I was unemployed for a year and felt like 'the broke friend.' Here's how I found the confidence I needed to keep chugging on.

"My foundation was shaken after two layoffs in two years. In early 2023, I was laid off from my editorial role at a startup. Later that year, I landed a new job in digital marketing, only to be laid off again after six months. It sent me into what felt like a quarter-life crisis, and I lost my sense of purpose and direction."

"Leaning on the people close to me was helpful My partner and my close friends are some of the biggest emotional support systems in my life. Since my partner and I live together, we talk every day about what's going on in our lives. I opened up to him on multiple occasions about how I felt like I had hit a dead end and there was no future for my career."

A 29-year-old digital marketing AI teaching assistant experienced two layoffs within two years, resulting in a year of long-term unemployment and a loss of direction. Financial expenses were covered by a cohabiting partner, but intense self-doubt, anxiety, and depressive symptoms made daily functioning difficult. Daily conversations with the partner, phone contact with distant friends, regular gym attendance, and text-only therapy provided emotional support and cognitive reframing. Participation in a women's network offered encouragement and helped rebuild confidence. After approximately one year of unemployment, a pivot into a digital marketing teaching role restored stability, purpose, and professional fulfillment.

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