The Power a Strong Support System

Humans are inherently social beings and social interactions play a crucial role in shaping their lives. We spend a huge amount of our lives in the presence of others, especially our family and friends. They influence our lives in different ways. Our first interactions are with our parents and they play a vital part in shaping our way of life, influencing our thoughts, beliefs and values. As we grow older, we tend to move away from our family and gravitate towards our friends. All these connections that hold the power to influence our thoughts, emotions, and mental well-being. In this blog, we explore the profound benefits of these connections and what one can do to provide a supportive environment for another. Benefits of having a strong support system: Social support and connection: Friends and family act as a strong support system which also becomes a very strong point of connection for us. The relationship provides a space for us to talk about our joy, fears and struggles. It gives us a sense of belongingness and safety. Emotion regulation: When feeling distressed and overwhelmed with our emotions, confiding in our friends and family helps to ease the worry and lighten the burden. They empathize, validate and provide a non-judgmental space where we can express our authentic selves. Reduce stress: The mere act of venting to our loved one acts as a stress reliever. Being around loved ones can promote relaxation, laughter, and positive experiences that counteract the effects of stress hormones in the body. Strong coping mechanism: Unburdening our difficulties with our friends and family helps us feel lighter. They act as a sounding board for us and help us gain perspective and understanding. They instill hope in use and motivate us to keep moving forward. A purpose: Having friends and family who care about our well-being, can give us a sense of belongingness and responsibility. Very often individual attempting suicide state that friends and family were their reason to hold back from proceeding. They create a positive environment and urge us to make healthy choices in our lives. Resilience: In the face of challenges, knowing that we have friends and family to rely on gives us strength to pursue them with courage. Skill development: Our friends and family are a diverse group of people, individuals with varied beliefs and values, yet we are able to establish a point of connection with them. Being able to do it comes from practice and experience and our friends and family help us develop important life skills that enhance our quality of life.

So how can we as friends and family support each other’s mental well-being?

• By providing a listening ear: Actively listening to them, asking for clarification and deeper understanding of their concern makes one feel heard and valued.

• Exercise patience and understanding: Allowing them to open up at their own pace, holding space for them, being patient and empathetic is important. When individuals aren’t feeling rushed but know that they can take their time, it makes them dive deeper and express better.

• Being available and showing concern: The simple act of being present can work wonders for an individual, your mere presence can make one feel supported. Therefore, it is important to make time, engage in activities or even enjoy doing nothing together. This reduces loneliness and increases bonding.

• Asking what they want from you before jumping to conclusions: Inquire about their needs before assuming what they want and acting on it. Very often, we get caught up in our need to resolve their problems, offering possible solutions or advising them, when they don’t really need it. At times, all they want is just a listening ear and validation.

• Giving them space when they need it: Sometimes individuals may feel extremely overwhelmed and need some time by themselves to regulate and ground. Therefore, giving them space to catch a breath is necessary.

• Avoiding judgment: Sharing can be extremely anxiety provoking and difficult, having a non-judgemental attitude makes one feel safe and instill trust.

Spending time doing activities together, going on trips, running errands or sitting in silence with your loved ones are some ways to build a connection which in turn helps to enhance mood and mental well-being. Therefore, the connections we foster, conversations we make envelope us in warmth, resilience and joy. We must never underestimate the power of a strong support system and work towards cultivating one for ourselves and those around us.

Disclaimer: This blog post is meant for awareness/entertainment purposes only. It is not medical advice and one must refrain from self-diagnosing. It is in no way a substitute for therapy with a mental health professional and it is not meant to be clinical. To consult with a psychotherapist on our team, you can contact us on fettle.counselling@gmail.com.