Your Spouse Lost a Job – How to Cope, Part 4

In this final installment to cope when a spouse loses a job, sometimes the simplest remedies are the best medicine.

1. Reconnect with Your Husband

Bring out an old photo album, or take new pictures
Leave love notes next to the coffee, or in the mirror so he can see it in the steam
Be intimate – both of you will feel a renewed sense of yourselves and each other
Watch funny movies or the comedy channel – laughter is its own medicine

2. Maintain Perspective

Above all, remind yourself that this is temporary
Don’t get caught up in negativity (deep breathe!)
Keep your eyes open for opportunity, trust your intuition, and act on ideas and information

Recall this story started with Pamela and her husband, Peter. In the end, I reminded Pamela that Peter will work through stages of emotions naturally,[i] and life will start to feel better. Her family, and others affected by this unemployment crisis will weather this storm and come out the other side. We all will.

Leigh Harris is writing Metaphysical Mom: Five Minutes to Calm. She is also a mother, facilitator, life and career coach, and practices creative family budgeting. She can be reached at [email protected]

[i] See Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s On Death and Dying for a better understanding of these stages