How Do I Cope With A Husband's Job Loss?

If your husband loses his job, your entire family will have to handle the financial and emotional ramifications. To cope, you'll not only have to work with your husband to adapt to a new budget, but you'll also have to brace yourself for tenser relations between you, your husband and your family. Although there are ways to help yourself and your husband cope, the American Psychological Association reports that those who seek outside social support will face a lesser impact.

Considerations

Quick action after a job loss can mitigate the impact on your family's finances. The University of California Davis Health System suggests writing out the family budget and trimming out all unnecessary expenses. Lisa Scherzer of SmartMoney recommends immediately addressing unemployment benefits and health coverage options. Unemployment benefits usually have a few weeks lag after applying, so encouraging your husband to apply immediately will prevent a long break in income. In addition, expensive extensions of health care benefits, such as COBRA, are not the best option for every family. If you're young, childless and in reasonably good health, private insurance with a low premium and a high deductible might be the best option.

Effects

Financial pressure related to job loss can lead to a number of emotional effects, including depression, anxiety, irritability and anger, according to the APA. You might find yourself withdrawing from or snapping more often at your husband and children. In addition, your husband might become more self-critical, irritable or despondent as part of a blow to his self-esteem from losing his job, according to U.S. News & World Report's website. This might cause him seemingly to be angry at you more often.

Expert Insight

University of Denver psychology professor Howard Markman told U.S. News & World Report that tapping into love and compassion can help ease the marital discord that can spring from a husband's job loss. He recommends making it a point of doing things with your husband, even if it's just sitting on the couch and watching television together, and maintaining physical intimacy. To avoid fostering animosity, you and your husband can view a job loss as you would any other blameless family tragedy, such as a death or natural disaster.

Resources

Turning to outside help can help you and your husband get through the job loss. While your instinct might be to keep it a private matter, telling friends and family about the job loss will open you up not only to a network of emotional support but also more sources for job leads, according to UC Davis Health System. Local churches and charities can be sources of free counseling to help with the emotional trauma as well as assistance with basic needs such as food and clothing. The APA also recommends seeking help from social programs, such as the JOBS program, which can offer you or your husband training for seeking new jobs.

Warning

Depression, which could affect either you or you husband after his job loss, might get worse if left untreated and can lead to other physical or mental health problems, according to MayoClinic.com. Common symptoms of depression include fatigue, frequent crying spells, a change in appetite, sleeping either too much or too little and a lower sex drive. A medical professional can help you or your husband get back on track with counseling or medication.