Losing your job brings on all sorts of emotions, because we identify ourselves to a great degree by what we do. Here are some of the emotions you may be feeling, and how you can deal with them.
Confusion
Accept that you will not have the same volume of information as you have had in the past
Be prepared to take risks, i.e., act without what you previously considered "ample background"
Expect that the information will change on a regular basis - - sometimes dramatically; this is normal
Gather the information you can, and then try to develop a plan -- rather than searching frantically for more information
Communicate with your manager to prioritize tasks
Withdrawal
Ask yourself: What am I afraid of? What most causes me discomfort about this change? If it is real, identify an option to address it; if it is not real, forget it
Make an effort to communicate your concerns to your manager or your fellow employees
Recognize that withdrawal is like a painkilling drug -- it is effective for a while, but ultimately becomes addictive, and does not address the pain
Loss of Identity
Realize that when people feel a loss, it's normal to feel both pain and a sense of having no options
Focus on the skills and abilities that got you where you were before the loss
List your abilities and expertise; ask others to give you feedback on your list, and add to it
Resist the tendency to accuse the organization of being cruel or unfair
Identify short-term options to make use of your expertise and abilities
Anger
Find someone to listen to you, preferably your manager
Go to a place where venting is appropriate; set a time limit
Get it all out
Identify the issues that underlie the anger, and list them
Recognize that venting is normal and healthy
If you or someone you know is having difficulty addressing loss of a job, call for help.
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