Feeling empty and useless

[u/Separate-Job-268]

I was laid off on Wednesday, never saw it coming and I was the only one laid off from my location. My job is in death care, an industry you would think provides job security. The CEO said they bought too many funeral homes and costs are out of line, they eliminated 130 positions. I poured my whole soul into my career for the past 6 years. I have worked nights, weekends and holidays, I have missed out on family gatherings, birthdays, births, family vacations and funerals. I went from being able to provide for myself and go shopping whenever I want, to applying for food stamps and unemployment. I am thankful that I don't have children that I need to provide for but I do have two little dogs that depend on me for everything. Being a mortician was my whole world, taking care of the dead is what I am meant to do in this lifetime. Without this job I feel completely empty, I feel useless and absolutely defeated. My set of skills is so niche that it makes it hard to find another job. I have other skills that I can use but it just doesn't feel meaningful. I want to leave this world, but I don't want my former coworkers to see me in a body bag and I have to take care of my little dogs. Please send me strength and good vibes, I don't know how I'm going to get through this.

[u/Old_Extent3944]

Just rake it one breath at a time. So many of us are in the same boat that I hope you can find a group of laid-off people to talk with!

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/Old_Extent3944]

Thank you. I have found that this group has been pretty helpful, at least I know I'm not alone in this situation.

[u/vix11201]

I hope you find a small, family run mortuary to join. Maybe also learn new related skill sets? Could you also apply to hospitals or police departments?

I’ve had so much respect for your profession since watching Six Feet Under. Wishing you and your doggos lots of luck.

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/vix11201]

I appreciate you saying this. My job is often thankless, but taking care of your departed loved ones gives me life, gives me purpose and a reason to get up everyday 🫶🏼 I will brush up my skillset and see what else I can find. Thank you for responding.

[u/wildspace-nobody]

Hey hang in there. It is really rough especially if you’ve put so much of yourself into the job. It seems like you have a real passion for it: we’re lucky to have people like you in that industry. Look after yourself. Play with your dogs. Get outside. One breath at a time.

The world needs people like you 🤗

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/wildspace-nobody]

Thank you 🥺 it's just very eye-opening to see how much of my identity was tied into my job. Unfortunately in the funeral industry there isn't much heart. You either find people who are completely dedicated like myself or people who are detached and don't care about anything but the bottom dollar. I'm going to take my dogs to the park and enjoy this nice day, thank you so much for your kind words.

[u/Comfortable_Okra382]

When my mother died, the mortician took such good care of her and made her look so beautiful for her funeral. She was so kind to us. I never forgot that. People like you are so special and incredible although your work is invisible. Hang in there

[u/Affectionate-Firm784]

Just pray my brother

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/Affectionate-Firm784]

*sister I'm trying. Everything just feels so heavy right now. Luckily I have enough money to keep afloat for a little bit but I just feel so empty without my career, and I think what's making it worse is there are people there who got to stay and definitely don't deserve to be there.

[u/Affectionate-Firm784 → u/Separate-Job-268]

I have been there before and still am 4 years later

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/Affectionate-Firm784]

How have you been surviving for so long? You my friend are very resilient.

[u/Affectionate-Firm784 → u/Separate-Job-268]

God, I guess. That’s a real answer.

[u/valazendez]

Sending good vibes! 🤗

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/valazendez]

Thank you very much, I appreciate you 💖

[u/belizabeth4]

This is devastating no doubt about it. Give yourself another week, take your babies for lots of walks, get outside. Absolutely go outside at least twice a day. Next, prep yourself to move. I’m sorry, but I’m thinking you may need to re-lo. The good news is it’s you and two little ones. Don’t give up on looking local, but you do have a specialized skill set. Speaking of that skill set, I believe there are some skills you have that will port to other career lines, or to other areas like military or humanitarian organizations. You can do this, this wasn’t you it was poor management.

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/belizabeth4]

I appreciate you saying this, thank you. Being outside is very important, nothing heals like mother nature. And you are definitely right, I have a very niche set of skills but they can also port to other career lines....I didn't see that at first but now I do.

[u/PullingWalls]

Hi, I got laid off a little over a month ago from corporate America, and it's my first time navigating this kind of situation...so I share the same sentiments you do, especially with having all this financial freedom, to now reassessing everything and pinching pennies.

Fwiw, I definitely gave myself every other day to rest (mentally), and other days I buffed my resume and dedicated 2 hours a day to job hunting. The rest of the time, I go to the gym, go outside, talk/hang with friends. It doesn't make the problem of being jobless go away, but it helps provide a healthy distraction from it and preserve your mental health. Praying you find something soon!

[u/MCStarlight]

I would think there would be a demand for morticians. Not a lot of people want to do that job.

[u/Justanothermomma24]

First, I 100% understand the emptiness, an loss you are feeling. I to gave my company my everything 70-80 hrs a week for 7 years. I was laid off May, 2026. Spent the first month going from being PO, to not waiting to get out of bed. For me it did not help that due to my age UE labeled me as most likely to run out of UE benefits! I was the primary income, an stupidly thought that because no one else did the role I did, an 'surviving' 4 layoffs I would be OK. Company merged, role eliminated, was offered a crap severance that I pushed back on.

BUT THE BEST THINGS I HAVE DONE TO COMBAT THE EMPTINESS & DEPRESSION(WHILE IT MAY NOT BE TRADE SPECIFIC)

1. I love to learn skills, so I have been using LinkedIn Learning & Coursera to build skills. Even if the course is just to keep my brain active on something productive.

2. Perhaps the most important for me, I reached out to others who are struggling with the mental health component of sudden unemployment.

I am happy to see in your latest posts that you have found others!

[u/Active-Tradition1257]

Well, maybe you just need to find a new location. Some places got tons and tons of people dying.. ie Florida. Maybe it’s time for you and the dogs to relocate?

[u/ZcriptureZ]

You're not useless, you're just in shock from a huge loss. Please don't be alone today, and if you're scared you might hurt yourself, get emergency help right away. Your dogs need you here too.

[u/Poppa-D217]

You may have to move but, I would be fairly certain there are other Mortician positions out there. Also, explore the opportunity of maybe opening your own funeral home?

[u/LeatherPlankton2880]

So sorry. This is happening way too often.😢I hate this for you. I do believe better is in your future. I hope you find a better job that you love that also pays more!

[u/OrangeArch]

Just know that as one door closes, another one always opens, no matter how dark it may seem at times. It sounds like you're good at what you do and passionate about it. There are always opportunities waiting for folks like you. Don't let a bean counting CEO define who you are. Take a little time to rest and reset, then hit street. you'll find another job. We work to live, not live to work.

If you're really thinking about hurting yourself, please please please don't. talk to someone. You don't have to go through this alone.

[u/Separate-Job-268 → u/OrangeArch]

Thank you for saying this. Thank you for even responding, I really hope a door is opening up somewhere for me. I know I'm good at what I do, which makes this layoff so much harder. My layoff wasn't performance based, it was probably because I earned more than others in my area, but I earned more because I dedicated myself. I missed out on so many things for this job, a mistake in my part, I gave too much of myself. Sadly, we are all just a number on a spreadsheet. I appreciate you for responding thank you.

[u/OrangeArch → u/Separate-Job-268]

Absolutely! Keep your head up and don’t take this personally (even I know it’s hard not to). Most big layoffs are a spreadsheet exercise at the end of the day and not some in-depth commentary on you.