How to Avoid Depression Caused by Extended Unemployment Period

• Author: Monica Jackson
• Posted: 2023-12-13

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, long-term employment is being jobless for more than 26 weeks. Although some people get lucky to get a new job after losing their current one, others spend extended durations before success. If you experience emotional stress because of long-term unemployment, you can take steps to prevent getting into anxiety and depression.

While at it, you should plan carefully and keep encouraging yourself until you succeed. While you should continue searching for another job, it is also essential to concentrate on building your self-esteem. If you have been unemployed for a long time and feel emotionally drained, here are the five steps you can follow to remain on the right track:

1. Think Back and Relax

However much you may hate your job, you would not like losing it without knowing what to do next. If it happens, don't take it as a failure. Spend the first few days after the job loss thinking back and relaxing. Spend time doing things you love, such as quality time with your loved ones, before knowing the right place to start.

Although life has to continue, and you will need to pay bills, self-pity will only worsen things. Instead, find ways that can help you become productive. List your strengths and weaknesses, skills you would like to pursue, and what you hated about your previous job. That will help you know where to start, the positions you should apply for, and the best companies to try your luck.

2. Avoid Being Too Comfortable with Your Current Situation

Don't spend too much time on things that might distract you, such as watching your favorite movie series. Instead, use your time wisely to see what you can do to find another job. For example, you can wake up at the same time each day as you would when going to work. Set time aside each day for handling essential tasks and relaxation.

Set a goal to apply for a certain number of jobs each week and stick to it. You may also check the details you can change on your resume and cover letter as you prepare to search for a new job. Remove all the irrelevant information and update the design to a more modern one. Add all your recently acquired skills and experience to reflect your current qualifications.

3. Learn How to Dust Yourself and Move On

After losing your job, you'll need time to grieve. However, avoid spending too much time in the grieving period; work on your emotions, pick up the pieces, and move on. Sometimes you may go through emotional stress because of the job loss and might need some pushing you to rise again. It would be best for you to identify depression symptoms and their causes. If you notice a behavior change, such as the number of hours you sleep each night, avoiding spending time with others, and skipping meals, you may seek professional help. Talk to a professional experienced in treating unemployment depression to guide you through the challenging period.

4. Become Active and Get in Shape

You can spend the unemployment period learning a new hobby or engaging in physical fitness. Being active will provide several mental and physical benefits, such as developing strong self-esteem, feeling accomplished, and spending time on a worthy cause. Consider joining your local gym, where you can engage in different physical activities such as lifting weights and aerobics. You will find new networks in the gym as you socialize, which could create an opening for your next job. You may also spend time working out from the comfort of your home and save the extra cash you'd need for the gym membership.

5. Become Useful

Everyone loves to feel needed. That is why self-esteem contributes to your relationships with others, and many people suffer from unemployment depression. You will feel appreciated when others come to you for help and advice. With that in mind, find ways to help others. You may volunteer in your neighborhood organizations to remain active and feel needed. It will also help boost your resume because of the skills you will acquire as a volunteer.

While stress, anxiety, and depression contribute to the length of time you stay without a job, you can prevent them by taking the above steps. You will need to remain positive, avoid giving up, and be patient to reduce the chances of being unemployed for a long time.