Depression, Loss and the Job Market

Most people experience loss at some time or other. There are, of course, different kinds of loss. Most recently we are seeing the loss of jobs which can lead to other types of loss. We are encountering more people each day who are being affected by budget cutbacks and downsizing.

The emotional fallout from losing one’s job can range from a minor disturbance to a catastrophic event, depending on the person’s personality (a catch all term describing the mental, emotional, and behavioral characteristics that make each of us unique and distinct), and the pressure of the responsibilities they have to deal with. A single person with only themselves to care for and no debt to speak of may find it only a minor setback. A person with a family and a multitude of bills might be completely overwhelmed.

The issue of depression is a problem in our society even during times of prosperity. At this time, it is of particular concern. Losing your job can be devastating on multiple levels. The most obvious one is income. Then there are the residual losses such as health insurance, paid vacation and possibly bonuses. But what about the things you can’t count or even see? What happens to a person’s self-esteem and personal worth when they find themselves in such a perilous position?

Once again, much depends on the individual’s ego strength and their ability to deal with difficult issues. Some people manage very well and don’t miss a beat as they do what they must, in order to take care of themselves and their loved ones. Other people are not as quick to recover from such a blow. If they cannot get another job straight away, they may get depressed or angry or hopeless, or all of the above.

If a person used alcohol or drugs to help them cope before they lost their job, it is not hard to imagine they might turn to using a substance now to take the edge off their discomfort. Those people are a high risk for abuse. What we may see then is a rise in domestic violence and more loss. The loss of respect from partners, children, parents and peers. A person may thus find himself or herself caught in a downward spiral of despair.

At times like this, more than almost any other time, we need to talk about what we are going through. There is an appropriate stanza in the song Lean On Me; “…no one can fill those of your needs that you don’t let show.” It is very difficult for some people to open up and share at a deep level what they are feeling. There are any number of reasons for their resistance. Speaking about personal feelings is just too frightening for some people. They may feel they will be ridiculed or taken advantage of if they show vulnerability. Some people don’t realize they are being guarded. Some of us grew up in homes where “sharing” was simply not an option. If our parents or significant role models were not open about their feelings, then we may not even know how to begin to be open ourselves.

Psychotherapy is known as “talk therapy,” which research has shown can be very useful for people with some forms of depression. The following is a partial list of some symptoms of depression: Too much or too little sleep, significant increase or decrease in appetite, loss of interest or pleasure in others or most activities, feeling discouraged or worthless, suicidal thoughts, feelings or self-harming behavior, fatigue or loss of energy most of the time, restlessness, fidgeting or pacing, uncontrolled outbursts of crying, feeling sad, helpless or hopeless most of the time, episodes of fear, tension or anxiety, frustration, irritability, emotional outbursts, abuse or increased use of alcohol or drugs.

While it is true that psychotherapy is known as “talk therapy,” the other side of the coin is that a client in therapy can expect to be “listened to.” It can be difficult to share your authentic feelings with people close to you, especially if those people are dependent on you to be the strong one or caretaker. Having someone you can be yourself with is vital to your emotional well being. If you are currently dealing with loss or you should experience loss in the future, here’s what not to do: Do not isolate. Tell someone what you are going through. And whether you choose a professional counselor, clergy person, or a best friend to share your grief with, remember, a burden shared is a lighter load.

Dr. Teri Cortland is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice in Old Town, La Quinta. She can be reached at 760-564-5838.


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Depression, Loss and the Job Market By Dr. Teri Cortland Most people experience loss at some time or other. There are, of course, different kinds of loss. Most recently we are seeing the loss of jobs which can lead to other types of loss. We are encountering more people each day who are being affected by budget cutbacks and downsizing. The emotional fallout from losing one’s job can range from a minor disturbance to a catastrophic event, depending on the person’s personality (a catch all term describing the mental, emotional, and behavioral characteristics that make each of us unique and distinct), and the pressure of the responsibilities they have to deal with. A single person with only themselves to care for and no debt to speak of may find it only a minor setback. A person with a family and a multitude of bills might be completely overwhelmed. The issue of depression is a problem in our society even during times of prosperity. At this time, it is of particular concern. Losing your job can be devastating on multiple levels. The most obvious one is income. Then there are the residual losses such as health insurance, paid vacation and possibly bonuses. But what about the things you can’t count or even see? What happens to a person’s self-esteem and personal worth when they find themselves in such a perilous position? Once again, much depends on the individual’s ego strength and their ability to deal with difficult issues. Some people manage very well and don’t miss a beat as they do what they must, in order to take care of themselves and their loved ones. Other people are not as quick to recover from such a blow. If they cannot get another job straight away, they may get depressed or angry or hopeless, or all of the above. If a person used alcohol or drugs to help them cope before they lost their job, it is not hard to imagine they might turn to using a substance now to take the edge off their discomfort. Those people are a high risk for abuse. What we may see then is a rise in domestic violence and more loss. The loss of respect from partners, children, parents and peers. A person may thus find himself or herself caught in a downward spiral of despair. At times like this, more than almost any other time, we need to talk about what we are going through. There is an appropriate stanza in the song Lean On Me; “…no one can fill those of your needs that you don’t let show.” It is very difficult for some people to open up and share at a deep level what they are feeling. There are any number of reasons for their resistance. Speaking about personal feelings is just too frightening for some people. They may feel they will be ridiculed or taken advantage of if they show vulnerability. Some people don’t realize they are being guarded. Some of us grew up in homes where “sharing” was simply not an option. If our parents or significant role models were not open about their feelings, then we may not even know how to begin to be open ourselves. Psychotherapy is known as “talk therapy,” which research has shown can be very useful for people with some forms of depression. The following is a partial list of some symptoms of depression: Too much or too little sleep, significant increase or decrease in appetite, loss of interest or pleasure in others or most activities, feeling discouraged or worthless, suicidal thoughts, feelings or self-harming behavior, fatigue or loss of energy most of the time, restlessness, fidgeting or pacing, uncontrolled outbursts of crying, feeling sad, helpless or hopeless most of the time, episodes of fear, tension or anxiety, frustration, irritability, emotional outbursts, abuse or increased use of alcohol or drugs. While it is true that psychotherapy is known as “talk therapy,” the other side of the coin is that a client in therapy can expect to be “listened to.” It can be difficult to share your authentic feelings with people close to you, especially if those people are dependent on you to be the strong one or caretaker. Having someone you can be yourself with is vital to your emotional well being. If you are currently dealing with loss or you should experience loss in the future, here’s what not to do: Do not isolate. Tell someone what you are going through. And whether you choose a professional counselor, clergy person, or a best friend to share your grief with, remember, a burden shared is a lighter load. Dr. Teri Cortland is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice in Old Town, La Quinta. She can be reached at 760-564-5838.