In recent months, the tech industry has seen a significant wave of layoffs, leaving many individuals without employment unexpectedly. As of the end of April, around 266 tech companies - including big names like Meta, Amazon, Google, and Apple - have laid off nearly 75,000 workers in 2024. The sudden loss of a job can be profoundly destabilizing, both financially and emotionally. Those who are laid off often have to jump into a desperate job hunt, undergoing uncertainty and financial stress. It's all too easy to let your mental health fall to the wayside, but taking care of yourself is the best thing you can do as you navigate this period.
Being laid off can trigger a complex mixture of emotions. Initially, shock and disbelief are common, quickly followed by feelings of frustration, anger, or sadness. Your job may have provided a social circle, or it may have been an important part of your identity. Losing a job is a significant change that impacts many areas of your life, so it’s important to recognize that these feelings are natural. You will most likely need to go through a grieving process as you come to terms with what happened.
If you’ve just been laid off, the first and best thing you can do for yourself is practice self-compassion. Acknowledge your feelings and permit yourself to feel them without self-judgment. Be gentle with yourself. This period of adjustment is challenging, and self-compassion is a crucial step in dealing with emotional upheaval. It’s normal to feel ashamed after being laid off, as if you did something wrong that caused you to lose your job. Remember that for your company, it was most likely about the numbers and had nothing to do with you. Shame can cause you to self-isolate, so try to lean on your support network. Share your thoughts and feelings with trusted friends or family members.
Job hunting can be a grueling process that requires a great deal of time and energy. It also subjects you to potential rejection, which can be very demoralizing. Since it commonly takes three to six months to find a job, protecting your mental health during this process is essential. Below are some strategies you can implement to stay mentally healthy during your job search:
Financial uncertainty is one of the most stressful aspects of being laid off, so take immediate steps to manage your financial situation by creating a stringent budget. Investigate eligibility for unemployment benefits and other financial support. Financial stress can create feelings of shame, making it tempting to hide what you are going through from others. However, being honest with your friends and family members will allow them to help you find solutions and offer emotional support. This doesn’t mean you have to ask others for financial help; you could enlist their support in researching financial support options or mitigating debt payments with hardship programs.
Navigating a layoff is undeniably challenging, and poor mental health increases the difficulty tenfold. If you notice persistent feelings of sadness or anxiety, withdrawal from usual activities, or changes in sleep patterns and appetite that affect your daily functioning, it may be time to seek help. At Medens Health, our compassionate team is here to help you manage this period with support and coping strategies. Our trained mental health providers offer both in-person and virtual therapy. We accept most insurance policies and offer sliding-scale payment plans for those without insurance. Contact us today to learn how we can support your journey back to employment and emotional health.
Call or text (833) 624-5400, fill out our contact form, or get started here!
Disclaimer:
The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Reliance on any information this blog provides is solely at your own risk. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified mental health provider with any questions regarding your medical or mental health. If you don’t currently have a therapist, we can connect you with one who is qualified to give you safe, professional, and ethical advice regarding your mental health.
If you or someone you are responsible for is experiencing a medical emergency, is considering harming themselves or others, or is otherwise in imminent danger, you should call 9-1-1 and/or take them to the nearest emergency room.
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