Social Connection and Support: Invest in it for Your Wellbeing!

Social network - vector illustration.

Benefits of Connection— even at 3:00 A.M.

There are so many benefits of social connection and support: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. Mental health can improve; people can live longer and healthier lives and may have a greater impact on their communities. Since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, loneliness has become its own epidemic, in a sense. A way to combat this, individually and socially, is to engage with others, within your community and other social outlets.

What does your social support network look like?

Do you have several people that you can count on no matter what? Those 3:00 A.M. people you know will answer the phone if you are in need? Quality over quantity is important— having a close-knit group of friends and family members has shown to improve overall well-being. Each support person or group can come with its own challenges (family members vs. friends vs. community networks) and can offer us different perspectives and levels of accountability, all benefiting to our mental health and wellbeing.

According to the Mayo Clinic and the Center for Disease Control, having a strong support group can:

Give you a sense of belonging and purpose
Lower your stress level (we all can benefit from that!)
Help reduce the risk of chronic disease and serious illnesses (heart disease, stroke, dementia)
Improve your self-esteem, and can lower symptoms of depression and anxiety
Give you an outlet when you are facing hardships, grief, loss, or struggling with your mental health
Help you promote a healthy lifestyle (Pickleball, anyone?)
Create new experiences and memories with others. When was the last time you went on an adventure with someone close to you? How did you feel during the experience and what did it bring up for you?

What about the other side of social support?

You being the one giving the support, after being on the receiving end. The benefits are similar and can be just as effective. It creates a positive feedback loop between you and the other person. That person learns they can rely on you in their time of need, just as they supported you when you were struggling. That social connection you have with that person (your family member, best friend, significant other) can strengthen, increasing trust within the relationship.

How can you build and strengthen your social support networks and increase connection within your existing relationships?

Here are a few tips to try:

Volunteer — this is a great way to connect with other like-minded people, while helping out a cause that you support
Find a social group that engages in a hobby you enjoy — Like photography? Cooking? Running? Dancing? Painting? Crafting? Playing board games? Try a MeetUp (https://www.meetup.com) in your community.
Offer to help a friend in need — Do you know someone who may need a ride to a doctor’s appointment? A mom that needs a few hours of time out of the house, offer to watch her children for the afternoon.
Find a spiritual or faith-based community to get involved with —Deepen your existing relationships by initiating time together over a meal or new experience.
Have those difficult conversations with the people you love — This may feel really challenging, but relationships take time, effort, and work for them to function in a healthy way. No relationship is without some bumps in the road, and communication is a critical part of strengthening the bond between to people.

Make a list of those people in your life you can rely on. Those folks who have supported you throughout your life, childhood to the present. Make time to connect or reconnect with a few of them this month. The benefits will be good for both of you and the relationship you have with that person will continue to foster and grow, all benefiting your emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. You will be glad you made those connections!

Amy Tilley, PsyD. has 20 years in the mental health and addiction recovery field. Her clinical interests include working with young adults and adults diagnosed with co-occurring conditions. Desert Star Addiction Recovery Center.

Visit https://desertstarARC.com or call 520-638-6000

Together AZ