When you're dealing with everyday problems, stress, or health issues, it's important to have people in your life who can give you support. You may need a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to. It's also important to have social support when you're dealing with major life events or managing a serious health condition.
There are a lot of ways you can find social support. You can get support from family and friends, from groups led by professionals, and from groups of others who have similar problems.
If you're feeling alone, having a support network can help. Your network can help you learn new ways to deal with your problems and stay motivated to overcome them.
Social support includes emotional support such as love, trust, and understanding, as well as advice and concrete help, such as help managing your time. Your family, friends, and community all can do this. They can make you feel cared about and feel good about yourself, and can give you hope.
You may get your social support from many people. You may play sports with one group of people, go to movies with another, and turn to family or friends to talk over problems.
You can look for support from:
Ask yourself where you get your social support. You may be able to forge a closer relationship with family members or friends. Maybe you know someone who you'd like to know better. You can join a club, or find a group of people with the same interests you have.
Improving your social support can help you deal with problems such as health issues. Here are some ways you can make your social support stronger.
You count on your social network for support, but its members also count on you. Ask them about their families, jobs, and interests, and help them when you can.
You don't have to see or call your friends every day. If you're going through a rough patch, ask friends if it's okay to contact them outside of the usual boundaries.
Know when it's time to stop talking and listen or to just enjoy your friend's company.
Ask questions to be sure you know what people want. If you ask for something, be sure you make yourself understood. Listen to what your friends have to say, and don't judge them.
If your buddy keeps you drinking when you shouldn't be, you may want to end the friendship. A social network lifts you up. It shouldn't drag you down.
Self-help and support groups can be very helpful for some people. These groups usually consist of people with similar problems who meet to give support, practical advice, and encouragement to the people who participate in the group.
Self-help and support groups are different from counseling sessions. These groups may last for only a few sessions or they may be ongoing.
Self-help and support groups:
Joining a self-help or support group does not take the place of counseling. Some people who attend these groups also need to participate in regular counseling sessions with a health professional.
Look for a support group that works for you. Ask yourself if you prefer structure and would like a group leader, or if you would like a less formal group. Do you prefer face-to-face meetings? Or do you feel more secure in online chat rooms or forums?
Current as of: February 9, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Christine R. Maldonado PhD - Behavioral Health & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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