Fear And Stress When Looking For A Job – A Silent Ailment

Sometimes the simple act of preparing our résumé creates fear. Job search stress is a reality that is becoming more and more evident in a very concrete fact: we often get into a state of utter helplessness to see that no one calls, that there is no answer to our applications. Low expectations and constant uncertainty at the same time increase the suffering further.

When looking for information about the stress and anxiety of looking for a job, it is common to find articles such as: B. about how we can successfully pass an interview. Yes, we know there is no shortage of good advice to keep your nerves under control during the selection process. However, there is one aspect of unemployment that is often left out, a dimension that is very present in society and barely mentioned, and that relates to people with depression or mood swings who are unemployed and cannot find a job.

Indeed, according to studies such as that by Barbara J. Jefferis of University College London (England, UK), there is a direct link between unemployment, the frustrating search for a job and major depression. The first symptoms of this condition may show up when just filling out application forms becomes a stressful event.

Job search anxiety and stress – a widespread reality

A certain fear and stress when looking for a job are commonplace. You will be noticed by those who have just graduated and see that when filling out their résumé, the education weighs more than the experience. They are also suffered by those who, after losing their jobs, suddenly find themselves in an overwhelming, chaotic, and unsafe scenario in which they may have experience but are often weeded out due to their age.

High demand and scarce supply often mean that we stay in eternal anteriors where we wait for an opportunity. Curiously, the University of Chicago (Illinois, USA) has proven in a study of 282 people what many of our readers probably already suspect, namely that when looking for a job , “how much you know or what you can do” counts the least , and most , “Whom you know”.

Such realities regularly lead us into states of helplessness and dejection. That, in turn, is why many people, regardless of their age or education, are starting to condition every aspect of job hunting with a highly stressful focus. The time spent, on top of the failures and the phone not ringing, feeds their frustration and increases their anxiety.

Indicators related to the stress of looking for work

Let’s take a look at what behaviors, thoughts and situations characterize those people who suffer from anxiety and stress while looking for work:

• Lack of trust in job offers that have been read or received
• Afraid when they have to fill out an application form
• Postpone sending CVs
• Demotivation regarding participation in a selection process due to previous mistakes
• A feeling that one’s own insecurity is becoming more and more difficult to cope with, to digest and to endure
• Doubts about personal and professional skills
• The environment is also often not conducive: the job seeker’s family and friends may support low hopes and negativity in the job search.

How can you overcome stress while looking for a job?

We are all competent, we are all entitled and deserve not just any job, but a good job. We could well be talking about the need to be creative, to provide ourselves with our resources and innovative skills, rather than looking for a job; to develop into that person who is able to offer something to the job market. All of these are undoubtedly excellent ideas, but they often run into an obvious reality: when we are not psychologically well, it is very difficult to get the best out of ourselves. Because continuous experiences of failure lead us into a tunnel in which the light cannot always be seen. That is why the well-known magic formulas do not work in these cases: What counts is professional and specialized help.

Thus , cognitive behavioral therapy can not only allow us to realign our internal dialogue, break pessimism and alleviate the feeling of failure. It will also lead us to develop better skills to create new behaviors, new behaviors that will allow us to face the job market with more ideas, encouragement and strength.

Finally, in addition to psychological help, it will always be appropriate to integrate these simple but effective mantras:

• Negative thoughts ward off opportunities.
• We must therefore change our attitudes if we want to use them.
• We need to take care of ourselves: exercise, reading, and good nutrition are essential.
• It is also necessary to have good social support and avoid those who suffocate us in their pessimism and defeatism.
• Methods like mindfulness are very well suited to developing greater awareness in order to better regulate our emotions.

Last but not least, it pays to be creative and proactive to combat stressful job hunting. Sometimes the brightest ideas and projects emerge from the darkest moments.