Fear of losing your job during a crisis

During a crisis and mass layoffs, the fear of losing a job spreads very quickly among people. This depressing state and constant worries can lead to undesirable consequences in the form of neuroses and depression.

Many people are familiar with the fear of losing their job.

People hold on to their jobs, even if the working conditions are not very suitable for them, because they are afraid of losing their earnings. Constantly thinking about it only makes the situation worse.

Causes of fear

When a company goes through a wave of layoffs, each employee wonders: will I be next? This obsessive thought haunts and greatly depresses a person. There can be a lot of reasons, they are individual for each person. Fear may arise due to:

self-doubt,
low self-esteem,
understanding that the level of professionalism in this area is low,
previous errors in work,
constant rivalry in the team.

The human nervous system is subjected to severe pressure, which can over time develop into prolonged stress. Men are often susceptible to this, since they are most often the main breadwinners in the family. The fear of losing their job also appears among women during maternity leave. The law prohibits dismissing such employees, but they themselves begin to doubt their professionalism due to a long break in work. They are afraid that they will not be able to cope with their job responsibilities after returning from maternity leave.

Symptoms

The crisis is becoming a huge challenge for many people. The fear of being left without a livelihood due to job loss is also complemented by worries that it will be difficult to find a new job. The behavior of such a person becomes aggressive.

Symptoms of fear manifest themselves at the level of the somatic nervous system. They cannot be controlled by humans. The following symptoms appear:

heavy sweating,
rapid heartbeat, as well as a sharp increase in blood pressure,
headaches, dizziness and even darkening of the eyes,
tremors of arms and legs,
sore throat,
stomach upset,
decreased or increased appetite.

The presence of such symptoms indicates the initial stage of development of fear of job loss. Then more noticeable manifestations begin to appear. Some make involuntary movements with their arms, legs or head, others become quiet, experiencing all this inside.

There is also aggression directed at others. Sometimes fear about losing a job can also become a kind of impetus for professional development.

Increased appetite may be associated with fear

Fear of losing employment

The fear of being unemployed arises when this is the only source of income. The mere thought that there is no cash in the wallet and the bank card is empty causes a person to panic. To make it less scary to lose your job, find an additional job. It may not be related to your main activity. If you lose your job, you will worry less, because you have an additional source of income.

A pessimistic attitude will not lead to anything good. There is no need to discuss the situation in the organization with colleagues and talk about your worries about possible dismissal. First, those employees who panic and thereby create a tense atmosphere in the team are laid off. Management is always aware of what subordinates are discussing during a break.

To avoid being fired, take advanced training courses or get an education in another field. The more you know and can do, the faster you can find a new place if the outcome is unfavorable.

Don't think negative thoughts. If you are nervous, mistakes in your work are inevitable. This is already grounds for dismissal. It happens that fear has no reason. A person simply constantly thinks about quitting and thereby attracts bad things.

A supernumerary vacancy may arise. Don't do more than you can. Everyone wants to please their boss, but don’t try to fulfill the monthly plan in two days. Don’t overwork yourself, because a manager needs healthy employees. If you give your all to one project, you are unlikely to be the best at the next. Fulfill your responsibilities, and there will simply be no time to think about bad things. Most people are scared by the thought of losing their job during a crisis. This plays into the hands of unscrupulous bosses. They reduce wages and burden employees with additional work. If a person is threatened by layoffs, it will happen soon and it’s time to look for a new place. If an employee is valued, they will not be told about dismissal, even as a joke.

How to deal with the fear of losing your job

If you cannot avoid this fear, then you need to learn to cope with it and prevent it from developing into an obsessive anxiety-phobic disorder. Phobias are much more difficult to deal with, and only a psychotherapist can cope with this.

Increased self-esteem

Most often, fear is associated with low self-esteem. A person does not see extraordinary abilities in himself.

Dealing with this feeling is quite simple if you approach the issue responsibly. You need to learn to love yourself and respect your work. Most people with low self-esteem try to take on as much work as possible in order to compensate for quality with quantity. It is not right.

There are several ways to combat low self-esteem and the associated fear of job loss:

Silence your inner critic. This is nothing more than an inner voice that constantly tells a person “you are lazy”, “you cannot do your job”, “you are a loser”. It is necessary to identify these thoughts in time and replace them with positive ones. It is known that thoughts are material, so you need to get rid of negativity.
Finding your advantages allows you to find your best sides. Every person is good at something. This predisposition to some activity must be found and developed in oneself. In this a person can find his calling.
Gratitude to yourself. During your working day, you can take just two minutes to thank yourself for your achievements. Gratitude and praise motivate and give strength for new achievements.
Record your achievements for the day. In the evening, you can take a notebook and write down 3-4 things in which you won.

These simple techniques can increase self-esteem and help the applicant present himself well at an interview. A person who adequately evaluates himself will not be afraid of losing his job, and if this happens, he will regard it as an opportunity to find a more suitable and interesting place.

The devil is not as scary as he is painted

The fear of being fired often stems from fear of change and the unknown ahead. The person worries that he will not be able to get a job again and will be left without a livelihood. Getting fired is not the worst thing that can happen in life. This fear can be overcome if you weigh the pros and cons of your current job.

You need to take a piece of paper and write down the positive and negative aspects of your position. When the list is completed, you will be able to see what prevails.

If there are more disadvantages, then this place of work is not optimal for you. If an employee is fired, he will have a chance to get rid of the old one and find better working conditions, to prove himself in another type of activity.

Escape routes

To overcome the fear of being fired, you need to prepare escape routes for yourself. If a person is fired, he will have a backup plan of action. You need to work out this scheme in advance: It’s worth starting with something simple:

call for vacancies that interest you and find out about working conditions and wages,
prepare a resume and send it to potential employers,
Prepare a speech to feel more comfortable at the interview.

If at this stage of preparation a suitable option is found, then you can safely go to a new job. This will not only help you avoid stress, but will also significantly improve your self-esteem.

To get rid of fear, you should call for interesting vacancies

Preparing escape routes will help you mentally prepare for a possible job change. Even if a suitable option is not found, the person will already be familiar with the labor market offers and the average salary in his sector.

Reasons for changing jobs

It is believed that you need to change jobs every five years. Then the person will grow as a professional. There is another opinion: a person should work in one place all his life, because an organization is a family that does not change. Why you need to get a new job:

Work as a habit. A person does not receive pleasure from it: he performs his duties automatically.
Lack of professional growth. A person realizes that all goals have been achieved and there is nowhere to grow.
Tense atmosphere in the team. Management behaves incorrectly towards employees, employees act dishonestly.
Low salary. The wages are really very low compared to other companies.
Constant changes. The company is undergoing transformations. This does not allow you to live in peace - there is no stability.
Indifference to work activity. You have become uninterested - changing your profession is easier than you think.

What to do with obsessive fear

The fear of losing or changing jobs can become obsessive and haunt a person every day. This condition leads to moral and physical exhaustion, and this affects the quality of work. For this reason, the employee may be fired subsequently.

You need to reconsider your attitude towards work. Everyone experiences professional burnout, regardless of their type of activity or position.

Many psychotherapists advise changing jobs every 5-7 years. This does not mean that the profession must change; a change in organization and team is sufficient. In the USA, this system is actively practiced and has considerable success.

When an employee has crossed the line of professional burnout, but is very afraid to look for a new job or is afraid to try his hand at an interview, he may develop phobias or depression against the background of emotional stress.

Drug treatment

If fear interferes not only with normal work, but also with life, then it is worth making more radical decisions. In these cases, consult a psychotherapist for advice. Depending on the patient's condition, he may prescribe medication.

For annoying fears, take:

tranquilizers that have a powerful sedative effect,
antipsychotics that have a rapid relaxing effect,
antidepressants that improve the patient’s psychophysical condition.

These drugs are available in pharmacies only with a prescription. It is necessary to follow the dosage and method of taking medications to avoid health problems.

June 21, 2017

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Elena Teplova Doctor, psychologist, freelancer, I love to study and teach, create and create. I believe that you can always find something beautiful in life, and one day the sun will definitely come out from behind the clouds. Even after the nuclear winter

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Each of us is looking for our own path in life. Someone finds it, someone doesn’t even know where to look, and someone with a sigh of regret peeks through the ajar door at their dream and does not dare to take a step towards it.

My name is Elena and I am a doctor. Like many, I worked 12-16 hours a day. Until one day I decided to make a choice and finally began to Live.

Typical gray

I worked three jobs. From 8 to 17 I was an expert at the regional hospital, dealing with papers, checks and other matters. There I was also listed as a part-time epidemiologist. Usually this was not very stressful, but sometimes I had to run from morning until evening, practically without squatting. And after other doctors’ workdays ended, and I couldn’t find anyone on site, it was necessary to draw up reports.

My third job was freelancing. I wrote texts for the websites of several clinics. I did this at night or during breaks at work. Because of this, I constantly heard dissatisfied grumbling that I was “hitting the keys too loudly.”

The colleagues were... different. Some are young and, dare I say it, talented doctors - like a breath of fresh air. Others are like good strong vinegar. With their mere presence, they could poison those around them for the whole day and cause a real migraine attack. And this is not to mention regular scandals, showdowns out of the blue and other specifics of working in a women's team. I usually cut such people out of my life without regret. But nothing could be done here, and we had to endure it for years.

My day didn’t even look like “Groundhog Day,” but like some kind of endless viscous dream from which it was impossible to wake up. Getting up at 5 am - getting to work - work itself - getting home - eating - work - going to bed at 1 am - getting up at 5 am - work... It was... What can I say, it was terrible.

I didn’t meet friends, didn’t go to the cinema, refused to party. My only dream was to spend a week in a horizontal position so that no one would touch me. Personal life also fell apart. Of course, who would like to see next to them a barely alive gray amoeba that only wants to sleep and eat. For a long time, my man delayed this relationship, but then he couldn’t stand it either. And I wasn’t even worried - at that moment I didn’t have the strength for that either.

Last straw

I understood that all this was wrong. I wanted to change my life, but couldn't figure out how. It was scary to be left without a livelihood. Alone in a strange city, without help, without loved ones. What I can? Do I have any choice?

My parents added fuel to the fire: hearing my timid words about changes, they immediately reminded me about my pension, work experience, and the prestige of the regional hospital. They considered freelancing to be entertainment, an intellectual hobby. And they advised him to quit. And I continued to drag myself, dreaming about sleep and sinking deeper into depression.

The point of no return was... my hair. Yes Yes exactly. They suddenly began to fall out in whole strands. It was scary. I took tests, took a course of vitamins, tried different “healing masks” - all without the slightest effect. Finally, having finally come to terms with the prospect of early baldness, I began to look at wigs.

But then the session began (yes, I completely forgot - I was still receiving a second higher education, in absentia). I dropped out of working life for four weeks. And right before going to work, my temperature suddenly rose, and I spent another two weeks at home with pneumonia.

At some point during my forced vacation, I noticed that the condition of my hair had noticeably improved. And this despite academic stress, workload and illness.

By the time I finally went to work, my hair stopped leaving me without any action on my part. I was delighted to tell everyone about my miraculous cure. And a couple of weeks later it all started again. This was the last straw. I decided to quit.

I submitted my resignation only a week later. It was very scary. I was shaking from the thought that I would have to go to practically nowhere. That you will need to announce your decision and answer the questions “where” and “why”. When I imagined this, my legs gave way and I wanted to cry.

The words of a friend helped me take the final step: “You will have to endure this, but only once.” Numb with horror, I entered the head physician’s office... My friend was a little wrong about “one time.” Thanks to the “wonderful” work of the HR department, I only rewrote the application three times, not to mention other adventures. At some point, a haunted voice squeaked in my head: “Or maybe go back? I can still return everything!” But no. The bridges were burned, and all that was left was to move forward.

The day came when I left work, never to return there again. When I got home, I burst into tears. And the next morning I woke up a different person. Free.

What's there, beyond the horizon?

The last week at work was filled with some kind of euphoria. I suddenly discovered that a rowan tree was growing near the exit of the hospital. The frost on its branches in the light of the lanterns cast a deep blue, contrasting with the shamelessly red large berries. I saw a garland on the Christmas tree. I think it had been hanging there for a couple of months, since before New Year's. But only now I saw it, dusted with snow and cheerfully blinking lights. I heard the tram rustling, clinging to the power line ropes with its “horns”. I saw the stars. Lord, how beautiful the stars are in winter!

Equilibrium

I was like a man who had emerged from the depths and was greedily gulping air. But oxygen can also poison you. This happened to me too. Now, instead of the “office,” I spent my entire day and evening meeting with friends. And at night she continued to write texts for her customers. Soon everything returned - the bruises under the eyes, fatigue, and the state of “I don’t want anything, leave me alone.”

Like a child freed from strict parental control for the first time, I tried to breathe life. But I was no longer a child and could take responsibility for my life. And there was clearly a lack of balance in this life.

I started by planning my week. One event per day, no more. If a large order was planned, I devoted the whole day to work and rest after it. I planned a “weekend” for myself when I could take a break from both the computer and people. And she achieved what she wanted. Life retained its bright colors and dynamism, but now there was no longer the feeling that I was rushing downhill with the brakes failing. I could control my life myself.

Not everyone will resonate with my story. There are people who truly love their work. I understand them and even envy them a little, because doing what you love is wonderful. There are those who devote themselves to family and children. Alas, I have neither one nor the other yet. There are those who value stability and a familiar way of life. I also understand them and accept this point of view. But I found myself in a cramped cage and began to suffocate in it, while my soul demanded freedom. And I got what I wanted.

Now I have that mythical “free schedule” that I dreamed of so much. I can work, write my texts, even during the day, even in the evening. I can sleep until eight in the morning, or until noon! Go to the store when there are no lines yet, meet friends. I have the strength, desire and opportunity to attend concerts, exhibitions, events, learn and develop.

Reality

It's been some time since I started proudly calling myself a freelancer. During this time, I managed to fall into the traps that lie in wait for those who choose this path, and find a way out of them. Go all out under the influence of your euphoria and find balance again. Earn a lot, spend even more and, finally, develop for yourself a certain set of rules that I adhere to now.

1. Don't be afraid to look for new opportunities.

If you are not happy with something, you need to concentrate not on how bad it is, but on how it can be changed. There are no hopeless situations, I’m sure of that. And if you feel that you are starting to be sucked into the swamp - it doesn’t matter whether it’s work, personal relationships, something else - urgently look for a way out.

2. Don't make hasty decisions

You can't cut from the shoulder. I went freelance when I already had two regular customers. I carefully calculated my monthly budget and only then made a choice. But, naturally, the loss of one of the sources of income could not but affect financial well-being.

Before you decide to take a drastic step, you need to build your rear. Gain experience, find customers, achieve sustainable profits from your business, or at least switch to part-time work, while doing work and what you love. Then there will be no feeling of being “in the deep end”, and the chances of swimming out and not being disappointed in such a life will increase.

3. Be prepared for discomfort

Sudden changes always entail instability. Having become accustomed to regularly receiving a predetermined amount, it is difficult to adapt to the financial “swing” when there is either little or a lot of money. If your whole life you get up at 5-6 in the morning, it’s hard not to break down and ruin your entire routine. When your boss always has your back, it’s not so easy to deal with laziness and procrastination.

Now you are your own boss, you must monitor your own success, your own work. No one will sit you down at the computer or remind you of the deadline. And about the fact that “no matter, I’ll make it in time!”, as a rule, turns into a nightly puffing over the order at the very last moment.

4. Don't follow others' lead

Each situation is unique in its own way. At the time when I decided to make changes, I was alone, without a family. Yes, I didn’t have a husband who could take care of the well-being of the family while I was looking for myself and my recognition. Perhaps the decision was easier for me then. But I didn’t have a child either - a little person for whose life I would be responsible. In this case, I would hardly dare to quit my job.

5. Don't be afraid

Fear makes you shrink into a ball, turns you inside out. It blinds, makes decisions ill-conceived, hasty, or, on the contrary, forces them to be postponed until the last minute. Especially the fear of change. The comfort zone, our usual state, is a cozy blanket. It takes courage to get out from under it. But only beyond the boundaries of what is comfortable do new opportunities, new acquaintances, and maybe a new life await.

6. Listen to yourself

This is probably one of the most important rules. We often forget what we really want. We listen to others - parents, friends, colleagues, neighbors, society as a whole - but for some reason we forget about ourselves.

Sometimes you need to ask yourself a direct question: “Is this what I want? What do I want to do? Am I ready to live like this for the rest of my life? Do I feel good?

If the answer is “Yes,” great. Smile at this world, because you are going your own way. And if not? Then see point 1 - “Look for new opportunities.”

I've been on both sides of the barricades. I can’t say unequivocally that “hired work is evil,” as some try to present it. I liked helping people, I liked what I did. But I like living like it is now, with this heady feeling of freedom.

To each his own, I have already made my choice. And I can say with full responsibility that there is life outside of work! You just need to not be afraid to take the first step.

Self-development #Career #calling #freelancing