Holidays, Job Search and the Blues

One of the hardest things I have to do when I am working with someone in job search is supporting them through the blues. Especially when the blues is really depression. I work with a counselors and psychologist and if I suspect that someone is dealing with more than the blues I refer them to seek professional help.

The Mayo Clinic cites the following as symptoms of depression:

• Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
• Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
• Reduced sex drive
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Changes in appetite — depression often causes decreased appetite and weight loss, but in some people it causes increased cravings for food and weight gain
• Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
• Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy — even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
• Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
• Crying spells for no apparent reason
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

For someone going through transition due to a job loss some of these symptoms are normal and natural... but when these symptoms persist and even grow stronger action is called for. Counseling is one of the most important actions a person can take. Some folks will require medication in addition to counseling and there is nothing wrong with that. I’m amazed the number of folks who will routinely take cold or flu medicine but balk when depression medication is suggested.

Acute and chronic depression is a real disease that people are suffering from. Like the flu, cancer or a broken leg, depression is a medical condition that requires medical / psychological attention.  Psychologist tell us that the holidays are a difficult time for all of us, many people feel depressed during this time of year.  Even Elvis sung about a “Blue Christmas” and bouts of the Blues are understandable especially in our current economy.

From a career standpoint, I teach a “first things first” strategy. If you’re looking for a job you’d better develop a professional resume. Likewise, if you’re suffering from depression you need to deal with that before you’ll be able to do well in a job search. Just in the amount of energy required to conduct a professional job search, a depressed person will lag behind his or her competition. A job search requires a positive attitude; as one colleague says, “A job seeker has to have the enthusiasm of a puppy when the door bell rings!” I don’t know how someone can do that when they do not have the energy get out of bed, little less make 10 phone calls.

My hope is this, if you are feeling down and are demonstrating some or many of the symptoms listed above, contact your doctor for a proper depression screening. Seek out a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist and get the proper treatment to help you get ready for a job search or career change.