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Coping with Job Loss During COVID-19

Nancy MacGregor MA, ATR-BC, LPC, ACS, Clinical Director

It will not happen to me. I am good at my job. It cannot happen to me. I am the primary source of income for my family. It might happen to me. What will I do? But could it really happen to me? I have been here for 4 years… What do you mean lay-off? Coping with job loss during COVID-19 is becoming something more and more individuals and families have to address.

Looking at the state of our society due to COVID-19, it is no surprise companies are struggling to survive and are having to reduce costs as much as possible. I understand it, but that does not make it better. How will my family survive?

Coping With Job Loss

Now is not the time to retreat into my head and let the situation overwhelm me. It is not the time to think that I deserve this for something I have done or that I lost my job because I am not talented, not efficient, not productive, or just not good enough.

Over 26 million people have filed for unemployment since Coronavirus came to town. Knowing I am not alone does bring some comfort. The enormity of the economic situation in our country is difficult to comprehend. I am worried that there will be a flood of people ‘in the market’ for a job once this is over and the competition will be steep. Will we all be working for Amazon?

The feelings that rush through my mind are fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, fear again (actually the fear and anxiety never go away), and then resolution. This is happening. This has happened. I am a strong, healthy individual who can think for myself. I can earn money in a variety of ways that are still available to me right now. They might be temporary, but they can get my family and me through this difficult time. I sit down with my family to take inventory of income, savings, bills, debt, expenses. Where can we reduce expenses, how can I stretch our savings, what bills are forgiven during this time? We make a weekly budget.

Using Social Media

I update my social media accounts and start a blog on LinkedIn. I reach out to all my family, friends, acquaintances, former co-workers throughout the years – now is the time to access that network I have been building since high school. No rock is too small to overturn – you never know where you will make the connection that will lead to an opportunity. Reading on Glassdoor and PayScale, they state that approximately 85% of positions are filled through networking – not job applications and online postings and that up to 70% of available positions are not posted, but are filled through recommendations from trusted sources.

So, I dust off my network, but also spend time filling out applications and postings – can’t hurt to do it all! No one knows how long this will last. The support I get from my family is incredible. They also reach out to their networks, help me find online networking opportunities. I know they are worried too, but they do not make me feel unworthy or ashamed. I can be vulnerable with them, let them know this is a difficult time for me, but that I, I mean we, will get through it. Together.

Harmony Bay Wellness

It’s never easy coping with job loss, let alone during the pandemic that is COVID-19. Fortunately, Harmony Bay Wellness is here to support you and your loved ones. We offer numerous telehealth and in-person therapeutic services to help keep your mental health strong. So reach out to us today at [Direct] and explore what we have to offer.

Treatment with Harmony Bay

Harmony Bay is an outpatient behavioral health service that offers primary mental health treatment for a variety of mental health disorders. Our mission is to make mental health care convenient and affordable while providing an unmatched experience to our clients. contact us today by calling 855.765.6399.