Emerge Stronger After a Layoff: 3 Mental Health Warrior Steps I Shared with Gibbs from NCIS
Bruce Schutter- Apr 25
- 4 min read
It started with a head slap. Mine!
"Focus up, Bruce," Gibbs muttered as he sat down across from me at our favorite diner, his ever-present black coffee in hand. But today, something was off. No steely-eyed intensity. No manila folder full of suspects. Just a tired man with too much on his mind.
I raised an eyebrow. "You okay, Gibbs? You’re looking a little... civilian."
He exhaled slowly. "Government layoffs. Budget cuts. Restructuring. Pick your poison. The team's gone, Bruce. And now I’m out too."
I blinked. Gibbs. Laid off! The man who took down international arms dealers before breakfast now benched by budget spreadsheets? It didn’t seem right. But I knew that look in his eyes. I’ve seen it in the mirror.
A Warrior Connection
Gibbs knows my story. Twenty years of battling Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD—my own version of high-stakes chaos. It left me feeling powerless, broken, like the world had benched me too.
I hit rock bottom. I even tried to end my life. But then came a second chance. And I realized something powerful: Mental Health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
That knowledge led me to create the Mental Health Warrior Program—a new SELF-HELP approach that teaches people how to take charge of their emotions, triumph over obstacles, and build the life they truly want.
Gibbs and I had bonded over our battles. Different fields, same grit. But today, he didn’t come to me with a case file—he came with a mission: to rise from the layoff stronger than ever.
I was ready. I’d been there myself. So, I shared with him three powerful steps I used when I was laid off—steps that helped me regain control, rebuild my mindset, and come back even stronger. Now, it was his turn.
Step 1: You Didn’t Fail
"First thing’s first, Gibbs," I said. "This isn’t your fault." He looked skeptical. "Feels like failure."
I shook my head. "Nope. The majority of layoffs today are about finance, not failure—budget cuts, restructuring, shifts in strategy. It’s happening everywhere, and it’s not about performance. You’re not broken."
I could see the gears turning. When I lost my IT job, I spiraled into shame. But once I realized the layoff wasn’t a reflection of my worth, I could start rebuilding. That mindset shift? It was the foundation of everything that followed.
Gibbs’s Takeaway:
"So," he said, sitting up straighter, "if I stop blaming myself, I can start planning. Instead of obsessing over what went wrong, I can focus on what comes next."
Then came the classic Gibbs smirk. Now that is some forward progress.
Step 2: Your Skills Come with You
"Step two," I said, "everything you’ve learned still belongs to you." Gibbs looked down at his hands. "Interrogation skills aren’t exactly in demand at Starbucks."
I raised an eyebrow. "But leadership? Crisis management? Communication? Problem-solving?"
He paused, then nodded slowly. "You’re right. Those do travel with me. I’m glad you reminded me of that."
I smiled. “When I lost my IT job, I reviewed every skill I had—and then added in the emotional strength I’d gained from managing my mental health. That combo? It made me more than just qualified. It made me resilient. And resilience is a skill employers love.”
Gibbs’s Takeaway:
"So when I walk into that interview," he said, "I’m not just some ex-agent with a Navy haircut. I’m a warrior with decades of high-stakes leadership—and the mental resilience to back it up."
"Exactly," I said. "Your job got laid off—not your value."
Step 3: Embrace the Unknown
"Step three," I said, leaning in, "is Warrior territory. We thrive in the unknown." Gibbs raised an eyebrow. "We do?"
"Yeah," I nodded. "Because Mental Health Warriors take emotions seriously. We don’t fear them—we ally with them. And that gives us the power to face uncertainty with strength, not panic."
I didn’t choose to be laid off. But once I reframed it as an opportunity, not a punishment, doors opened I never knew existed. I became an author. A speaker. A guide for others walking the same road.
Gibbs’s Takeaway:
He gave one of those small, knowing smiles. "So maybe this is a chance to build something new. I’ve always thought about teaching. Or consulting. Doing something meaningful—but this time, on my terms."
"That’s the spirit," I said. "Warriors don’t retreat. We reroute!"
Bonus Section: Gibbs’s Warrior Advice
I could see the wheels spinning, so I handed Gibbs my Mental Health Warrior Journal. "Want to write something for others going through this?"
He nodded, scribbled for a minute, then passed it back:
Gibbs 3 Warrior Rules for Laid-Off Legends:
Trust your gut, but check your facts. Your worth didn’t vanish—it’s just looking for a new outlet.
Don’t isolate. Talk to people who’ve been through it. Warriors move in packs.
Make a plan. Then make a backup plan. Then go fishing. (That last part is optional, but highly recommended.)
Wrap-Up: From Laid Off to Leveled Up
As we finished our coffee, I saw something different in Gibbs’s eyes. Not bitterness. Not fear. Just resolve.
"Thanks, Bruce," he said, standing tall again. "Feels good to be reminded. I may be out of a job—but I’m not out of the fight."
And that’s what it’s all about. As Mental Health Warriors, we rise from the wreckage. We adapt. We build. We become stronger because of the storm, not in spite of it.
So, if you’re out there, reeling from a layoff, take it from me and Special Agent Gibbs: You are not broken. Your skills are still powerful. And the unknown? That’s just your next mission. Start your Mental Health Warrior journey today—and remember: Gibbs and I have your back!
Bruce Schutter
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