Unemployment Problems: Coping with the Stress, Fear, and Uncertainty

Unemployment Problems: The Questions that Haunt Us

Being unemployed and searching for a job in the 20's can be difficult depending upon a number of factors. But the most taxing aspects drop upon your shoulders when you don't manage to find something right away. In the digital age we're not just competing with the people living in the immediate area anymore, we're competing with every person that has computer access and the legal right to work for a business in that country. Often, you'll see job listing on LinkedIn that say 100+ applicants. That could be 100 or 1,000 and you'll never know. To compete with over 100 people for one job you have to be almost narcissistically confident in yourself and your abilities to click into that video interview saying, "I'm going to get this job." If you are one of the 99+ people who don't get that role, you have to keep that level of confidence going as you tell yourself, "I'm going to get the next one." It's mentally and physically exhausting.

After a time, you might find yourself thinking there's something wrong with you or questioning what you did wrong in the interview. Will the money you have left last till you find something new? What else could you be doing in the meantime to stay afloat? Am I too proud to ask for or accept help? For men, they might question their ability to call themselves a man- as we're trained from youth to believe that we have to provide for our families. When you suddenly find yourself not able to do so or accepting help from others, it can be debilitating.

The Point Is...

The point is, you may find yourself cracking or braking under questions like these and the pressures that you place upon yourself. You're desperate to start succeeding again. I've been job hunting since September, so I've been through all of this myself... I'm still going through these unemployment problems honestly. And every day I remind myself that I am a success despite my situation. And you are too.

As long as you wake up every day, ask yourself "What can I do better?" and go put in the effort, you are a success. Life is not a game of wins and losses. Life is the steps we take from one point to the next. If you are taking steps to improve yourself, then you ARE a success. If you chose not to stand still; if you chose not to wait for someone else to fix it for you, then YOU ARE A SUCCESS.

Take Care of Yourself Along the Way

Make sure you are dedicating some effort into preserving and supporting yourself along the way. If you're able:

• talking to a therapist or mental health professional about the struggles you're going through during your job search.

• incorporate activities into your daily schedule that help you release the tension that's building inside: (i.e. sports, exercise, a walk, music, art, etc.)

• spoil yourself once in a while (within reason). Go out for a nice meal at your favorite restaurant or do an activity that you love that you had to stop due to budget concerns. Get a massage. But do something once in a blue moon that makes you feel special.

• Find someone you trust and respect that's a part of your life and talk to them about what you're going through. True friends are willing to share in each other's burdens.

• Find ways to continue working on your skills while you search.

Because Your Health Matters

Remembering to take care of yourself can be as important if not more important to your job search than anything else. Employers don't want to hire debilitated, broken-down people that question their abilities. Making sure you're not carrying those questions or that weight when you walk into interviews is crucial.

Taking care of yourself is what helps you take care of your problems. That doesn't just apply to this subject, but to all things. The more we work on ourselves and put effort into supporting ourselves both physically and mentally, the more we fix the problems that occur in our lives. Remember, we are not defined by our jobs, or what money we make, but rather by what we choose to do with our time on this earth, especially when times get difficult.

Find a Therapist

If you or someone you know is in need of or looking for a mental health professional, I strongly encourage searching on PsychologyToday.com. That's what I used to find my therapist. They have a comprehensive search engine that enables you to find exactly what you need to know: Who they are, what methods they practice, insurances they accept, etc. And they provide you contact information and links for connecting with individual practitioners and organizations alike.