Support Systems
One of the most important components of our mental health is our support system. So let’s talk first about what it is. You can view my video on this topic here.
Your support system is made up of those people who interact closely with you on a regular basis. They could be family, friends, co-workers, other members of a support group, your book club, your yoga class– you get the idea. It’s the people who surround you in your daily life. Obviously, some of these people will know you a lot better than others. You might chat about what’s in season at the farmer’s market with your pal from yoga, but you may not feel comfortable enough with her to share the latest insight from your therapy session. That information might be reserved for your spouse or best friend.
It’s important to have a variety of people in our lives who can offer different kinds of support to us. For example, when you’re struggling with a mental health issue you might call another member of the mental health support group you frequent because you know they’ll be able to understand. When you’re dealing with work problems, you might vent over lunch with a co-worker because you know they can relate.
Not only do we need a variety of people in our support system, but they need to offer a variety of support. We all know people who are positive all the time and seem to never have anything negative to say. And we know people who are the opposite. It’s important to identify those qualities because there may be times when you’re feeling particularly vulnerable. You want to be sure you lean on someone who’s going to encourage and support you instead of someone who might point out all the negative aspects of what’s happening. What’s most important is that our support system is offering us what we need– encouragement, guidance, helpful feedback, useful suggestions, and honest interactions.
So take a moment and think about your support system.
- Who’s in it?
- Which areas do you need to find more support?
- Which areas do you need different support (maybe more positive people)?
- Where could you find additional people to be part of your support system?
If whatever you’re struggling with exceeds what your support system can handle, please consider calling me to schedule an appointment. If you’re curious about how music therapy might be able to help, I’m always happy to answer questions!
