I really don’t know what’s going on with me. I was laid off rather suddenly and unexpectedly. I spent the next 5 months looking for a job. I spent the day searching for jobs and networking and applying, then taking weekends off. Additionally, I’m already diagnosed with anxiety and take meds. It’s semi controlled.
I’ve had a job for 3 months now. (So it’s 8 months since I was laid off.) I’m completely drained by the time I get home and NOTHING is fun. I’ve quit all my hobbies. I want tot WANT my hobbies, but I just don’t. I want to just lay down and do nothing. I think I should be back to where I was before the layoff. My previous jobs never drained me this much. This job isn’t that far off from my last job.
Can it take months to get over being laid off or could there be something else going on?
I got laid off a few years ago, it also took me 5 months to land a new job. I’m better a couple years later but the first year was a bit scary.
I’ve been there, about a year unemployed and spiralled into depression. Had to see a doctor. Have been working some shit jobs for about another year after that, and here we are, still looking for work.
I do recommend the doctor before it’s too late.
I’m not a doctor but you should ask yours about depression and take a screening. I felt the same way after leaving a job(albeit by choice) and starting one a million times better. Even after several months, I still had zero interest in anything and realized I was in a “funk” I couldn’t get myself out of this time.
My doctor screened me for mild depression (I had a major life change recently) and we were able to improve it with some basic lifestyle changes and a vitamin D supplement. Everyone is different, but the solution they propose isn’t always medication.
I got fired for being late with no written warnings. They walked me off the campus and everything. I was basically in tears. (In hindsight, they probably didn’t need me anymore, and didn’t want to give me notice. They probably also wanted me to be able to claim unemployment.) I was emotionally wrecked for months, even after I got a new job. The good news for me is that about 6 months after I got fired, I met the woman who would become my wife. We are now happily married. Keep on keeping on, friend!
Yes.
And I see that you asked a different question in your post, too.
Yes to that, too.
Fear is the mind killer.
I think you’re asking the wrong question. It can take months, years, hell even a whole lifetime to get over something like that. Or maybe you’ll never get over it!
The question you should be asking isn’t “is feeling this way normal,” it’s “what can I do to approach this healthier?” It’s not about what’s normal or understandable, it’s about what you can do with your own autonomy to improve your condition.
And on that, personally I would start by finding and speaking with a counselor who can help you process your thoughts, feelings, and emotions to achieve a sense of clarity and empower yourself to confident decisions moving forward.
How much did the job search burn you out?
The last time I jumped jobs, I was absolutely exhausted from the old job. The new job was perfect, but took another year before I didn’t feel exhaused 24x7.
A year to feel not exhausted? Wow.
This sounds like anxiety and possibly major depressive disorder. All you can do is see a therapist, or just keep forcing yourself to get up instead of laying down and tell yourself it will get better. Just small steps for now.
It’s definitely anxiety. I’ve got that diagnosis on the books, lol.
Yah know, I got laid off in 2014 and it still hurts a little.
Yes. You are valid and your experience is within the realm of norman
Praise be the norman
I don’t want to put forth this as a diagnosis of your particular situation, but as someone who’s been through similar work situations (being made redundant from what I though of as a reasonably secure position through no fault of my own), I want to ask if you think it could be the speed at which you were summarily fired and then the difficulty finding a new job in today’s economy that was a shock to your previous sense of security?
If, like me, possibly now you realize that it can all just be suddenly taken away from you. You might feel on-edge constantly.
Being constantly wary and worried all the time can be quite draining and leave you exhausted. Especially if this new job is better than the old one. Trying to be always on-guard to make sure you don’t do anything that could upset this new utopia and lose it all could be wearing you down.
It might just be that it’ll take you a while to start to feel secure again in your new position, where you begin to feel like you’re a valued member of the team and that you won’t be the first to go if there’s something you do wrong. To start to let your guard down.
A lot of regaining some sense of job security would involve seeing how the new company deals with other people who work there, do they give second chances, how much do they work with the other employees to resolve situations, what kind or relationships you build with your bosses etc.
Anyhow, something to think about.
probably you were laid of suddenly without warning, and then spent 5 months of job searching. you dint have really time to reflect or process the sudden change, also you were in constant working mode with no rest, job search in itself is mentally exhausting if it goes on too long.
I was so depressed that my doctor gave me antidepressants for a few months. Capitalism!
That would probably help but I’m already on them!
Bro, you may just hate your new job or the people there?
