February 2, 2009

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Every week brings news of employee layoffs as businesses and government work to readjust under economic strain. If a workforce reduction happens to you, there are steps you can take to minimize the mental stress and help cope with the psychological impact of a job loss, said University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Associate Professor Josh Klapow.

Klapow is a clinical psychologist and author of Living Smart: 5 Essential Skills to Change Your Health Habits Forever. Klapow offers five tips for dealing with a layoff on his blog http://blogs.uab.edu/drjoshk. They include:

• Be calm and collected. "Do not burn bridges or act impulsively, especially during the first 24-hours post-layoff. If possible, do nothing, stay calm, eat healthy, get enough sleep and mentally prep for the next steps," Klapow said.
• Blame nobody. "Though it feels like rejection, this is really not about you as a person. Layoffs are uncontrollable," he said. "Distance yourself emotionally from the job loss and you will rebound mentally sooner."
• Let go. As devastating as it feels, layoffs are happening to many thousands of people and chances are you will rebound. "Focus on what you plan to do, not on what's already happened. Don't over-think the circumstance," Klapow said.
• Share feelings. "Communicate your thoughts and get feelings, issues off your chest. Open the dialogue with friends and family to help keep a realistic perspective," he said.
• Get help. If you're having trouble getting going in the morning and you can't focus on your future, make a counseling appointment. Even brief sessions can help you cope and get you back on your feet sooner," Klapow said.