NYS Department of Labor unemployment affecting mental health - how to cope while job searching?
I've been on unemployment for about 4 months now and it's really starting to mess with my head. The constant job searching, weekly certifications, and just the whole uncertainty of it all is making me anxious and depressed. Anyone else dealing with this? How do you handle the mental health side of being unemployed while dealing with all the NYS Department of Labor requirements?
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ApolloJackson
You're definitely not alone in this. Unemployment can be incredibly stressful mentally. The key is maintaining some structure - treat your job search like a job itself. Set specific hours for applications, keep up with your weekly claims on schedule, and make sure you're documenting everything for your job search log. Having that routine helps with the anxiety.
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Grace Patel
•That's good advice about the routine. I've been all over the place with my schedule and it's probably making things worse.
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Isabella Russo
ugh yes this is so hard!! i've been crying every time i have to do my weekly certification because it just reminds me that i still don't have a job. the whole process makes me feel like such a failure even though i know it's not my fault
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ApolloJackson
•Please don't feel like a failure - you're using a system that exists specifically to help people during tough times. That's what unemployment insurance is for.
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Rajiv Kumar
I went through this exact same thing last year. The mental health impact is real and it's something a lot of people don't talk about. A few things that helped me: 1) Remember that collecting unemployment isn't charity - you earned this through your previous work 2) Use some of your time for self-care, not just job hunting 3) Connect with other people going through similar situations. The isolation makes everything worse.
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Grace Patel
•Thank you for sharing that. It does feel isolating, especially when everyone around me has jobs and doesn't really understand what this is like.
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Aria Washington
Have you looked into any mental health resources? Some are covered even if you don't have insurance right now. I know NYS has some programs but I'm not sure exactly how to access them. Might be worth calling 211 to ask about local resources.
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Grace Patel
•I hadn't thought about calling 211. That's a good idea, thanks.
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Liam O'Reilly
The whole unemployment system is designed to make you feel terrible about yourself. The hoops they make you jump through, the constant fear that you'll somehow mess up your claim, the way they make you prove you're 'worthy' of help... it's degrading and of course it affects your mental health.
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Rajiv Kumar
•While the system definitely has its frustrations, try not to let that mindset consume you. Focus on what you can control - your job search efforts and taking care of yourself.
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Chloe Delgado
When I was having trouble getting through to NYS Department of Labor about some issues with my claim, the stress was making my anxiety so much worse. I ended up using this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that helped me actually reach a real person at the unemployment office. Sometimes just being able to talk to someone who can answer your questions directly makes a huge difference for peace of mind. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/qyftW-mnTNI
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Grace Patel
•Interesting, I've never heard of that. Being on hold for hours definitely doesn't help with the stress levels.
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Ava Harris
same boat here, it's rough
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