Coping with Anxiety About the Possibility of Being Laid Off
In the current economic climate, many people reported that they experience, fear, or anxiety related to the thought of losing their job or being laid off. In fact, a new report published in May 2023 sides that nearly 2 and five adults are worried about losing their job, which is noted as a higher rate of perceived job and security than ever before (1).
So do you fit into this category of nearly 40% of Americans who are concerned about job security? If so, what can be done to manage this looming anxiety? Today we will address a few tips and tricks to manage the ongoing fear of job insecurity or job loss.
Focus on What You Can Control
Focus on what you can control. Seems simple right, but it actually can be pretty impactful. What can you control in a situation where your job could be taken away from you? Creating an actionable step or plan related to that question can be an extremely impactful tool in managing anxieties and fears related to job loss. These can be things like building, your résumé, dating new skills, focusing on performance reports, or any other actionable steps that put you in the driver’s seat of determining your outcome. Anxiety is energy and that energy needs a place to work and move.
Building a Support Network
Strong support networks both personally and professionally can make seasons of uncertainty much more tolerable. When things are uncertain in your professional, life, building relationships, investing in places of social support, building, professional networks, and relationships, and connecting with others, can be a great way to manage the anxieties that may be present in an uncertain career path. So when you’re facing anxiety related to the longevity of your job, send a text to a friend, accept the invitation to the barbecue, go to that networking meeting, and keep connecting with others!
Practicing Self-Care
Times of job and security are stressful. There is no way around it. But there are ways to manage stress to make it through times of increased stress with less impact and with greater health. In fact, adopting a simple self-care routine is noted to significantly improve one’s overall psychological well-being, and decrease the perceived stress that an individual experiences (2). So while this may be stressful, doing simple steps to develop a self-care routine can actually decrease the amount of stress that you perceive and experience.
Exploring Alternative Avenues and Embracing New Beginnings
Have you ever wondered if you were in the right career, or had the desire to change jobs or fields? If your current job is leaving you with feelings of uncertainty or insecurity, could this be an ideal opportunity to explore another career path that you could find for filling? Well that may not be the right answer for everyone, many people do you find that seasons of instability in one career path may afford them the opportunity and motivation to pursue a change in careers. What if a place of fear was actually a place of opportunity for growth and transformation? It’s at least worth considering.
Creating a Financial Plan
Our jobs and careers are directly connected with our financial well-being and stability. So if there is fear related to the longevity of maintaining your current job, it is critically important to evaluate your current financial health and take steps to secure your financial health and well-being as proactively as possible. A 2020 press release from the American psychological association reports that 2/3 of adults say that money is a significant source of stress in their lives (3). And creating a budget or assessing financial risks. Can be a great way to address these anxieties and worries in a proactive purpose-filled way.
Utilizing Therapeutic Techniques and Seeking Professional Help
Anxieties of all forms can be treated and reduced through evidence-based interventions and support from a trained meal health therapist. There are numerous options for interventions that are researched and proven to assist individuals and reduce anxiety symptoms. Working with a therapist can be a great way to gain additional support, address fears, and worries that may be challenging to share with friends and family members, and ultimately proactively plan to manage all areas of health through potential uncertainties or transitions.
So, if insecurity in your professional life is causing stress and anxiety, there are ways to reduce your distress in these times of uncertainty and manage transitions with health and wellness.
If you are interested in seeking professional, help for anxiety-related symptoms, a member of our team would love to support you in whatever season of life you find yourself. With online therapy options and our in-person therapy group located in Arlington, Texas, we have options to serve and support your anxiety needs.
