By Gillian Seely

If you have recently retired or lost your job, you are undoubtedly feeling some measure of restlessness and frustration. As can be expected, depression is rife among those newly unemployed, and also – perhaps surprisingly — among recent retirees. Even retirement, which is supposed to be a time of relaxation and celebration of a life’s work ended, often leaves people with a sense of diminished worth, and without purpose. A culture that seems to define people by their titles rather than their achievements and contributions leaves many feeling as if there is little left to which they can look forward. Add to this the grim financial realities facing many Americans in the form of foreclosures, dwindling nest eggs, and lack of or decrease in health care coverage, and it’s easy to see why both of these demographics are prone to depression.

As someone who works for a staffing firm, I can attest that barely a day goes by that I don’t hear about or meet people who are going through these struggles. That being said, I’d like to go through a list of common questions people at their professional crossroads ask themselves, and attempt to answer them for you:

1)      Question: Why did (or why didn’t) this happen?

Answer: In just the third quarter of 2009, 277,924 employees found themselves jobless. With unemployment soaring, people are forced to watch as their longtime colleagues are let go without fault of their own. This can instill a false sense of guilt on those still working, when the reality is that there is not necessarily any rhyme or reason to who is chosen for lay-offs. Sometimes it really is just the (bad) luck of the draw.

2)      Question: Should I have waited to retire/ Should I try to go back to work for my former company?

Answer: Not necessarily. Our brains tend to remember most experiences in a more positive light than they actually were. We think fondly about the “good old days” when maybe, in actuality, there was little “good” about them. Think back to your most miserable moment working in that position and try to remember all of the frustration and negativity you felt at that moment. Do you really want to return to that? Look ahead, not back!

3)      Question: Without a job, have I lost my value?

Answer: Of course not. Losing a job or leaving one through retirement is not a mark on your value. You are grieving.  In a sense, you are mourning a death — the loss of your income, your security and your routine — but it doesn’t have to be a loss of identity.  Before your career dominated your life, what were your dreams? What have you been putting off for years? Don’t let money be the bottom line here. Sit down with a pen and write out your aspirations, no matter how ludicrous or impractical they may seem. Maybe the Peace Corps is calling your name. Maybe you want to sell those oil paintings you’ve been working on or maybe you just want to spend every waking moment with your kids. Now is the time.

Many people feel ashamed and avoid talking about their recent unemployment.  If this is true of you, know that you are far from alone. If the stress of your unemployment makes it difficult for you to face the day-to-day, there are many options availabe to lessen your burden. For further information about depression or seeking treatment for depression, please see the available resources on www.webMD.com  and www.depression.com.