The dismissal came out of the blue for the long-standing sales assistant. She experienced a rollercoaster of emotions: shock, paralyzing despair and finally hope.

"It was a bombshell. I stood in front of my new boss and didn't know what to say. I had expected all sorts of things, most likely praise, but not a dismissal. I was out. Because I'm too old. Although he only told me that through the grapevine. I had worked in the boutique in Ingolstadt for ten years. My sales figures were always the best of all, the customers appreciated my advice. Then the owner sold the store to a clothing chain, we employees were allowed to stay but had to sign a new contract with a probationary period. The first meeting with the boss was very nice. I had a good feeling. But just four weeks later, it was all over. And goodbye!

In the evening, my partner tried to comfort me. After all, I was good and would certainly find something soon. "That would be a laugh," said Heiko. The next day I went to the job center. I was sure they would help me and have a new job for me. After all, I was a proven specialist. I had to give the most important information at the reception desk. Behind me - at a ridiculously discreet distance of one meter - the queue grew longer and longer.

Everyone was watching and listening to me. That made me uncomfortable. Finally, I had cleared the first hurdle. Now I had to wait for my first appointment with my advisor in a few weeks. My job search odyssey had begun. At least I had my normal daily routine. I got up in the morning, woke my child, sent him to school, my partner had long since left for work. And then? Nothing. A strange feeling. I searched the internet for job vacancies and sent out applications. But they all came back. From the 30th, I stopped counting and only continued sporadically. It seemed so pointless. Instead, I distracted myself with all sorts of things. I watched TV, leafed through magazines - and felt useless. Once, when I went shopping, I met a friend who asked how I was doing. 'Great,' I said. 'I've taken some time off work. I couldn't believe I'd said that myself.

I hung on for five months. Then my placement officer finally had some good news: I was allowed to take a PC and bookkeeping course as further training and get fit for an office job. It's like waking up from a nightmare. I can get going again and have a goal. It would be a laugh if I didn't manage that."

What the expert says: Prof. Dr. Maike Luhmann heads the Psychological Methodology Unit at Ruhr University Bochum

Overnight without a job: what does it mean for those affected?
"Sudden unemployment affects almost all areas of life: Those affected have less money, professional recognition and social contacts are lost, everyday life is unstructured without a job. Men suffer more from these changes than women. Research shows: The longer unemployment lasts, the more life satisfaction decreases."

How do you keep your spirits up when you are out of work for a long time?
"It is important that those affected look for a meaningful task again, for example by volunteering. This allows them to establish new social relationships and regain appreciation and the feeling of being needed."

How can the partner and friends help?
"First of all in a very practical way, when looking for a job. But also emotionally, by taking good care of them. If the unemployed person is constantly depressed, psychological help is advisable."