Jobless often go through phases of loss

Last week I began a discussion of the psychological impact of losing one’s job. I will continue this discussion in today’s column.

Regardless of the reason for being unemployed, stress is produced in various dimensions. Being fired or laid off, becoming ill, handicapped or retired affects the worker for reasons above and beyond the paycheck.

Research has shown that a job serves as a unique opportunity to develop certain specialized skills and to think creatively. Everyone has sensed the feeling of accomplishment when a seemingly impossible task is mastered and has felt exhilaration after creating something.

With a job and a major source of income, a person feels he has control in his life. Without a sense of control, many psychological problems can develop. As early as the 1930s research indicated that job loss produced predictable phases of feelings, phases that parallel later research on how individuals adjust to the loss of a loved one. These phases include:

• Disbelief. A feeling of shock comes after involuntary termination or a feeling of confusion and temporary disorientation after announcement of a plant closing or bankruptcy. Many people recover within a few days; for others the feelings persist much longer.

• Denial. This can be a feeling that a mistake was made or that their job will be saved; for others that the job loss happened for the best. They think they will now have time to do things they have wanted to do for years. While this may be true for some, for others the feeling of acceptance produces yet another stage of loss.

• Anxiety. The reality sets in with the dwindling of funds and the possible lack of rehiring prospects. Negative emotions may develop including depression, moodiness and irritability. Problems with sleep and appetite may also follow.

• Resignation. Identification of being unemployed is the final phase. Malaise, persistent ill health, pessimism, dissatisfaction with life and isolation or detachment from friends and family may follow.

Not all the unemployed go through these phases of loss. Some learn to cope better, make healthy adjustments and go on with their lives. Others never make the transition well and continue to have adjustment problems. Factors that dictate the way an individual handles job loss are complicated. The number of employed years may play an important part, as well as other factors like the support the individual receives from family and friends. Economic status after the job loss and the individual’s age also determine his or her adjustment and reaction to loss of work.

Coping with the stress of unemployment can be one of the greatest challenges an individual can face. In these days of economic cutbacks many are facing this challenge. Those who choose to become unemployed through the mechanism of retirement should also be aware of the pitfalls of this change in vocational status and make plans for the future.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 2001