31st March 2023

Losing your job is one of the most stressful situations you can experience. It's even more stressful when it's unexpected and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. You might feel like there's nothing you can do, but that isn't true. There are steps you can take to help deal with this difficult situation.

Give yourself time to grieve

You may be feeling a lot of emotions right now, and it's important that you give yourself time to grieve. For many of us, our job or our career is not just a way of earning money, it’s part of who we are and how we see ourselves. It will obviously take time to adjust to this dramatic change in your life.

There’s no need to beat yourself up over your situation or compare yourself to others. You're allowed to be sad, angry and disappointed - and as long as you don't take it out on your family or friends, there's no shame in it.

If someone says something negative about being out of work, ignore them or politely tell them that they have no idea what they're talking about because they've never been through this themselves. Don't let anyone make you feel guilty for being out of work; if anything, try focusing on the positive aspects of unemployment, like having more time with your family.

You have options

You can choose how you react to the situation, and how it affects your life. You may find yourself feeling depressed or frustrated at times, but there are ways of coping with these feelings that will help make things easier on both yourself and those around you. If these emotions are too much for you then consider seeking professional help from a counsellor or therapist who can guide you through this time in an empathetic way, helping you understand what it means for you as well as providing support so you can continue to function with your day-to-day life while you process your loss.

Try and accept that the situation is out of your control

Understand that the situation is out of your control. Try not to dwell on what was, and focus on what could be. This shift could be a positive change in your life, where you get to change direction or focus in your life.

Don't blame yourself for the loss of your job; redundancies are just a part of life, and they happen all the time. Try to remind yourself that it is just a change, a different landscape that you need to adjust to.

In the end, losing your job can be a difficult experience. You may feel like it's all up to you, but there are many resources available to help you find new employment. You just need to know where to look and have some patience!

Need some help navigating your redundancy? I offer personalised, sensitive bereavement counselling in Harrogate. Feel free to get in touch and I’d be happy to answer any questions you might have.