Loss of Identity Can Lead to Depression
When you lose your job, you lose more than an income stream. You lose a part of your identity.
It’s not just your job title that carries identity. You might identify as a hard worker, a good teammate, or an intelligent person. Financial stability and having a plan might be valuable to you.
As much as companies talk about good work-life balance, the truth is feelings of inadequacy, worthlessness, and uselessness can creep up fast when you’re unemployed. All of this can tank your self-esteem, which can lead to depression.
What Are the Mental Health Effects of Unemployment?
Unemployment weighs heavily on the brain. If you’re unemployed, you might experience these mental health effects. When left untreated, they can develop into depression, sometimes called “Unemployment Depression”.
- Low self-esteem
- Feeling inadequate or worthless
- No hope for the future
- Feeling trapped
- Little or no interest in hobbies or interests
- Feeling empty
- Exhausted and fatigued
- Brain fogged
.jpg)
Chasity Bilzing
LPC
Chasity is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families strengthen relationships, navigate trauma, and foster personal growth. She believes m...
.jpg)
Meera Doshi
LCSW
Meera is an animal lover, adventurer, and enthusiast of all things tasty. She lives in Richmond with her partner, two cats, and two dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, experimenting with new ...
Ariel Meaney
LPC
Ariel is a Marine Corps Veteran and the spouse of an Active Duty Marine, bringing over 17 years of combined experience in military life—both through active duty service and as a Military Spouse. Her...
Adeela Aslam
PMHNP-BC
As a board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, I am passionate about providing thoughtful, evidence-based mental health care that is personalized to each individual's needs. My a...
.jpg)
Taylor Hiers
LPC
Hi! I'm Taylor, a Licensed Professional Counselor in Virginia, where I studied psychology and counseling at Liberty University. I consider my approach as collaborative, person-centered, and practical...
Sabrina Jackson
LPC
Sabrina is a clinician with several years of experience working in residential, inpatient, and intensive outpatient settings, supporting individuals facing a wide range of emotional and behavioral cha...
We spend around 40 hours a week at our jobs, sometimes more! A third of our lives is spent working, and an identity is going to begin to form around the hours we spend at work. When we lose that, we lose access to who we were at work, and that loss of identity can trigger depression. The best treatment for depression is therapy.
Find a Depression Therapist in Alexandria
Routines are healthy for our brains. They rely on routines to make decisions and feel safe. With a job, you more or less have the same routine every week. When you become unemployed, all those routines go out the window. You suddenly have endless, unstructured time. This can cause panic at first and eventually depression. Talk to an Alexandria depression therapist about how to implement routines in your life that support good mental health.
Find a Depression Therapist in Alexandria
Whether you loved or hated them, you had a community with your coworkers. You saw the same people every day, talked to them, worked with them, and had bonded over similar circumstances. While you might try to stay in touch with some of them, that loss of immediate, automatic community will be hard. A strong support system is a protective factor against depression, and the loss of that support system can trigger depression. Make an effort to talk with friends and family while you’re unemployed. If you need a little extra help, talk with an Alexandria depression therapist.
Find a Depression Therapist in Alexandria
A job brings financial stability, but it also brings the stability of a routine, structured time, and knowing what’s coming day after day. Becoming unemployed can feel like being knocked off balance. Your whole world is turned upside down, and you’re left trying to hold together the pieces. Therapy can help you stay in control and keep on top of your mental health.
Find a Depression Therapist in Alexandria
Coping with Long-Term Unemployment
703-955-3703
How It Works
We've created a safe space for you to explore your mental health and find what works for you.
Find A Counselor
Check Your Insurance
Book Your Online/In-person Therapy Session
Insurances We Accept
Frequently Asked Questions
Scheduling is easy! Simply choose a therapist from our extensive therapist directory. Fill out the quick form, and we’ll get in touch to confirm your appointment.
If you don’t feel like choosing a therapist, give us a call, and we’ll match you with an Alexandria therapist that fits your needs.
Lifebulb Counseling & Therapy adheres to all HIPAA policies. This means your personal information will be protected throughout every step of the process: from requesting a session, to your first appointment, all the way to when you decide to stop therapy.
Lifebulb was built on the core belief that good therapists provide good therapy, and that in order for a therapist to be good, they need to feel supported. We prioritize our therapists’ wellness so that they can give you their full attention. No burnout, no counting the minutes till the end of the session, no racing to meet quotas, no wasting time wrestling with insurance panels.
The result? More time, more energy, and more joy they get to put towards what they do best: helping you!
Online anxiety therapy sessions use HIPAA-compliant video software that is 100% secure. We never record sessions and will never ask you to jump on a video call that is not HIPAA compliant. Our therapists also always take video sessions from a private and secure place. There’s no risk of anyone overhearing you.
Yes! Lifebulb prides itself on being HIPAA compliant and making client privacy a top priority. Have questions or concerns about our privacy policy? You can email us at privacy@lifebulb.com
