Recession - The Aftermath

February 21st, 2009 by Karen Mistlin

Sounds dramatic and for some the effects of the current economic situation will have possibly life altering consequences on both a financial and psychological level.

Job loss for example can create large amounts of stress which can be a contributory factor to illness and it may weaken the immune system and cause symptoms such as headaches, poor digestion and sleeplessness. Sometimes events in our lives are so stressful that they can be described as traumatic. The trauma of losing your job can have a similar effect to the trauma of discovering a terminal illness, a divorce or bereavement. The basic five stages in relation to job loss can be:

- Denial ( I cant have lost my job)

- Anger ( I cant believe they did this to me)

- Bargaining ( If only I can talk to my boss maybe I can get my job back)

- Depression ( What is the point in carrying on)

- Acceptance ( O.K. Ive lost my job and it is time to move on)

You may recognise the feelings associated with these stages or be in the midst of them at the moment, so how to begin to regain control and move forward? It is normal to go through all these emotions but by recognising the need to deal with them this can often accelerate the process towards a positive path forwards.

- Although is may be hard, it can be helpful to talk about your feelings to family and friends if you feel able.

- If this just isnt possible, you can talk to your G.P. a member of the clergy
Whatever your religious affiliation might be. Another option is to go to speak to a counsellor. Talking through your problems can give you the clarity you need to move forward.

- If you notice symptoms of depression then you should talk to your G.P.

- These symptoms may include difficulty sleeping, over eating, lack of appetite, over dependence on alcohol or drugs, palpitations, thoughts of suicide or self harm, general low self esteem, inability or avoidance of communication or lack of social interaction.

If you decide to seek emotional support and hopefully recover from the shock of losing your job or being made redundant, there may be a silver lining to this particularly nasty cloud. Suddenly you are in a position where you have the time and space to think about what you want from your life and career. Now could be a time to re-train or re-educate yourself in skills that open a whole new set of doors.

Every ending brings a new beginning of some variety. This is not to say that life changes are not challenging but sometimes events such a losing a job can offer a new path forward that can often lead to a higher level of personal self fulfilment.