The loss of a job has the potential to induce severe emotional pain tantamount to the death of a close friend or relative. The reaction to the loss is best described as grieving as it involves an intense reaction of sorrow or remorse.

This disconnection would create a void in the affected employees' life evoking uncertainties about self-worth, skills and competencies, finances and the future.

Redundancy, on the other hand, is defined as a form of dismissal from the job, caused by an employer's need to reduce his/her workforce.

Five stages of grieving

Redundancy can stimulate grieving for both the individuals involved and those close to them and can persist for weeks into years. Psychiatrists Elizabeth Kubler-Ross conducted research on people's reaction to a loss and identified five stages of grieving.

She pointed out that people may differ in their experience with the order, the duration and intensity of stages which include the classic ones of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance.

Denial, the first stage in the process, can be experienced as numbness, avoidance, isolation or rejection. Here, we tell ourselves that the loss did not really happen.

Final stage

In the bargaining stage, we would try to formulate ways to recover what we lost or just blame someone or something else. The final stage is acceptance, which means coming to grips with the loss, although there would still be bouts of sadness. This should not prevent normal functioning as, over time, the intensity of the sadness should diminish.

The real task will be to manage the pain of the loss and resume normal functioning. This you can do by beginning the application process for a new job ( revise résumé; networking); journalling your feelings/express your anger appropriately and accepting assistance when offered.

As much as possible you should also avoid being alone. Get medical check-ups and seek professional counselling where you consider this necessary.

Joan Pinkney is a counselling psychologist based in Kingston.

Common signs and symptoms of grief

Fatigue and exhaustion alternating with periods of high alertness and energy

Temporary hearing loss or vision impairment

Difficulty sleeping

Disturbed appetite (either more appetite or less)

jp.pinkney@gmail.com