“Give yourself something to look forward to every week,” Li says. Don’t expect to find a new job overnight, though that can happen. For most job seekers, it’s a process, not a one-shot deal. You might not get the first position you apply for, but that most likely means that it wasn’t the job for you.

She suggests forming a group of five or so people, whether in your own network or through an online platform, to talk through your experiences job searching during the pandemic. Your struggle with depression, and the tools you’ve used to manage your mental health, can actually be framed in a positive light to prospective employers, Heath says. But she cautions that you should do so only if the question you’re being asked in an interview warrants it.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

So plan a night out with a friend to vent and reduce some of your stress. Order takeout and binge your favorite show to help you relax and unwind. Take a long walk with your dogs and follow it up with a warm bath and a good book. You’ll connect with the best remote companies in the world and broaden your search outside of your zip code.

But you have strengths, and it’s important to remember them from when you were employed. Some people in the United States called the 9.6% unemployment rate in the years following the Great Recession (2007–2009) a public health crisis. The toll that job hunting can take on your energy, optimism, and self-esteem can be hard to grapple with. Thanks to smartphones and the internet, it’s almost too easy to stay connected. But, it’s vitally important not to spend every waking hour focused on how you’re going to get hired for your next job. The more jobs you are pursuing, the more chances you’ll have to make the best impression and get an offer. Don’t stop applying until you’ve committed to a new job.

Referral to primary or secondary mental health care

Whether you’ve been laid off, downsized, forced to take early retirement, or seen contract work dry up, losing your employment is one of life’s most stressful experiences. Aside from the obvious financial anguish it can cause, can’t find job depressed the stress of losing a job can also take a heavy toll on your mood, relationships, and overall mental and emotional health. Spend some time job hunting, even when you’re happy in your current position and you don’t have to.

Those who listed financial concerns as their top source of stress often cited a perceived loss of identity as a close second. What’s more, maintaining a positive attitude throughout your job hunt can better your chances of landing your dream gig.

Strategies to Help You Quit the Job You Hate

When you haven’t had to job search or interview in a while, that can add to your stress level as well. Take comfort in knowing that everyone else is going through similar feelings of fear, stress and bouts of depression. Everyone at one point gets rejected for a role, loses out to an office nemesis for a lucrative promotion or gets ghosted after a seemingly great interview. Then, the obstacles, setbacks and hurdles will be tackled in stride and not taken personally. It’s hard to stay upbeat and positive when nothing seems to work out right. You feel that all day, every day, you’re knocking your head against the wall. Dozens of résumés are emailed in response to job postings.

“They will probably get back to me tomorrow,” you think to yourself. Perhaps you work with an office bully, or you feel undermined by colleagues or your boss micromanages your work. Eat healthfully, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and limit caffeine and alcohol. Try to keep your body and mind in shape to handle challenging situations. It’s your decision to tell your employer about your anxiety disorder.

However, try not to overburden them with too many emotional or financial details. Listen to their concerns.Your family members are worried about you, as well as their own stability and future. Give them a chance to talk about their concerns and offer suggestions regarding your employment search. As well as making a huge difference in how you feel, reaching out to others can help you feel more in control of your situation, and you never know what opportunities will arise. The person you talk to doesn’t have to be able to offer solutions; they just have to be a good listener, someone who’ll listen attentively without becoming distracted or passing judgement.

Consider how to know if you’ve got job burnout and what you can do about it. Job burnout is a special type of work-related stress — a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity. The licensed mental health providers listed in this directory specialize in anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and related disorders.