Tuesday, June 11, 2024

What does it feel like getting fired?

Profile photo for Sam Moore

The dreaded conversation about getting fired.

It's like that one friend who always crashes on your couch and never does the dishes - it's uncomfortable, but sometimes necessary.

When you're getting fired, your brain releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can make your heart race, your palms sweat, and your mouth go dry.

It's like your body is preparing for a fight or flight response, but in this case, you're just sitting in a conference room feeling helpless.

The experience of getting fired can be traumatic, and research suggests that it can lead to depression, anxiety, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in some cases.

In fact, a study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine found that job loss can be as stressful as a divorce or the death of a loved one.

One reason getting fired can be so emotionally devastating is that our sense of self-worth is often closely tied to our profession.

When we lose our job, we lose a part of our identity, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.

Getting fired can also affect our social connections.

A study by the American Psychological Association found that unemployed individuals tend to experience social isolation, which can further exacerbate feelings of loneliness and depression.

Interestingly, research suggests that how we cope with getting fired can actually influence our mental health outcomes.

A study published in the Journal of Career Development found that individuals who practiced self-compassion and reframed their job loss as an opportunity for growth and development tended to experience less depression and anxiety. 

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