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As a 20-year career coaching veteran, I work with job seekers every day who come to me when they’re at their lowest, stuck in a state of depression or anxiety, or oscillating between both. It\u2019s more common than you think.<\/p>\n
Job search depression often comes with a sense of sadness and helplessness.<\/strong> You feel stuck, like you have no options. It\u2019s as if you’re wearing golden handcuffs, trapped and unable to move forward.<\/p>\n On the other hand, job search anxiety brings an overwhelming sense of stress.<\/strong> There\u2019s so much to do, so many tasks demanding your attention, and the weight of it all feels physically exhausting. Some people oscillate between the two\u2014one day, they\u2019re feeling hopeless and lost; the next, they\u2019re paralyzed by the sheer number of things they need to get done.<\/p>\n Or maybe you oscillate between the two.<\/strong> I’ve had clients come to me and say, “One day I feel sad and depressed like there are no options for me. The next day, I wake up and feel like there’s so much I have to do as a job seeker. I’ve got anxiety.” They go back and forth between feeling depressed and feeling anxious in their job search.<\/p>\n So, which one resonates with you? Are you feeling more depressed, more anxious, or a mix of both? Understanding your experience is the first step toward managing these emotions.<\/p>\nHow to Navigate Job Search Anxiety and Depression<\/h3>\n
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