When the job went, your identity went with it.
Getting fired or laid off doesn't just hit your bank account — it hits how you answer "what do you do?" This is where you separate "what happened" from "what it means about me."
What this feels like
"I don't know who I am without the job."
"I keep refreshing LinkedIn even though it's making me feel worse."
"I can't tell my family yet."
"The story I'm telling myself is that I deserved it."
"I don't know what I actually want to do next."
What helps (and what doesn't)
The practical pressure is real — but underneath it, there's usually a story: "I'm not good enough," "I should have seen it coming," "this is who I am now." That story needs to be written out before it hardens into a belief.
The unsent email — the one to your old team or your manager — is one of the most effective ways to process the anger and embarrassment without burning bridges. Write it. Don't send it.
The identity question ("who am I without this job") is often the hardest part. It's also the one worth spending the most time with. Rescript holds the space for that question without rushing you toward an answer.