How to stay positive during unemployment while dealing with Washington ESD delays
I've been unemployed for about 2 months now and my Washington ESD claim has been stuck in adjudication for the past 3 weeks. Between constantly checking my account status, worrying about bills, and getting rejected from job interviews, I'm really struggling to keep my head up. The stress is affecting my sleep and I find myself doom-scrolling job boards at 2am. How do you all manage to stay mentally healthy during this process? I know I need to stay positive for interviews but it's getting harder each day.
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Fidel Carson
I totally get this. The uncertainty with Washington ESD makes everything so much worse. What's helped me is setting small daily goals that aren't job-related - like taking a walk or cooking something new. It gives you a sense of accomplishment when everything else feels out of control.
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Ana Rusula
•That's actually really good advice. I've been so focused on job stuff that I forgot about taking care of myself in other ways.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Yes! I started doing yoga videos on YouTube during my unemployment. Free and helps with the anxiety.
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Xan Dae
The adjudication wait is brutal but try to remember it's not a reflection of you personally. Washington ESD is just massively backlogged. Have you tried calling to get an update on your claim status? I know it's frustrating but sometimes they can give you a timeline.
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Ana Rusula
•I've tried calling probably 50 times but can never get through. Just busy signals or I get disconnected after waiting on hold.
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Fiona Gallagher
•Same here! The phone system is completely overwhelmed. It's like they don't want us to reach them.
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Thais Soares
Actually, if you're having trouble reaching Washington ESD by phone, I found this service called Claimyr that helps you get through to an actual agent. Check out claimyr.com - they have a demo video at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works. It was a game changer for me when I needed to check on my adjudication status.
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Ana Rusula
•Is it legit? I'm hesitant to use third-party services for something this important.
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Thais Soares
•I was skeptical too but it actually worked. They just help you get connected to Washington ESD directly, you're still talking to the actual ESD agents.
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Nalani Liu
•Interesting, I might have to try this. I've been trying to reach them for weeks about my job search log requirements.
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Axel Bourke
The mental health aspect is so real. I went through a really dark period during my unemployment last year. What helped was creating structure in my day - treating job searching like a part-time job with set hours, then having 'off' time where I didn't think about it.
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Ana Rusula
•How did you stick to that schedule? I find myself constantly checking job sites and my Washington ESD account.
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Axel Bourke
•I literally set timers on my phone. 9am-1pm was job search time, then I'd close the laptop. It took discipline but helped my sanity.
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Fidel Carson
Don't forget that this is temporary. I know everyone says that but it really is true. I was unemployed for 4 months and thought I'd never find anything, then got two offers in the same week.
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Ana Rusula
•That gives me hope. Sometimes it feels like I'll be stuck forever.
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Aidan Percy
•Same thing happened to me! Nothing for months then suddenly multiple opportunities. The job market is weird like that.
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Isaiah Sanders
One thing that helped me was volunteering a few hours a week. Gets you out of the house, keeps your skills sharp, and looks good on your resume. Plus it's something positive to focus on.
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Ana Rusula
•That's a great idea. Do you know if volunteering affects Washington ESD benefits at all?
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Isaiah Sanders
•As long as you're still able and available for work and meeting the job search requirements, volunteering shouldn't affect your UI benefits.
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Fiona Gallagher
The rejection emails are the worst part for me. I try to remember that it's not personal - companies are getting hundreds of applications for every position right now.
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Ana Rusula
•Yeah, I got a rejection for a job I thought was perfect for me and it really knocked me down.
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Fidel Carson
•I started keeping a spreadsheet of applications just so I could see the volume. Helps put individual rejections in perspective.
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Xan Dae
Have you looked into any free counseling resources? Many communities have services for people dealing with unemployment stress. The financial worry is real but your mental health matters too.
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Ana Rusula
•I hadn't thought about that. Do you know where to find those resources?
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Xan Dae
•Try calling 211 - they can connect you with local mental health resources. Many are free or sliding scale.
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Nalani Liu
The doom scrolling is so real! I had to delete job apps from my phone because I was checking them obsessively. Now I only check on my computer during designated times.
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Ana Rusula
•That's smart. My phone is basically a portal to anxiety at this point.
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Axel Bourke
•I did the same thing! Also unfollowed all the LinkedIn career coaches - their posts were making me feel worse.
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Thais Soares
By the way, if anyone else is having trouble reaching Washington ESD, that Claimyr service I mentioned earlier really does work. I used it again last week to ask about my weekly claim filing and got through in like 20 minutes instead of calling all day.
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Fiona Gallagher
•Ok you've convinced me to try it. I need to ask about my job search requirements anyway.
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Fernanda Marquez
•Just looked at their site - seems legit. Might be worth it if it saves me hours of calling.
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Aidan Percy
Exercise has been huge for me. Even just walking around the block helps with the anxiety. Plus it gets you out of the house which is important when you're home all day.
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Ana Rusula
•I should definitely do more of that. I've been pretty sedentary lately.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Even 15 minutes makes a difference. I do pushups during commercial breaks when I'm watching TV.
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Fidel Carson
One more thing - try to celebrate small wins. Applied to 5 jobs today? That's an accomplishment. Had a phone screen even if it didn't go anywhere? Still progress. The big wins will come.
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Ana Rusula
•I needed to hear that. I've been so focused on the end goal that I'm not acknowledging the steps.
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Axel Bourke
•Exactly! I started keeping a 'wins' list - even tiny things like updating my resume or networking with someone.
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Fernanda Marquez
The financial stress is real but don't forget about food banks and other assistance programs if you need them. There's no shame in getting help while you're between jobs.
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Ana Rusula
•Thanks for mentioning that. I've been too proud to look into those options but maybe I should.
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Xan Dae
•211 can help with those resources too. Lots of programs specifically for people dealing with unemployment.
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Norman Fraser
This thread is so helpful. I'm in a similar situation - 6 weeks unemployed and my Washington ESD claim is still pending. Nice to know I'm not alone in struggling with the mental health side of this.
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Ana Rusula
•Definitely not alone! This community has been really supportive.
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Fidel Carson
•We're all in this together. The system is broken but we can support each other through it.
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Kendrick Webb
Has anyone else noticed that the stress affects your interview performance? I bombed an interview last week because I was so anxious about everything.
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Ana Rusula
•Yes! I can tell I'm not coming across as confident as I used to. The desperation shows through.
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Axel Bourke
•That's why the mental health stuff is so important. You have to take care of yourself to interview well.
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Xan Dae
Remember that employers understand the current job market is tough. A gap in employment isn't the red flag it used to be, especially with how long Washington ESD processes are taking.
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Ana Rusula
•That's reassuring. I've been worried about explaining the gap.
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Aidan Percy
•Most hiring managers have been through this themselves or know someone who has. They get it.
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Nalani Liu
One last tip - try to maintain some routine even if you're not working. Wake up at a reasonable time, shower, get dressed. It helps with the mental state.
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Ana Rusula
•I've definitely let that slide. Thanks for the reminder that structure matters.
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Isaiah Sanders
•Yes! I treat my job search like a real job - business casual and everything. Sounds silly but it works.
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Thais Soares
Just wanted to circle back on the Claimyr thing - if anyone tries it, let us know how it goes. Always good to share what works for dealing with Washington ESD.
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Fiona Gallagher
•I'm going to try it this week. Will report back if I actually get through to someone.
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Fernanda Marquez
•Same here. Anything is better than the endless busy signals.
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Ana Rusula
Thank you all so much for the support and advice. This thread has been exactly what I needed today. Going to try some of these strategies and hopefully get through to Washington ESD soon to check on my claim.
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Fidel Carson
•Hang in there! You've got this and we're all rooting for you.
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Xan Dae
•Keep us posted on how things go. This community is here for you.
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Axel Bourke
•You're going to get through this. Take it one day at a time.
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Hattie Carson
This has been such a great discussion. Saving this thread for when I need the motivation. Thanks everyone for being so supportive.
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Ana Rusula
•Same! It's nice to know there are people who understand what this is like.
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Fidel Carson
•That's what these forums are for. We're all just trying to help each other out.
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