Mental Health Challenges That Limit Your Job Search and How To Overcome Them
Looking for a job can be difficult even under the best of conditions. If you have any mental health challenges that are getting in your way, you might start to feel like this is an impossible task. There are ways, however, to overcome these challenges. Let's look at a few types of challenges you might face and how to overcome them.
Anxiety
Anxiety is a very prevalent mental health challenge that affects many people. Anxiety can truly limit a job search because there are many job search tasks that require a great deal of confidence. You can start to overcome this challenge by pinpointing exactly which job search tasks are triggering you. Once you have pinpointed this, work with a partner to practice going through these tasks. Practicing ahead of time takes off the pressure and gives you a chance to work through the task without overwhelming anxiety.
Depression
Depression is a common mental health challenge for those who are in between jobs. Depression can be brought on through circumstances or it can be a result of chemical imbalances in the brain. If you are dealing with depression, it is a good idea to reach out for counseling or therapy. Most communities provide free counseling or therapy through different organizations. Eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly has also been proven to relieve some of the symptoms of depression.
ADD
ADD is another prevalent mental health challenge that might limit your job search. During a job search, it is necessary for you to do several tasks and sometimes within a short amount of time. This can feel overwhelming if you struggle with attention issues. One way you can overcome this is by organizing your tasks visually. Use a whiteboard or a bulletin board. Set up your tasks at night. Write down what you need to accomplish the next day in order to work toward your goals. Break big tasks down into smaller chunks. When you get up in the morning, simply follow the prompts on your board to get tasks done in an efficient way.