There are a lot of people who sometimes come to difficult periods in their lives (loss of job, difficult financial situation, worry about an uncertain future, care for children, etc.). It is well known that job loss or financial insecurity almost always causes a person to feel anxious and depressed.
Unfortunately, such stresses do not stop there. They can harm the human body. Scientists from the University of Michigan surveyed unemployed workers during the economic recession in America in the mid-1980s. It was found that those unemployed had far more health problems than the stable employed group with which they were compared.
Research has shown that even the fear of unemployment alone can damage a person physically and mentally. A person faced with panic related to work or other difficult moments in life reacts by raising blood pressure and accelerating heart rate.
If stress continues, it can cause headaches, heart rhythm disturbances, reduce resistance to diseases, etc. However, there is also good news.
Here are some guidelines with the help of which you can "vaccinate" yourself against the most harmful effects of stress caused by difficult economic circumstances and come out of it all healthier, happier and maybe even stronger.
Rely on help even from strangers
Experts agree: the most effective way to ease the pain caused by difficult times is to get social and emotional support. Support from family and friends is certainly crucial. However, here's a surprise: the kindness of a stranger can be even more important.
The support of a group of people with similar problems can have a strong positive impact on the emotional well-being of the unemployed. At the meetings of the support group members, everyone actively participates in discussions about the solution to the problem, that is, about finding a job. They try to contact various employers, members give each other emotional support.
A problem for the whole family
When a man loses his job, it affects not only him personally, but the whole family. Hard times are coming for all of them. Statistics show that in such times the number of domestic violence increases.
Many of those who have lost their jobs or worry about being fired feel hurt and angry and direct their anger at family and friends. Even a little irritability can turn into big conflicts. A person in such a state should tell his family members that the stress he is in is actually the cause of his behavior and that it is not directed at them personally. If such a discussion in the family does not reduce the seriousness of the problem, it would be advisable to seek professional help (psychiatrist, psychologist).
Here too, the support of a group of people with similar situations can be of great help. Someone who has suddenly lost their job desperately needs the love and support of a partner. This is especially evident when looking for a new job. It would be very prudent if the partner said that he/she still loves him/her, that he/she has full understanding for everything he/she is going through and that the blame for the situation is not passed on.
Get your kids involved, too
Children sense that something is wrong, so it's important to talk to them about what's going on. This must be done in a non-intimidating manner and reassure them that it is not their fault. Regular family meetings help with this.
Children should be reassured that everything will be fine, and they can be involved, for example, with the question of how to save as much as possible. Hard times can also make a person stronger. It may seem frivolous at first glance, but really some good things can come out of hard times.
Like any other difficult situation, this one will require more positive qualities, more creativity from the person. If you don't allow yourself to succumb to fear and worry, if you connect more with those who are ready to support you, if you communicate even better with your family and spend more time with them - then you will acquire healthy skills and lifelong habits that you did not have before.
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