How can I navigate the stress of unemployment and undertaking a new job search when I feel depressed?

Depression takes a toll on our emotions of feeling worthwhile and of our energy level. So it's hard to tell ourselves that we can get another job while making ourselves move to get up to find a new job. In my experience with depression, it's taking things a step at a time. With today's day and age of the internet, checking on monster.com or kellyservices.com to see if there is anything in your area, or even when you could move to. Take one step at a time. Brush up your resume, so that when you do have the opportunity to apply, you can submit it at the same time. Many agencies have online applications even, so it's possible to be able to do most of your hunting from the comfort of home. Because of the depression, try to set a goal where you can apply to X number of potential employers per day. If you are doing okay and want to apply for more, go for it! For those you need to get out and apply for, push yourself to get in the shower and dress up like you want a job, even when you don't feel like it. Avoid the comfy clothes like jeans and sweats unless applying for a position where that would be the standard work attire. Here's to your success and taking steps one at a time to find your new job.

This one is right in my wheelhouse, having been unemployed several times and for the past 8 years been actively working as a certified career coach. Each time I was unemployed, I sought out the FREE resources in my community that offered help in the areas of: one-on-one job counseling and resume prep, classes in job search, classes to upskill, interviewing skills and the like. Just taking baby steps like that, and even baby steps are forward motion, got me moving in the right direction. And as in therapy, I was surrounded by people who were experiencing the same challenges as I was. And we could exchange contact information and support each other outside of class. Also, the Workforce New York offices, and there are places like this all over the world, offered, in the pre-pandemic era, a place to get dressed and go to as if we were still going to a job. A daily destination to make me get up, get ready and out the door. Of course, now, during lockdown, it is harder to accomplish this, and I always suggest to my clients that they change out of their sleep attire, and even if it's just getting into fresh pajamas, seriously, even if just that, it makes you feel different. If you can manage to put on some clothes, and if they are work clothes, great, if not, it's still great, you will shift your mood. It worked for me. And, on some days, all I could manage was to put the coffee on and check my newsfeed and emails, and get back into bed. And that was okay too. Because even that represented progress.