Keep Your Head When You Get the Ax

For many workers, the threat of a sudden, permanent job layoff looms as one of life's major uncertainties.

Besides the financial hit, laid-off workers can expect difficult personal and family adjustments. But getting the ax doesn't need to be personally devastating.

"The most important thing is to really think about the fact that you are not your job," says Rupinder Kaur, M.D., a practicing psychiatrist. "Your identity as a human being should not depend on what you do for a living. You can prepare yourself for a possible layoff by remembering this fact -- and by making a game plan for what you'll do in the event of such a layoff."

Here are five things workers can do to help ward off anxiety and anger caused by being laid off or worrying about it:

• Negative feelings of anger, bitterness and resentment about being laid off will only get in the way of your impending job search. If you feel like you're being overwhelmed by such feelings or you can't function properly because of them, seek professional counseling right away.

• If you're still working, but worried about a layoff, write down a game plan describing the steps you'll take should the unthinkable take place. "It's a positive, constructive way of offsetting the feeling of powerlessness in this situation," says Dr. Kaur.

• Be creative about your next job. "There are lots of people out there who lost their jobs, and then decided to try something they liked more," says Dr. Kaur. "For them, the layoff turned out to be a blessing!"

• If you're an older, loyal employee of many years, recognize the need to go through a period of anger and mourning over what feels like a betrayal. Typically, these negative feelings last for about a month. In such a situation, you may benefit from counseling for a few sessions to let out your anger and grief.

• If your family is already struggling with problems and conflicts, recognize that a layoff may tip the balance and pull you apart. Seek professional intervention immediately, so that the layoff doesn't add to the conflict within the family.