Pink slip: entry pass to psychiatric asylum

BANGALORE, INDIA: The recent economic downturn and the consequent belt-tightening by many companies has resulted in a slump in hiring and a spate of downsizing. Cutting jobs may be strictly business for companies, but it can be devastating for employees at the receiving end.

“I have been nervous and tense ever since a memo was circulated in office notifying employees of downsizing,” says Vineet Arora, a software professional at a leading IT firm. He is particularly worried because his job pays for his home loan.

Hundreds have already faced the axe, and countless others, like Vineet, are facing the grim reality that their jobs may be next in line.

Losing a job ranks among the few top stressors—death, divorce, and illness. As more individuals find themselves coping with the stress, some have turned toward family and friends or counselors for support.

There have also been cases where families have resorted to drastic measures in the erroneous belief that losing a job is the final straw. The chilling stories of techies committing suicides or entering into suicide pacts with their immediate family in the wake of the layoffs would make it appear that their economic downfall was the sole cause.

On losing his job Rajshekar, a software engineer and head of a family of 5, plunged into depression and hopelessness. His dark phase only worsened over time and he even contemplated ending his life. Timely intervention by his alert wife and further counseling by social workers pulled him back from the edge.

“Most often, financial or job losses act as a precipitator, bringing to the fore emotional problems that had remained bottled and unrecognized for many years,” says Dr. Mythili M. Sarma, psychologist and therapist, AAdhihara Clinic, Bangalore.

Individuals usually are very adept at masking emotional distress and continue to ignore signs of depression and suffocation be it in their jobs or their relationships.

Considering that the majority of us spend a large part of our waking hours at the workplace, losing a job can be unnerving and a roller coaster ride with more emotional lows than highs.

Take the case of a software engineer, Venu, who decided to take up a well paying job in India after graduating from a top university in London. Little did he know that he and several other freshers would be out of a job within a year.

Because major players in the IT domain have largely been laying off employees in their probationary period or consultants affiliated with the company, there is much anger and embitterment among this group who will now have to start looking for a job afresh.

Mood swings, panic attacks, anger, and volatile behavior are some of the outward signs of distress. It is particularly traumatic for those who identify themselves by their job roles.

There are also others like Niddhi Vyas who have taken their job loss positively. “Although I was initially emotionally upset when I lost my job, I realized I could use this time to take a break and be with my family,” recounted Niddhi, finance consultant. Family support helped her tide through almost two months of unemployment before she found a job with another firm.

As economic recession continues, counselors advise that being aware of one’s emotional state and discussing concerns with family and friends or counselors plays a big role in coping with stress.

*Names have been changed to protect identity