that love you. These people will serve as your cheerleaders and encouragers when you are down. It’s normal to want to push people away when you’re experiencing unemployment depression, but the people who love you the most will be the people who can cheer you up. And now that you’re not working, you can’t use being busy as an excuse.
- Clean your house/apartment/room. Being unemployed is bad enough. Being unemployed and sitting around a messy house all day is worse. You’d be surprised at how having a clean house can lift your spirits. Reorganize your closets, sweep behind kitchen appliances, donate unwanted things to Salvation Army, and really give your home a deep cleaning you can be proud of. You’ll be glad you spent the time now when you start working again and don’t have the time anymore.
- Go grocery shopping. It seems counterintuitive to spend a ton of money when you’ve just lost your job, but stocking up on groceries now will save you money in the long run. You’re going to have to eat, and you’re going to have to economize, so save money by making all your meals at home. Going grocery shopping has the added bonus of being comforting. You can buy all your favorite foods and take pleasure and pride in the meals you prepare.
- Run all those errands you’ve been putting off. A great way to achieve a sense of accomplishment is to finish something you’ve been putting off for awhile. Have you been meaning to mail Grandma’s birthday present, get Fluffy a new collar, or return those overdue library books? There’s no time like the present!
In conclusion, I hope unemployment depression is not something that is affecting you personally. If it is, I feel your pain, but there is a way out. I hope this information helps you or a love one that you know that may be affected.
God bless,
-LD <3
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Thank you so much for sharing this! You really summed up what I’m feeling these days. I lost my job and sort of lost my mind too. I was feeling pretty worthless and down and out. You are so right about just getting out of the house. In the beginning, I stayed in and slept about 12 hours a day. I figured, if I slept, I didn’t have to think about being unemployed. I finally got more involved with things and ran errands and such. I’m feeling a bit better, but of course I’ll feel better once I have a job. Great article and I thank you again for sharing.
Talk about it! It is so true! It’s been a year since I lost my job and this past year has been an emotional roller coaster, starting on the highs of my freedom to the lows of not leaving the house for days. Thankfully I’m on the positive side of the depression hill too. Only after getting a kick in the pants from my mother who noticed a difference in my mood and whole demeanor. Although I knew I didn’t feel like myself, I didn’t realize how drastic it was.
I really enjoyed this post. And in this time, this topic is very real for many people. I would love to see more like it.
I know what it’s like to feel useless and I know the fear of becoming a social outsider, a “loser”. As bad as losing a job can be, maybe we can also look at it as an opportunity….yes, I said opportunity! Maybe it is time to remember the dreams we had when were merely staring out of the window although we should have been working/we were younger/we didn’t have kids yet. What is keeping us from painting, writing, designing, singing, starting an own television channel, earn money blogging, starting a charity or whatever it is we were really meant to do? Instead of looking at it as loosing a job we could change perspective and realize that we have just been blessed with the opportunity to create our own life anew and with it our own job. Take the gift!
My boyfriend is going thru the unemployment depresion but I don’t know what I can do for him because he doesn’t let me help him. He doesn’t answer the calls, only goes out to hand out resumes and just doesn’t want to talk. He has the same attitude with his mom and other family members as well. What can I do to help?
@worried-girlfriend Here is a list of websites with resources from Mashable for people that are looking for jobs. Many ideas and tools, worth checking out: http://mashable.com/category/jobs-lists/
That was a wonderful article. I moved to a new city last year relocating for my husband’s job. I havent been able to find unemployment since. I feel that no matter how bad it gets, certain people who are still employed are completely delusional and insensitive to your situation. They feel that since they have jobs it cant be all that bad…..as they say only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
It is very hurtful when you have to keep justifying to people what you do all day.They make you feel so worthless. Sometimes I just feel like running away to a deserted island and breaking ties with everyone. I often feel I have commited a cardinal sin by being unemployed. I dont know if others out here are made to feel the same way but I would like to hear your comments.
I don’t want to use the term happy, but I am relieved that I am not the only woman feeling this way. I am a smart educated person who had dreams otu of college and now, after being unemployed just over a year, i feel so worthless. My depression is causing my bf to become very impatient with me. He cant seem to understand why I am SO sad. He is VERY supportive, but I am embarrassed to be his GF becausewi I am afriad people who are employed will not understand our struggle. No matter what we do, its still a good job thats the number one thing that gives a lot of fulfillment and worth in our lives.
Good luck to you all