#support-groups

#support-groups

In May 2023, I got called into a meeting with a HR representative who told me I was losing my data scientist job at the company where I'd worked since February 2022. I couldn't stop myself from crying. I was five months pregnant, so felt I couldn't immediately get back into the job market. When I started looking for jobs again a month after giving birth, joining a job-seekers' group helped me feel supported.

The pain is still there, but Ilona Luth and Patricia Gerstendorfer can laugh once again. Sitting together on two wooden chairs, they smile at each other. Their friendship is marked by a shared traumatic experience: Both lost loved ones to suicide. "I asked Patricia all the questions I didn't dare ask myself at the time," says Ilona. "Do I need therapy now? Can I continue working? Can I manage without medication? Patricia encouraged me to do what felt right."

Bill Wilson coined the term emotional sobriety, which can be defined as inner peace. After many years without drinking, he faced depression that nearly led to relapse.

Shayna Moon, a technical producer who lost her job at Meta, highlighted the challenges of being laid off, stating, "There's all this administrative stuff you have to do when you're laid off from a job." She noted how nice it is to share experiences with people in a similar situation, finding solace in a dedicated group of peers.

"It's just people that actually understand and that have been through it and can actually give you advice, because that's really hard to come by when you're in such a rare situation."

Dealing with an angry, manipulative addict can be soul-crushing. Joining that community will give you insight and perspective.