1-Minute Summary:
Depression is a major hazard for those who are out of work. Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness and worthlessness can immobilize you and drag you down. Take steps to keep from falling into depression—or to get out if you’re there. Here are a few things you can do:
Be sure you’re running an effective campaign so that your unemployment won’t go on and on and on.
Watch what you put in your body—Eat nutritiously.
Watch what you put in your mind—Fill your mind with uplifting materials; stay away from the negatives.
Volunteer—Be part of something and keep your skills sharp.
Get out of the house—Every day.
Exercise—Regularly
Surround yourself with positive people
Consult a doctor and/or counselor – Sometimes, we can’t do it by ourselves.
Full Article - Beat Your Depression Before It Beats You
A while ago, one of our clients just disappeared. We called and left messages. We emailed. No response. We weren’t sure if he was alive or dead. Finally, he called and sheepishly told us that for a long time, he was too depressed to get out of bed. Please don’t let this happen to you. Depression is a major hazard to you and those you love when you’re out of work.
We all feel down from time to time, but depression can immobilize you, and interfere with your ability to work, read, eat, sleep, and have fun. Feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting. It can feel like there’s no way out.
It’s not surprising that people get depressed. There is a lot of negativity in a job search. Until you get that offer, there is one rejection after another. Many people get little or no positive feedback to keep them going. Money issues can weigh us down heavily and cause tension with spouses and kids. Often, people feel uneasy, uncertain that they are doing the right things to get hired. Many haven’t done a job search in a long time, and the rules of the game have changed. Plus, it’s embarrassing when people ask, “What do you do?” When working, we’re proud to talk about it, but now, we find ourselves mumbling, “Uh….I’m unemployed.”
There are steps you can take to prevent depression and to climb out of it, if you succumb. When you’re unemployed, do all you can to ward it off.
Be Effective
First, let’s address the root of the depression—your unemployment. Make sure that you are doing the right things to get hired. Many people spend most of their time on the least effective activities, like job boards. Make sure you have a great personal presentation: resume, clothes, LinkedIn and other marketing materials and that you can speak about yourself powerfully. Job hunting is like boxing: neither is any fun if you’re not good at them. You just get beaten up. If you are not being effective, waste no time. Call a professional coach today. If you can’t afford that, a number of places provide help for free or for a nominal charge. You can’t afford to be ineffective.
Watch What You Put in Your Body
Eat nutritious foods; get plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Avoid substances that cause depression: caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and aspartame (aka NutraSweet). According to Dr. Janet Star Hull, there are at least 92 serious side effects caused by consumption of aspartame. See:
www.sweetpoison.com/aspartame-side-effects.html).
Watch What You Put in Your Mind
Resist the temptation to vegetate in front of the TV. Keep up to date on the news, but stay away from the standard fare of most of the TV news. You really don’t need to know about every fire, rape, and murder that occurred in your city. Read magazines and newspapers; avoid hate radio jocks. Read or listen to inspirational books and recordings.
Volunteer
Find a place to contribute. Keep your skills sharp, be around other people, and get that satisfaction of a job well done that you don’t experience when you’re out of work.
Surround Yourself with Positive People
Spend time with friends, join a support group, and network with others. Be sure that you don’t get dragged down by negative people. There’s no shortage of people who will continually complain about everything from the job market to the weather; you can’t afford to be around them.
Get Out of the House
Every day, get out of the house. Enjoy nature and spend time with other human beings. You can’t stay sane sitting around all by yourself.
Exercise
Sitting around being sedentary isn’t good for your body or your mind. At least once a day, get out to the health club, ride your bike, take a walk, go swimming…whatever you enjoy. Exercise not only makes you look and feel better, but it stimulate the production of endorphins, powerful chemicals in your body that resemble opiates in their abilities to produce a feeling of well-being. The talk of the “runners’ high” is real!
Consult a Doctor and/or Counselor
Talking with a counselor can do wonders to lift your spirits. Further, some people greatly benefit from anti-depressants. They’re not for everyone, but they have helped a lot of people to kick a debilitating depression.
Keep your spirits up and keep in action.
