Stress Center Peer Support

Okay. I am unemployed, again. It has lasted for several months, again. I have little or no idea what I really want to do, as usual. Except now I am 51 and in the middle of a bad recession that is getting worse and will probably last for several more months or longer. And my health is worse than when I was younger. I'm trying to remain positive but it is getting more and more difficult. I know there are more of us out here than there have been in years so I am definitely not alone. Any thoughts or comments?

SCDon, I had to answer your post. back in the late 90's I had a dead end job with no idea what to do for a living. A business I was involved in failed and left me working temp jobs (back breaking manual day stuff) in rural eastern Oregon, an area of perpetual recession. These jobs were killing me physically even being only in my early 30's. To make a long story short, I got some really good career counselling and found my niche in the workplace. I'm an auto mechanic now for 11 years and make a family wage income and being that people are fixing their clunkers rather than take on a big auto loan, my job is somewhat recession proof. It is not what I want to do, it is what I am naturally good at. Here is my thoughts/comments.

1. You have a natural ability to do something that most people don't. are you good at sales? electronics? plotting satellite trajectories? landscaping? childcare? What comes naturally to you skill wise?

2. There is a place somewhere geographically and in some industry for you. because you are unique, there is some place in the workforce where you will thrive providing a service that people want to pay for. this makes you important no matter how many people are looking for work.

3. The difficulty and challenge is finding this place. this takes serious looks at what you are good at, what industry requires this ability, and what part of the country is hiring. I know this is the most serious hurdle to a satisfying career. Just think, if you were a foreclosure attorney you would have more work than you could handle. You'd be working 20 hours a day to try and keep up with the workload.

4. Be encouraged, don't give up, be ready for your next opportunity. Feel free to PM me if you want, I've been where you are at and could help you think through it, or just encourage you.

5. You are still young and have plenty left to give. My counsellor is 76 years old and didn't start her very successful career until her late 40's, before that she was an opera singer. Takes a mature experienced person to do what she does. Keep hoping and believing.

Brian.

SCDon:
I can really relate.I have been unemployed over the last several months as well.A lot of it has to do with my anxiety,and fear of going back due to the anxiety that I have been feeling.It seems like a situation where I have painted myself into a corner with no way out.My employment situation causes a bit of anxiety as it is.I am trying to get back on a regular schedule so I can get back into the swing of things,but it has been hard.You are not alone!

For everyone who is unemployed or anyone who is interested, I've recently come across a wonderful book called, "Your Money or Your Life" that I checked out for free from my local public library. It was originally published in 1992 in a time of recession, and then it was republished last year to go along with this recession. It's been very helpful for me, so I just thought it may be of use to someone on here. Remember to try to borrow it for free from your local public library:).

Take care,
luvpiggy

Hey, Don, I've missed you and the good old days in chat. I'm sorry that things are still not back on track. Such a trial, but I'm sure all will work out in time.

Wish I had some great words of advice. Keep on keeping on, and come around here more often.

Hey Don...so sorry to hear about your job...we all know the economy is pretty bad so times are real tough right now...

Everyone's given some great advice and suggestions as to resources out there...hang in there; you aren't old yet hehehe and please continue to keep us posted as to how things are going...Best wishes to you!!

SCDon,

I am unemployed as well- for two months now and I understand the lethargy you are talking about. It's hard to feel motivated when you don't have a specific place to go with responsibilities and a little bit of pressure there. I'm taking a college course and structure my days around various at-home activities and to-do's. It's better than sitting and staring at the wall and gives me some feelings of purpose. I see this as an opportunity to work on myself too, so when I do get a job again I'll be a little wiser and be a better employee. Don't focus on the bad recession, your age, etc. Focus on what is good and cultivate that. It's all a state of mind.

Hi Don, I feel your pain. Because of my anxiety I have repeated episodes throughout my adult life of being unemployed.

I am just running out of unemployment right now myself. Haven't worked in 8 months, and finally got a work from home job that will hopefully get me by - at least part-time if not totally full-time.

I wouldn't focus on the economy or recession - I think it's too easy to use that as an excuse. Remember that most people stay employed one way or another or life would cease to exist. There is always a majority of people who are working even when the unemployed numbers spike up.

There are always exceptions of people who do well in a bad economy - focus on those.

I know how you feel though. The health issues get in the way as you get older - but like my boyfriend told me yesterday, if we were busy working, and into our jobs, we wouldn't be focusing so much on our physical aches & pains.

My biggest anxiety right now is contacting references of people I lost touch with due to months of avoiding life and people again. I'm afraid they won't help me even though I ended on good terms with them. Lots of irrational social fears there.

But I can relate to the feeling of lethargy regarding jobs. I get so tired of this roller coaster of being employed, hating my job, being unemployed, going into debt, then having to find new jobs. It gets tiresome the older I get too. I'm 39.

Let's just promise each other we'll work this Anxiety program with full dedication, and I bet it will help our job issues?

Let me know how you progress!

Lots of good advice! I thank you all.
A good book is 48 Days to the Work You Love. I hope to get further into it soon.
We have eaten several cucumbers from my garden and their are about 5 watermelons growing. Almost 40 corn stalks are growing also. the money tree is not growing. hahahaha
Take care.