How to Cope With Job Loss

Losing a job stirs up feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment and insecurity and can be generally devastating. Many times, recovery takes weeks or months, and it can be all too easy to spiral into a depression. It's important to know how to avoid this, and learning how to cope with a job loss can even lead to better things in the future.

Instructions

1. Try your best not to panic. This just happened, and it's too soon to let yourself be overwhelmed by the prospect of unpaid bills. You don't know at this point how long you'll be unemployed, so don't go into a tailspin just yet. That would only be counterproductive and prevent you from putting the situation into perspective and moving on.

2. Allow yourself to feel the stages of grief. After all, you have lost a lot. Every day you went to your job with the same people and accomplished projects or tasks for which you were compensated. That's a lot to mourn, so let yourself go through denial, anger, bargaining and even depression if it takes you to acceptance.

3. Accept the situation. Once you make it through the myriad feelings that come with losing your job, acceptance is a pretty good place to be. Remember that despite all else, it's only a job that you have lost, and you can now look into your future with anticipation of what comes next.

4. Embrace your forced vacation. This may not be anywhere near what you planned for this stage in your life, but that doesn't mean that you can't make it work for you. You have time on your hands. Regroup, take a break, do projects around the house that you've been neglecting, help friends or relatives who are ill or volunteer. The time away from all things employment can give you a fresh perspective on your life and where you want to go next.

5. Cut out all unnecessary things. While you're unemployed and taking your breather, just remember that your lifestyle has to change until something else comes down the pike. Cut out buying new clothes, dinners out, movies and other little luxuries that can quickly eat up extra money.

6. Start thinking about your next career. Begin by updating your resume, taking classes that refresh your skills and reach out to your contacts. If you're changing career paths totally, it's a good time to enter a training program or register for classes to prepare you.

7. Get back into the game. It's time to get a job, so start the heavy push forward. Contact an employment agency, find head hunters, surf the Internet, check the classifieds and get the word out to people you know. Make it known that you're ready, willing and able to give 110 percent to a new position. This is the final step to coping with your job loss and it can be very empowering.

Tips & Warnings

• Try your best to remain positive throughout your job loss. This may mean reaching out to trusted friends and relatives to lend an ear or even seeking professional help. Do what you have to do to remain emotionally healthy.

• Everyone at one point or another has lost a job, so don't take this loss too hard or as a personal attack. You aren't the only one to experience this, although it may feel like it now.