While a job loss has many ramifications, dealing with the range of emotions it causes-from anger to anxiety to depression can prove to be especially difficult. It is perfectly normal to experience these reactions, for being unemployed is inherently stressful and it can also involve a grief process.

There are four basic stages of this:

Shock-a disbelief that this has happened to you
Anger-a feeling that you have been wronged
Mourning-sadness over the loss of friends
Acceptance-the desire to get on with your life

  Stress isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can, in fact, be a powerful motivator, but at too great a level it can get in the way of performance. It’s all a question of how you manage stress.

  Here are a few tips on how to deal with job stress:

1.    Keep a hopeful outlook. What are the good things in your life right now? (Good health, strong friendships, and your car and home are paid off). Listen to other people’s stories of how they emerged from this situation and not only survived, but in some cases, became more prosperous because of it.

2.    Recall the ways you have successfully handled past hardships and draw on these same skills to meet and overcome current challenges. You will become a much stronger person; To paraphrase an old saying, “What doesn’t break you, will make you”.

3.    Help yourself by helping others. Assist others in need by volunteering. When you are not going to work every day, your sense of being useful and helpful can suffer. You don’t have to do it full-time, but volunteer work will restore and maintain your self-esteem and self-concept. You may learn some useful new skills, you’ll look forward to getting out of the house, and most importantly, this will get you out of any depression (You’ll become so involved that you can look at your situation in a whole new way).

4.    Make connections. Don’t isolate yourself. Seek social support from your family, friends, and others. Spend time with those who offer genuine support and connection.

5.    Maintain a daily routine. Keep up a regular schedule, including household chores, job-search activities, and getting out of the house. This will also help stop any pending depression or just sitting around, feeling sorry for yourself.

6.    Take care of yourself. Make the time to properly exercise, eat, and rest. Schedule some time to do things you enjoy such as hobbies and social activities. You may feel the need to stay in survival mode when you’re job hunting, but this can lead to burnout. And besides, you still need some “down” time. Looking for a job IS a job and can be harder work than an ACTUAL job!
  
    Getting your finances in order is absolutely crucial now. One of the first things you should do is to see if you are eligible for unemployment compensation. If you are, sign up for them as soon as possible. I would also go over any savings you may have and figure out how much you can live on for as little as you can afford. Make sure you have enough for medical expenses and be very sure to keep paying for your rent or mortgage, heat, light, and food (You need these to survive). You will still need a telephone and a car (or public transportation) to find a job. If your money situation is extremely tight, make sure you pay for these first.

  If someone owes you money, ask for it. If you have a skill like baking, giving lessons or tutoring, decorating, or “babysitting” for pets or the elderly, put an ad in the newspaper or pass out homemade flyers advertising this to generate extra money. Sell off those items around the house that you no longer use that others need and will gladly pay for.

  Stop using your credit cards for now and start paying with cash. Create a weekly menu for all your meals. Start clipping and using discount coupons. Buy those store brands! (Did you know that we spend 14 percent of our total income on food? And almost half that amount is spent in restaurants, snack bars, vending machines, and fast-food places.) Eat at home or bring a brown bag lunch; it’s more nutritious and only a fifth the cost.

  Stay away from the malls. If you absolutely MUST go, bring a list of the things you truly need, with only enough cash to buy what’s on your list.

  Did you know that we often can spend more than $100 a month just on entertainment; movies, video rentals, cable television, hobbies, and other recreation?  Trim the entertainment.

  And don’t forget to turn off the lights and television when you’re not using them. Close the door. Put a full load in the washer and dryer. Set the thermostat to 68 degrees and put on a sweater. Use a fan (instead of air conditioning) when it’s hot. These simple actions will save you from higher utility bills, which you don’t need right now.

Sometimes a job loss can often turn out to be a greater opportunity than if you had continued with the company. By doing the abovementioned tips, you may find yourself being offered a better position or end up starting your own business.