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April 2010
By Sararivka Liberman, LCSW
Coping with Unemployment Stress
The below is excerpted from material developed by Sararivka Liberman, LCSW, Administrative Supervisor at JBFCS Boro Park Counseling Services. [Download full document]
TALK POSITIVELY TO YOURSELF
Are you supportive, constructive, and appreciative? Are you your own best friend…or your own worst enemy? How would you coach your own child? How do you coach yourself?
SOAR WITH YOUR STRENGTHS
- You are a problem solver. You’ve solved many problems in your life by utilizing your resources. Look for them now. Identify them. Think of what you’ve accomplished, both personally and professionally. What have you achieved? What makes you proud? What do you enjoy doing? What’s earned you positive feedback?
- Access your strengths. Notice the skills, abilities, knowledge, attitudes, and qualities that you have already demonstrated. How can these assets become even more fully available to you? What are some of your key external resources? Who and what might be included as part of your support system right now? How can you develop, expand, and utilize these resources as well?
USE YOUR BRAIN POWER
- Ask productive questions. What’s good about unemployment? How can you take advantage of the "silver lining?" Perhaps you have an opportunity to spend more time with family and friends, to exercise, to learn, or to pursue special interests. What’s bad about unemployment? Some aspects of this experience may be beyond your control, but others may not be. What could you do, for example, to build adult company, peer stimulation, daily structure, and the use of your professional skills into your life, if you chose to?
- Avoid putting your brain to work at useless tasks. "What’s wrong with me?" or "How and when will this ever end?" are questions that can keep your brain busy, but are unlikely to produce anything helpful. "What do I have of value to offer an employer?" or "What small step can I take to help myself feel better right now?" are better questions to ponder!
IT’S THE THOUGHT THAT COUNTS
If your feelings aren’t comfortable, examine the thoughts that drive them. How do you interpret your situation? What are some of your core beliefs about yourself, others, the world, and the future? Are your thoughts realistic, reasonable, balanced, and compassionate? Are you taking all of the information, all of your experience, and all possibilities into account? If someone you care about had these beliefs, would you share them or would you take another perspective? If you shared you thoughts with someone who cares about you, would they accept your interpretations, or would they suggest an alternative point of view? We are most effective when we respond to reality, not to distorted, negative scenarios that only exist in our minds.
These "Spirituality Notes" are excerpts from our monthly E-newsletter. Articles are © JBFCS Rita J. Kaplan Jewish Connections Programs and may be reprinted free of charge as long as this credit line is included.
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