A business psychologist talked about the mental consequences of being fired

Losing a job — even with voluntary withdrawal — is not only an economic crisis, but also a psychological one. For many people, the professional role becomes a part of the personality, and its loss is perceived as a loss of support. On August 25, business psychologist Victoria Kharitonova told Izvestia how the psyche reacts to the breakdown of an employment relationship.

"A career is not just a set of responsibilities, but a whole system of meanings, recognition, and social connections. When a person loses his job, he loses the usual evidence of his value. There is an "empty space" that the psyche perceives as a threat," the expert said.

Gallup research shows that almost half of employees notice an increase in anxiety after being laid off in the first months, and about a third experience a decrease in self-esteem. Similar results are recorded in Russian observations: more than a third of respondents rate the stress of losing a job as comparable to divorce.

Kharitonova explained that such a reaction is associated with the destruction of "professional identity" — a stable system of habits, knowledge and rituals. The deprivation of this base activates the stress response of the body, increasing the levels of cortisol and adrenaline. With prolonged adaptation, the hormonal background remains disturbed, which leads to exhaustion and decreased motivation.

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The specialist noted that the recovery process usually takes place in several stages. At first, there is shock and denial, later anger directed at oneself or others. Then apathy often sets in, which is expressed in a decrease in energy and interest in life. It is only at the last stage that acceptance arises, which allows you to form new goals and restore activity. However, the sequence of these stages may vary from person to person.

The expert called maintaining the structure of the day, maintaining social connections, and finding new roles in a profession, hobby, or family the key elements of a successful recovery. Physical activity, which reduces stress levels and supports performance, becomes an important part of adaptation.

Kharitonova emphasized that dismissal syndrome is a natural reaction to the loss of a significant role and does not indicate weakness. According to her, attention to the emotional state, help from the environment and active actions help turn the crisis into an opportunity for renewal.

Earlier, on August 15, Anna Saigina, an expert at the center for "Professions of the Future," in an interview with Izvestia, named six serious mistakes that could destroy the chances of job offers. So, among the main ones are lateness and ignoring calls.

Prior to that, on July 15, Evgenia Gankina, director of the Roskachestvo Organizational Development Department, said that a full-fledged return to work processes after burnout should be approached gradually.

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