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Stress Management in Times of Unemployment  

When  employment  is  lost  we  rightfully  feel  threatened.  Stress  is  our  natural  response  to  a  threat.      The  stress  response  is  not  all  bad:  it  helps  us  survive  when  danger  is  imminent.    However,  when  the  threat  persists,  as  unemployment  may,  our  stress  response  persists  taxing  us  beyond  what  our  body  and  mind  can  handle.    This  is  when  stress  can  begin  to  have  a  negative  impact  on  our  health,  our  family  and  our  ability  to  effectively  pursue  employment.      

Being  employed  fulfills  a  universal  need  for  security  –  the  income  to  take  care  of  ourselves  and  our  family’s  basic  needs.      But  a  job  also  provides  us  with  a  place  to  go  to  every  day.    A  job  provides  structure  for  our  day  and  an  outlet  for  our  creativity  and  productivity.  Being  a  wage  earner  is  an  identity  as  meaningful  as  wife,  husband,  father,  sister,  friend,  etc.      In  addition,  work  relationships  provide  us  with  a  social  safety  net,  keeping  us  connected  to  a  larger  community.      

A. What is stress?

2 More specifically,  the  evolutionary  purpose  of  stress  is  to  sharpen  our  senses  and  reactions  so  that  we  can  best  mobilize  our  energy  and  resources  to  either  fight,  escape,  or  connect  with  others  to  ensure  survival  when  faced  with  a  sudden  threat.  When  unemployed  the  fulfillment  of  our  basic  needs  are  threatened  and  most  people  are  likely  to  experience  a  sudden  and  even  an  expected  layoff,  the  ups  and  downs  of  a  job  search  and  the  overall  uncertain  nature  of  unemployment  as  threatening,  which  would  consequently  trigger  the  body’s  stress  response.    

The  stress  response  is  not  all  bad.  When  danger  is  experienced  as  imminent  and  immediate  our  stress  response  is  acute  and  short-­‐term,  helping  us  survive.      However,  when  the  danger  is  chronic  and  prolonged,  as  is  often  the  case  with  unemployment,  our  stress  response  can  be  prolonged  as  well,  stretched  beyond  what  our  body  and  mind  can  healthily  handle.      This  can  often  result  in  an  emotional  and  physical  imbalance,  fatigue,  and  an  overall  sense  of  powerlessness,  despair  and/or  rage.      This  is  when  stress  can  begin  to  have  a  negative  impact  on  our  health,  our  family  and  our  ability  to  effectively  pursue  employment.        

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Stress  responses  vary  and  take  on  different  symptoms.  Most  of  the  symptoms  affect  our  body,  our  mind,  our  feelings  and  our  behaviors.      It is important to  understand  that  our  body-­‐mind  is  simply  reacting  to  the  sense  of  danger  and  threat  that  we  attribute  to  our  circumstances.  So  for  example,  if  we  experience  upset  stomach,  forgetfulness,  inability  to  get  things  done,  and  irritability  in  the  course  of  a  prolonged  job  search,  it  is  not  because  we  have  gone  crazy;  on  the  contrary.  In  fact  all  of  these  symptoms  are  reflective  of  our  innately  intelligent  ways  to  attempt  to  reclaim  a  sense  of  body-­‐mind  balance  while  feeling  threatened.      Recognizing  stress  symptoms  is  an  important  step  in  helping  to  better  manage  our  stress  response.      Here  are  some  of  the  common  stress  symptoms:    

Body: Muscle tension and pain Fatigue and lack of energy High blood pressure Upset stomach Digestive problems Backaches and Headaches Shallow breathing

Feelings Anger Sadness and grief Depression Loss of sense of self worth Loneliness Fear and anxiety Impatience and irritability

Mind: Chronic negative thoughts Constant worry Inability to make decisions, Judgmental thoughts toward self and other Loss of mental clarity Forgetfulness and confusion

Behavior: Loss of motivation and inability to get things done Interpersonal withdrawal and avoidance Insomnia Hyper-vigilance Lashing out at others Neglecting responsibilities for self and other-care Excessive eating, smoking, alcohol or drug consumption

B. What are the symptoms of stress?

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The  best  way  to  reduce  stress  symptoms  is  twofold;    

• Do  our  best  to  proactively  attempt  to  change  the  circumstances  by  looking  for  and  finding  employment  thereby  reestablishing  safety.  

• Interrupt  our  natural  stress  response  to  the  existing  circumstances  and  in  such  ways  that  reduce  our  natural  stress  response  in  order  to  more  effectively  look  for  and  find  employment.  

 Your  reaction  to  this  “situational  crisis”    may  be  very  mild,  moderate  or  extreme  and  debilitating.    Financial  hardship  is  a  contributing  cause  of  despair  and  hopelessness  that  can  cause  great  distress  and  even  cause  some  people  to  contemplate  suicide.            Here  is  one  way  to  look  at  stress  reduction  during  periods  of  unemployment:

Difficult circumstance of layoffs, unemployment, and

a prolonged job search

Changing the Circumstances: This  way  of  reducing  stress  is  action  and  behavior  oriented.      • Update  Resume  • Daily  Job  Search  • Networking  • Retraining  • Short  and  Long  Term  Goals  • Career  Counseling  • Consultation  • Strategizing  with  Family/Friends  • Budget  Planning  • Volunteering  • To  Do  Lists  • Stick  to  a  Schedule        

Interupt the Stress Response: This  way  of  reducing  stress  is  based  on  awareness,  practice,  and  self  care.        • Recognizing  Stress    Response  Symptoms    • Practice  Stress  Reduction  Interventions  • Stay  Active  Exercise  • Stay  Social  • Get  Support,  Talk  with  Family    and  Friends  • Go  to  the  Beach,    Park,  Mountains,  Desert  • Meditate  • Hot  Bath,  Shower,  Cup  of  Tea  • Keep  a  Journal  • Get  Plenty  of  Rest  • Back  Rub  • Good  Nutrition        

C. How do I manage and reduce my stress?

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Here are specific stress reduction tools:

1. Feeling supported and relieved through muscle relaxation – our  muscles  tend  to  clench  and  contract  when  we  experience  anxiety  and  stress.  One  great  way  to  reduce  stress  is  to  scan  the  body  head  to  toe,  and  notice  muscle  areas  that  are  particularly  tense.  For  example,  when  sitting  in  front  of  the  computer  while  searching  for  a  job,  the  shoulders,  neck  and  upper  back  areas  tend  to  be  overly  clenched.  This  could  lead  to  chronic  pain  and  fatigue  and  so  is  well  worth  attending  to.  The  good  news  is  that  when  you  notice  the  clenched  shoulders  you  can  choose  to  release  the  tension.  It  is  all  about  noticing  and  choosing  since  the  muscle  tension  in  this  case  is  voluntary  rather  than  involuntary.    Make  it  a  practice  to  scan  your  body  several  times  a  day,  notice  areas  that  are  particularly  clenched,  and  simply  release  the  tension!   2. Reviving your sense of stability through belly breathing –Imagine  a  vertical  line  of  core  presence,  intelligence  and  life  connecting  your  head  to  your  heart  to  your  belly.  By  bringing  in  air  from  the  outside  through  your  mouth,  down  to  your  lungs  and  into  your  diaphragm  you  are  flooding  your  body  with  wisdom,  vitality  and  freshness  every  breath  of  the  way.  Now  imagine  blocking  that  process  from  happening  by  contracting  the  muscles  of  your  diaphragm,  just  between  your  lungs  and  your  lower  belly,  and  allowing  the  air  to  go  in  and  out  only  as  far  as  your  lungs.  What  a  loss  to  your  vitality!  How  disrespectful  to  your  belly!  In  fact,  in  both  Eastern  and  Western  traditions  the  lower  belly  area  is  often  perceived  as  our  center  of  gravity  and  vitality;  as  the  part  of  our  body  that  keep  us  grounded  and  connected  to  the  earth.  And  yet,  shallow  breathing  is  incredibly  common  in  times  of  anxiety  and  stress.  The  good  news  is  that  the  muscle  contraction  in  the  diaphragm  that  blocks  air  from  going  into  the  belly  is  voluntary,  thus  giving  you  back  the  power  when  you  notice.  Make  it  a  practice  to  notice  whether  your  breaths  are  shallow.  Then,  inhale  to  the  slow  count  of  3  and  exhale  to  the  count  of  4-­‐5  sending  air  to  your  lower  belly  –  to  your  center  of  gravity  and  vitality.  This  will  revive  you  and  calm  you  in  no  time.       3. Finding quietness and calm though meditation – All  that  is  stressful  to  you  these  days  -­‐  the  job  loss;  the  frustrations;  the  difficult  moments  with  friends  and  family;  the  worries  about  paying  the  bills;  the  sadness  –  are  all  clouds  in  the  sky,  and  you  are  the  sky!  No  matter  how  dark  and  grey  and  loaded  with  rain  the  clouds  might  be,  the  practice  of  mindful  observation  can  allow  you  to  find  sanity  and  calm  in  being  the  sky.  Just  like  sky,  you  can  contain  it  all,  and  yet  be  vast  and  peaceful  and  clear.    The  practice  of  meditation  can  help  you  find  your  sky  time  and  again.  It  requires  taking  the  time,  sitting  quietly  to  observe  your  thoughts,  feelings  and  bodily  sensations  without  reacting.  Just  noticing  and  allowing;  remembering  time  and  again  that  you  are  the  sky.  

Body: Generally,  we  want  to  activate  the  parasympathetic  

nervous  system  and  send  signals  to  the  brain  that  we  are  safe.  One  of  the  best  ways  to  do  that  by  far  is  through  deep  breathing.  We  can  chose  to  intentionally  practice  deep  breathing  (belly  breathing,  muscle  relaxation  and  

meditation),  and  we  can  also  chose  to  engage  in  practices  that  naturally  facilitate  deeper  breathing  (like  yoga,  singing,  aerobic  exercise  and  taking  a  hot  bath!)  

6 This  practice  could  be  fundamental  in  learning  to  relate  to  the  stressors  of  a  job  search  from  a  more  vast,  eternal  and  peaceful  place.  Try  meditating  at  least  once  a  day,  perhaps  in  the  morning  when  you  wake  up  for  10-­‐15  minutes.  Try  out  one  of  the  many  guided  meditation  programs  available  on  the  internet  or  on  CDs  you  can  borrow  from  the  library.       4. Rejuvenating through exercise: Chronic  stress  is  likely  to  create  a  sense  of  sluggishness,  fatigue  and  sadness  that  unfortunately  can  take  on  a  life  of  their  own.  Physical  exercise  is  one  of  the  best  ways  to  combat  the  effects  of  stress,  not  only  because  it  releases  endorphins  and  increases  levels  of  serotonin,  both  wonderful  for  your  mood,  but  also  because  you  get  to  feel  refreshed,  in  better  control  of  your  body,  more  likely  to  maintain  a  healthy  diet,  and  more  connected  with  the  world  around  you.    

1. Cater to your mind’s need to know by  clearly  understanding  your  financial  situation  and  needs  –  many  of  us  may  choose  to  turn  away  from  the  specifics  of  budget  needs  and  constrains  during  times  of  unemployment.  We  may  believe  that  it  could  be  too  stressful  and  overwhelming.  Interestingly,  not  having  a  clear  sense  of  where  one  stands  may  actually  create  a  greater  sense  of  stress  and  anxiety  than  necessary  during  such  times.  Although  possibly  scary,  it  is  very  important  to  create  a  clear  picture  of  all  needed  expenses  and  all  possible  sources  of  income  and  financial  support  one  may  have.  This  can  help  reclaim  some  sense  of  control  and  clarity.   2. Cater to the mind’s need to solve problems and sink its teeth into issues and topics: There  is  nothing  wrong  with  our  mind  even  when  it  drives  us  into  worry-­‐land.  It  just  does  what  minds  do  –  think  think  think  think.  One  way  to  satiate  our  mind’s  need  to  think  is  to  offer  it  productive  ways  to  do  so,  without  creating  anxiety.  You  may  think  about  it  as  if  you  are  handing  a  dog  (your  mind)  a  delicious,  scrumptious  and  juicy  bone  to  chew  on  and  play  with  (cross  word  puzzles,  political  debates,  book  discussions,  mathematical  problems,  etc),  as  opposed  to  it  chewing  on  its  own  flesh,  thinking  about  things  over  and  over  again  without  resolution  (worries  and  ruminations)!  Stressful  times  are  thus  prime  time  for  engaging  yourself  with  areas  of  interest.     3. Come back from worry land into the now:  Naturally,  you  would  find  yourself  worrying  during  this  time  of  stress.  You  are  probably  wondering  about  paying  bills,  buying  necessities,  or  

Mind: Generally,  we  want  to  use  the  mind  for  what  it’s  good  for  (planning,  organizing,  solving  problems),  and  get  out  of  the  mind  and  into  our  experience  when  it  starts  “taking  over”,  

and  generating  too  much  worry  and  rumination.  Here  are  a  few  strategies:  

7 even  supporting  financially  some  of  your  hobbies  and  needs.  It  is  perfectly  normal  to  be  thinking  about  how  to  resolve  your  financial  problems,  and  in  fact,  your  mind  is  particularly  helpful  when  it  comes  to  that.  It  is  only  when  you  find  yourself  thinking  negatively  to  a  point  of  despair,  or  ruminating  to  the  point  that  you  can’t  fall  asleep  at  night,  that  you  might  need  to  reclaim  some  power  away  from  your  mind.  The  good  news  is  that  you  can  do  that  rather  easily  by  remembering  to  notice  that  your  mind  may  have  taken  you  to  a  future  point  of  imagined  “catastrophe”  (“no  one  will  care  for  me”;  “my  world  will  collapse”,  others  will  think  I’m  a  looser”;  my  whole  life’s  meaning  is  destroyed”,  etc)  and  reconnect  with  what  is  actually  happening  right  now,  in  this  very  moment.  You  can  do  that  by  noticing  your  breathing,  or  looking  at  what’s  around  you,  or  noticing  that  you  are  sitting  and  thinking.  Then  pay  attention  to  the  fact  that  you  are  here  now…that  the  catastrophe  has  not  happened,  and  that  your  mind  has  taken  you  on  a  trip  to  worry  and  catastrophe  land.  You  can  thank  your  mind  for  functioning  but  remind  it  that  while  you  may  be  stressed,  you  are  NOT  at  an  imagined  state  of  catastrophe.    Coming  back  to  the  now  will  automatically  reduce  some  of  the  stress  your  mind  has  generated.     4. Identify the middle way, in between dichotomous thinking: You  may  notice  that  in  this  time  of  stress  your  mind  often  generates  black  or  white  scenarios  for  yourself:  “  I  need  to  be  fully  understood  by  my  friends  or  otherwise  I  might  as  well  stay  away  from  people  for  a  while”;  or  “If  I  can’t  get  nice  gifts  for  people  for  the  holidays  I’m  just  going  to  drop  the  holidays  all  together  this  year”,  etc.  The  problem  with  this  kind  of  thinking  is  that  they  easily  lead  us  to  a  place  of  isolation,  discouragement  and  despair.  Such  thoughts  are  also  incredibly  unkind  to  you.  When  you  notice  extreme  thinking  see  if  there  is  a  way  to  imagine  what  might  be  a  middle  way  that  a  very  loving  friend  would  suggest  to  you  if  they  were  there  with  you.  The  middle  way  is  the  human  way.  During  a  time  of  stress  basic  kindness  and  humanity  may  go  a  long  way.      

1. Offer tender love and care to your feeling-self: The  circumstances  of  unemployment,  how  they  came  about,  and  what  they  mean  to  us  at  this  particular  point  in  our  life  may  evoke  a  lot  of  strong  feelings.  This  is  perfectly  normal  and  even  expected.  You  may  feel  angry  about  being  laid  off,  or  frustrated  with  employers  who  do  not  respond  to  e-­‐mails.  You  may  feel  abandoned  by  the  system  and  scared.  You  may  feel  sad  about  what  is  happening  to  you  and  to  a  lot  of  people  around  you.  Allowing  yourself  to  notice  and  acknowledge  your  true  feelings  is  not  going  to  debilitate  you.  In  fact,  it  is  the  struggle  against  having  your  feelings  that  could  be  quite  depleting.  The  best  way  to  acknowledge  your  feeling  is  by  imagining  that  a  young  loveable  child  is  sharing  with  you  these  very  same  feelings.  It  is  hard  to  imagine  telling  the  child  to  snap  

Feelings: Generally,  we  want  to  allow  for  whatever  feelings  we  

have  about  our  circumstances  to  be  heard  and  validated.  To  allow  our  feelings  to  be  there  we  must  remember  

that  there  is  a  clear  difference  between  experiencing  and  expressing.  I  can  allow  myself  to  experience  my  

frustration,  to  notice  my  feelings  and  validate  that  they  are  there,  and  all  along,  I  can  chose  whether  I  want  to  express  my  frustrations,  to  whom  and  in  what  way.

8 out  of  it  or  just  ignore  his/her  feelings.  Instead,  you  may  want  to  listen,  validate  and  offer  kind  encouraging  words.  This  is  what  YOU  need.  That  is  what  YOU  can  offer  yourself.  Doing  so  will  sooth,  encourage  and  revive  you.     2. Find healthy expressions for your feelings – Acknowledging  and  noticing  your  feelings  is  very  important  and  sometimes  is  all  that  is  needed  to  de-­‐stress.  At  other  times,  we  may  feel  a  strong  urge  to  express  and  share  our  feelings.  This  is  wonderful  and  there  are  many  ways  to  do  so.  Writing  once  a  day,  either  to  yourself  or  as  a  letter  to  a  special  someone  (whether  you  chose  to  send  it  or  not)  in  a  way  that  allows  for  direct  expression  of  your  feelings  is  particularly  helpful.  Finding  friends  who  are  willing  to  listen  to  your  true  experience  is  another.  Despite  what  you  might  believe,  sharing  authentic  feelings  with  friends  may  revive  and  rejuvenate  them,  not  deplete  and  burden  them.  Finding  a  support  group  or  a  therapist/counselor  for  this  period  of  stress  may  also  be  particularly  helpful.  Also,  if  you  are  finding  that  you  have  a  lot  of  frustration  and  anger  towards  a  previous  boss  or  a  specific  employer  or  the  system  as  a  whole,  writing  an  imaginary  letter  or  speaking  and  imaginary  dialogue  with  them,  where  you  allow  yourself  to  express  and  process  how  you  actually  feel  without  being  harmful  to  anyone  may  also  be  helpful  and  de-­‐stressing.     3. Notice what’s particularly charged for you and reclaim a sense of empowerment - sometimes,  when  something  is  particularly  emotionally  charged  for  us  it  may  mean  that  the  current  circumstances  have  triggered  an  area  of  vulnerability.  Perhaps  a  feeling  of  rejection  is  becoming  overwhelming;  perhaps  a  feeling  of  powerlessness  and  loss  of  control  is  particularly  difficult  based  on  past  experiences.  A  good  way  to  reduce  some  of  the  emotional  charge  and  de-­‐stress  is  to  ask  yourself  “when  in  the  past  may  I  have  felt  this  way  before”.  Then  ask  yourself  “what  may  have  been  helpful  for  me  back  then”.  See  if  you  can  offer  yourself  the  same  kind  of  help  now.  See  if  there  is  a  way  that  you  can  remind  yourself  of  your  resources  and  strength  as  a  way  of  healing  and  feeling  more  empowered.    

1. Identify how you would like to be during this difficult time – often  times  people  feel  that  these  difficult  circumstance  are  particularly  hard  on  their  sense  of  identity.  It’s  like  the  circumstance  don’t  fit  with  how  you  might  perceive  yourself  and  what  you  imagine  your  life  should  be  like.  The  good  news  is  that  no  matter  how  difficult  the  circumstances  might  be,  there  is  no  outside  power  that  can  truly  effect  what  you  want  your  life  to  be  about.  It  is  exclusively  up  to  you.  It’s  true  that  it  may  not  be  exclusively  up  to  you  whether  you  make  a  lot  of  money  or  not,  or  

Behavior: Generally,  we  want  to  act  in  ways  that  are  supportive  of  our  wellbeing  and  our  sense  of  values,  intentions,  

purpose  and  vitality.

9 whether  you  can  support  yourself  through  your  hobbies.  But  it  is  true  that  you  can  chose  to  make  your  life  about  kindness,  perseverance,  transparency,  responsibility,  creativity,  playfulness,  or  whatever  it  is  that  you  identify  as  values  that  really  matter  to  you.  When  you  identify  those  values  you  can  ask  yourself,  “am  I  living  my  life  now,  in  the  midst  of  these  difficult  times,  by  my  values?”  “Am  I  kind  to  myself?”  “Am  I  assuming  my  responsibilities?”  “Am  I  honest  and  transparent  with  myself  and  in  my  communication  with  others?”  “Am  I  going  about  this  process  in  a  creative  or  playful  way?”  If  you  are  remembering  to  live  by  your  values  even  in  the  midst  of  difficult  times,  you  will  reclaim  a  basic  sense  of  integrity  and  vitality  that  significantly  reduces  stress.  A  good  way  to  identify  your  values  is  to  reconnect  with  times  in  your  life  when  you  admired  yourself  and  your  attitudes  the  most.  Ask  yourself  what  guided  you  back  then  and  let  those  values  and  attitudes  guide  you  again.      2. Identify ways that allow you to sense your contribution and worth regardless of monetary rewards – In  Western  culture  it  is  often  hard  to  feel  meaningful  to  others  and  to  society  at  large  unless  a  monetary  value  is  attached  to  our  actions.  The  truth  however,  is  that  often  the  types  of  things  that  truly  matter  are  priceless.  This  is  a  good  time  to  practice  priceless  acts.  You  may  do  so  by  tapping  into  your  creativity,  your  talents,  your  kindness  and  intelligence  in  ways  that  contribute  to  yourself  and  others.  It  is  particularly  important  to  do  so  during  times  of  unemployment  as  a  way  of  reviving  your  sense  of  meaning,  and  reconnecting  with  others.     3. Connect connect connect – Feeling  socially  supported  during  times  of  stress  is  perhaps  the  most  important  contributor  to  our  well  being.  It  is  important  to  remember  all  the  people  in  our  life  with  whom  we  wish  to  be  in  touch  and  for  whom  we  care.  It  is  then  important  to  reach  out  to  them.  You  may  find  that  different  friends  offer  a  different  type  of  support  for  you.  Some  might  offer  emotional  support,  some  may  be  particularly  cheerful  and  playful,  others  may  offer  companionship  for  physical  activity,  and  others  yet  may  be  particularly  good  to  brainstorm  with  to  generate  new  creative  solutions  to  certain  problems.  The  truth  is  that  people  love  to  feel  helpful  and  relied  upon.  It  gives  most  of  us  a  sense  of  meaning  and  purpose,  and  by  keeping  yourself  away  from  friends  and  family  you  may  be  depriving  yourself  and  them  of  an  important  sense  of  meaning.  If  you  tend  to  isolate  during  this  time,  please,  reconsider.     4. Bring your senses to life: A  time  of  stress  can  feel  particularly  deadening  and  dull.  You  may  feel  stuck  in  a  land  of  worries,  physical  clenching  and  boredom.  Particularly  good  ways  to  reconnect  with  life  and  vitality  are  through  the  senses.  Taking  a  warm  bath  with  scented  candles  can  easily  reignite  your  senses  and  thus  help  your  de-­‐stress.  Getting  an  affordable  or  a  free  massage  may  be  another  important  way  to  activate  the  sense  and  relax  the  muscles.  There  may  be  massage  schools  in  your  neighborhood  where  interns  offer  free  or  significantly  discounted  services.  Swimming  and  dancing  are  other  important  activities  that  may  reignite  the  senses  and  allow  you  to  feel  more  receptive  and  connected  with  life.  Hugging  your  friends  and  family  more  frequently  is  another  sensory  re-­‐starter,  and  often,  a  total  de-­‐stressor  to  all  involved.                      

10

D. Will I recognize the warning signs of poor stress management?

 Mistakenly,  some  people  feel  that  they  do  not  have  time  to  pay  attention  to  their  stress  because  they  are  too  busy  looking  for  work.    Self  care  is  relegated  to  a  low  priority  because  the  main  and  most  urgent  focus  is  on  finding  work.    There  are  countless  important  things  to  take  care  of,  the  first  of  which  is  finding  a  new  job  as  quickly  as  possible.    That  said,  chronic  stress  is  very  difficult,  if  not  impossible  to  ignore  without  adverse  consequences.      Stress  left  unmanaged  or  poorly  managed  can  result  in  the  decline  of  health  and  efficiency  and/or  manifest  as  an  increase  in  unhealthy  stress  induced  behaviors.        Decline of health: • High  blood  pressure • Fatigue • Anxiety • Insomnia • Body  pain  and  weakness • Digestive  problems Increase in unhealthy stress induced behaviors: • Over  or  under  eating    • Sleeping  too  much  • Angry  outburst,    irritability,  lashing  out  and/or  physical  abuse  • Drinking  too  much  and  too  often  • Increased  drug  use  • Increased  or  compulsive  gambling  • Thoughts  of  self  harm  or  doing  harm  to  others  • Self  injurious    behaviors  • Reckless  driving  • Reckless  spending  • Neglecting  responsibilities    To  gain  a  better  understanding  of  your  stress  response  and/or  learn  how  to  better  care  for  your  self  while  looking  for  work,  check  out  our  Schedule  and  Locations  of  Stress  Counseling  Services.    If  you  would  like  to  talk  with  someone  about  whatever  is  on  your  mind  you  can  call  and  talk  with  a  supportive  stress  counselor  right  now  or  at  any  time  of  the  day  or  night.    NUMMI  and  Suppliers  call  Toll  Free  1-­888-­866-­7561    All  others  call  Toll  Free  1-­800-­309-­2131