Millions of people around the world are coping with job loss caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Whether it's temporary or permanent, unemployment can lead to stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges. Uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic only adds to the angst.

If the COVID-19 pandemic has left you jobless, you may be experiencing many emotions and troubling thoughts. For example, you may feel:

• A loss of identity and sense of purpose
• Unappreciated, and you may no longer feel essential
• Angry, scared and jealous of others who can still work
• Lost, as if you don't know what to do next
• Worried about how you'll take care of yourself and your family and provide for basic needs

Not everyone will have these feelings, but even those coping well with unemployment may experience some of them sometimes.

The first step in coping with the mental and emotional effects of unemployment is accepting that your feelings are normal. From there, try these steps to manage your thoughts and emotions.

Accept your feelings

Remember that you're human. This means you have a brain that's hard-wired to look for threats. When your brain spots a threat, such as unemployment, it sends signals throughout your body to gather resources to address it. This is known as the fight-or-flight response. Among other reactions, this response causes your pulse and breathing to quicken and your muscles to tense up.

When your brain kicks into high gear, take a deep breath. Step back for a moment. Accept that what you're feeling is normal. Give yourself credit for doing the best you can under the circumstances.

Acknowledge your grief

If you've lost your job permanently or temporarily, grief is one of the most significant emotions you may feel. You may already know the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, withdrawal and acceptance. You may experience stages of grief in the same way you would the death of someone you love. Address feelings of grief as you would with any other loss.

Among other losses, you may grieve activities at your job that bring meaning and purpose to your life. You may grieve career accomplishments you feel proud of, and feeling a sense of belonging and identity. You may also grieve a loss of relationships with co-workers and structure to your day.

Maintain perspective

Try to keep in mind that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing many companies around the world to make difficult decisions. Keep in mind that staffing decisions are related to the COVID-19 pandemic, not your worth.

Seek out resources

If you're having trouble providing basic needs for yourself or your family and you need unemployment help, you can turn to community resources for assistance. Getting help with basic needs, such as food and shelter, can reduce the stress of unemployment.

For example, local, state or government resources, such as food banks, may be available to help with meeting basic needs. In addition, in the U.S, you may be able to get affordable health insurance through HealthCare.gov if you've lost your health insurance coverage. Unemployment help may also be available. In the U.S., you may also be able to receive pandemic unemployment assistance if you can't work because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Assume the best in others

Life during the COVID-19 pandemic can cause anxiety levels to rise for many people. This can lead to feelings of dread, sadness and hopelessness. If you're struggling, others around you may be, too.

These feelings may cause people to say and do things you don't understand. When this happens, aim to assume the best in others. Try to have compassion, knowing that, like you, others are likely doing their best to manage their feelings in a time of crisis.

Use your energy wisely

What makes you feel energized or drains your energy? Try to do more of the things that boost your energy. For example, avoid being hard on yourself or focusing on your losses. Instead, be kind to yourself and find reasons to laugh.

And just as you would if you were working, try to conserve your energy. For example, build breaks into your day instead of spending every moment searching for work. These breaks can also help you focus less on worries about the future.

Focus on the present moment

Try to bring your thoughts to the present. Focus on what you can control at this moment, rather than on concerns over your future. Focus on your breathing, what you hear or what you see. If you're moving your body, think about how it feels to swing your arms, for example. If your mind wanders to worries about your job or finances, try to gently guide it back to the things you have control over in the moment.

Focusing your attention in these ways can help free your mind of thoughts causing feelings of stress and anxiety.

Find your value

If you connect your sense of self-worth to your work, look for new ways to realize the contributions you make to the world around you. You may try making lists about yourself, such as:

• What you're good at
• What you care about
• What you know
• What you can count on within yourself

This can help you remember you always have these qualities, whether you're working or not.

Take care of yourself

If you're unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, remember that while you can't control what happens to you, you can control how you respond. Try these strategies to take care of your mental and emotional health as you navigate the days ahead.

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This article is written by Mayo Clinic Staff. For the latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic, check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. For more information and COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.

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