Need a Therapist After Redundancy?

Do You Really Need a Therapist After Redundancy?

 

I am sometimes asked if you need a therapist after redundancy and my answer to that is usually, no, you probably don’t need a therapist after being made redundant. Most of us will be able to move through the shock, the grief, the anger and various other emotions, until we finally pick ourself up and move forward. However, it’s important to acknowledge that these feelings can be very scary, and some people may need that extra support to help them get through this time. Others may even find that redundancy can trigger depression, especially if they have had it in the past. Or, they may start feeling continuously anxious, on edge, as if they were expecting yet another piece of bad news to land on them at any moment.

This isn’t uncommon. Any shock can send our nervous systems into a state of fight or flight and sometimes it can be hard to get ourselves out of it.

So, how do you know if you need a therapist after redundancy?

The biggest clue is in your behaviour and feelings. Signs that you could do with some outside help are:

• Feeling unable to settle or focus on applying for jobs for instance
• Moving between strong states of emotion, such as noticing a lot of anger for instance
• Feeling these emotions spilling out into your everyday life
• Feeling lethargic, down, lacking in energy and interest in anything
• Feeling isolated and alone, even if you are in the midst of a loving family and supportive friends

If we lose our job, our life is probably going to change drastically. We will lose one of our support systems: the people we see at work every day and these can feel like a family in some workplaces. Our routine then goes. Why get up if there’s no work to get up for? We may have financial worries, or confusion about whether it is better to get a job, any job, even though you already know you’re not going to be happy doing what’s on offer. We will certainly lose our sense of security. Plus, those emotions that we spoke about; they may prevent you from thinking clearly and assessing the situation right at the time when you need powers of analysis and rational thought the most.

What will a therapist do?

Obviously, this will differ from therapist to therapist, and person to person. However, a good therapist will be able to help you work through your emotions and deal with them in a more effective way. They will be able to share tips and tools to show you how to calm yourself down when you start to feel stressed, or even help you learn how to deal with panic attacks – not unheard of after redundancy. In my work as a therapist at The Good Therapy Practice, I also help my clients look at the scary subject of finances. What they have coming in, going out and whether there is a gap in between? Often, this can feel so overwhelming that people put this off, adding to their stress and anxiety.

If you think you might need a therapist after being made redundant, please feel free to contact me or book in a no obligation chat with me here.