Job Layoff: Defusing The Anger

Along with the fear and internal humiliation of losing your
job, there is always a degree of anger: anger at fate for
dealing you a lousy hand; anger at a company that took your
long hours and hard work and threw them away without a
second thought; anger at coworkers who played the political
game more deftly and kept their positions when yours was
eliminated.

Some of us are so angry that we get stuck in our emotions
and become almost paralyzed, unable to move on with any
degree of enthusiasm or energy.

Recognize that anger is a natural reaction to being
marginalized and devalued. Give yourself some alone time to
lick your wounds. Pound a punching bag, cry for hours, run
for miles, or clean the house from top to bottom - whatever
best works for you to burn off that adrenaline pouring
through your system.

Take at least a few days to wallow in the injustice of it
all. Let your jumbled emotions wear themselves out until you
feel drained and empty.

It is only when the fires of anger have died down that you
can start to think rationally about the future and the
opportunities that may arise out of being forced to change
your life's direction.