Is life looking grim at the moment? Reframing is a technique counsellors encourage. It's like looking at your situation as if you were a skeptical friend. It may help you find a place between catastrophizing and denial.
How you can use reframing
Ask yourself for the evidence that the worst may happen. Is there another way of interpreting the evidence? How might the situation change if you were to take action?
If there's a possibility that you may lose your job, could it be an opportunity to develop your skills, follow your passion, or start a business using the redundancy package?
Reframing and action
You may be able to find out how likely it is that you really will lose your job. Do that first.
If it's unlikely, reframe by telling yourself how flimsy the evidence is.
If it is a real possibilty, reframe, then add a plan such as updating your CV, networking and contacting the employment agencies. For as long as your current job lasts, collect examples of brief stories you can tell recruiters in your next job interview. (They'll say: 'Tell us about a time when you....'.)
Now you can tell yourself, 'If it happens I'll be ready'.
Avoid catastrophising
Resist the temptation to allow your mind to send you into a downward spiral of catastrophising such as:'Other firms will be shedding jobs too, so I won't get another. We won't be able to pay the mortgage and the bank will force us to sell the house, then we'll lose all our savings…'
Reframing takes effort. Developing a plan and putting it into action takes determination. It beats the downward spiral.