Losing a job can happen to anyone, at any time, it doesn’t matter who you are. Sometimes we feel relieved to have lost a stressful job, but most of the time it just hurts. After losing a job your mind scrabbles trying to figure out what went wrong or what you could have done differently. If you are not sure how to cope with this loss here are some tips and resources that might help:

Take action. Get involved in community activist groups. Go to protests. Reach out to politicians. Educate your friends and family. Do something that will make a change. Taking action can help you relieve stress by making you feel like you are actually working towards a positive future.

Accept and grieve. You haven’t just lost a job, you’ve lost your daily routine, work mates, a sense of security and possibly a sense of yourself. You have lost a lot and you need to give yourself the space and time to grieve what has happened to you. If you fight your feelings this will only make it harder to move on from the pain. Accept what has happened, as hard as that might be.

Don’t beat yourself up. It’s easy to be hard on yourself in this situation. It can feel like everything was your fault, your mistake and you should take it personally. Losing a job is stressful and it can trigger insecurities you might already have. Be mindful of mentally beating yourself - being critical of what you have done or didn’t do. In times like this, you need to speak to yourself as if you are your own best friend. Don’t be your own worst enemy, things are hard enough already.

Get support. Reach out to some you can trust. It could be a friend, family or a therapist. If you feel comfortable, tell them what you are going through. This is a hard time, and it will only be harder if you try to deal with it alone. There is no shame in getting sup port - it takes courage to share what you are facing.

Take care of yourself. When we are stressed, it is easy to neglect our minds and bodies. Make sure you are getting enough sleep, eating well, and giving yourself a chance to relax. As hard as it might be, stay positive. Look for silver linings wherever you can find them. Even the smallest amount of hope can go a long way.

Start anew. When you feel ready and have recovered, begin again. Give yourself the structure you might have lost and look forwards . Losing a job impacts everyone differently, and it might be harder for some than others. Know that is not the end. There are other opportunities out there, no matter how hard it might be to find them.

Hang in there