| Topic Name: |
Unemployment & Depression |
| Message Name: |
light at the end of the tunnel |
| Date Posted: |
09/12/2004 |
| In Reply To: |
An unemployed colleague of mine from B-school recently disclosed to me that he is has been diagnosed with a depressive disorder and is currently seeing a psychiatrist. He then warned me as well to become self-aware of a potential depressive disorder.
Neither of us have found gainful employment the past couple of years since we graduated. Both of us were highly successful prior to interrupting our careers and returning to school.
I feel depressed and often distracted but do not know to what degree. However, I feel that I could bounce back when I find a decent position / suitable career . . . . if someone would only hire me. Since I am not very adept at self-diagnosis, I thought I might pose this one to the community. Are any of you going through the same situation? What are you doing about it? |
| Message: |
I am empathetic to your situations, having gone through a similar situation earlier this year. Having found myself in a dead-end job 3 years after graduation, I lost confidence in myself. It was the beginning of a long descent, accelerated by a number of external factors.
6 months later, things are a lot brighter. Every day isn't sunny, but the storm clouds don't obliterate the sky either.
Based on my own experience, and the earlier postings, I can only suggest one or more of the things below.
1. Get active. Totally agree with all the other posters on this one. It is incredibly important to stay mentally and physically active. Volunteering, sports, social groups - whatever you do, make it enjoyable.
2. Share. Talking with your friend, and vice-versa, can be a great outlet for how you are feeling, and a good sounding board. But take it the next step and help each strengthen your job searches / career building. Best thing I did was confide in a friend about my condition. He was a real inspiration, and helped reframe my thinking in regards to the job search.
3. Seek Assistance (1). Professional guidance can help tremendously, but the fit has to be there. Antidepressants were simply something to mask the underlying problems for me, but are totally appropriate for others. A good therapist, however, can unmask the underlying causes and help you work through them.
4. Seek Assistance (2). there are dozens of excellent books on the topic, as well as how to beat it. One thing that helped me was Cognitive Therapy, and Matthew McKay has an excellent book on Self Esteem that helped greatly. It is a classic text in the field.
5. Reflect. Meditation, yoga, spirituality are all suggestions others posted. Allowing yourself a new perspective on your situation, no matter what the catalyst, can be very energizing, and help lift the fog that paralyzes those in a depressed state. Try a couple with an open mind and see what works.
Each case of depression plays itself out differently, and while the ultimate answer is completely individual, the path to finding it doesn't have to be. Neither of you are alone, and both of you will pull through. The light may seem dim right now, but it is there at the end of the tunnel.
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