In case it wasn't obvious, this here recession is a bit of a bummer. To be more specific, according to a poll from the American Psychiatric Association, just over half of American women say the economy has had "a negative impact" on their mental health (and this number jumps to two-thirds of women in Clinton County, Ohio, a focus area in the survey).
This is sort of old news of course (the U.K. is actually devoting public funds to help people whose mental health has been adversely affected by the economy - which begs the question, why not just devote that funding to job creation? But, I digress...). But, it does make me think about why we're all so depressed about the economy. Obviously the stress about money is a huge part of it... worries about paying your bills; stress about keeping your family fed, clothed and housed.
But, I also think there's something else at play here. It's the idea that our job defines us. Our identities are defined by more than who our families are, more than what our interests are, and more than where we live, or how we look or how we act (although, these are obviously part of the whole picture). In America, at least, we're really defined by our occupation. When we meet people, the first question we ask is usually, "What do you do?" When I introduce myself, I usually say, "Hi, I'm Jen. I'm a writer."
When we lose our jobs, we lose part of ourselves. We don't have an answer to everyone's first question. We feel like losers, like we aren't a productive part of society. It's so tough, especially since losing your job isn't always a reflection on you. Sure, if you show up late all the time or fail to meet deadlines, you're probably first on the chopping block when the economy takes a turn for the worse. But, if a company needs to cut a lot of jobs fast, it's often the ones with the most experience and the biggest titles who go -- because, when push comes to shove, they earn more and therefore are the biggest dents in a company's bottom line. Is it fair, no. But, as we all learned in grade school, life isn't fair.
I think something that can help all of us, whether we have lost our jobs or not, is to think about all the things that really define you. Each of us is more than just a title on a business card. We're mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. We have passions outside our day job. We have feelings and opinions on things beyond what we're asked about at work. Don't let yourself be completely defined by your job... remember all the things that make you, well, you. It will help you keep perspective. And, maybe more importantly, it will keep you in touch with your passions.
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