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Hello listeners! Today we are going to learn about Social support. Social support is the help you get from other people in your life, like your family, friends, and community. It can be emotional support, like someone listening to your problems, or practical support, like someone helping you move to a new house. This kind of support makes you feel cared for and can help you handle stress better.
In psychological terms, social support refers to the various forms of assistance and comfort that individuals receive from their social networks, which can include family, friends, colleagues, and community members. This support plays a crucial role in promoting emotional well-being and can mitigate the effects of stress and adversity. Social support manifests in several forms:
1. Emotional Support: This involves showing empathy, concern, affection, and love. It provides a
shoulder to cry on during tough times, offers encouragement when someone feels down, and gives a
sense of belonging and being valued.
2. Instrumental Support: This is practical or tangible help that can include financial assistance,
providing services like babysitting or cooking meals, or helping someone move house.
3. Informational Support: Sharing valuable information to help someone solve a problem or make
decisions is another form of support. This can include giving advice, suggesting resources, or
imparting knowledge based on one’s own experiences.
4. Appraisal Support: This type of support involves providing feedback that helps others to reflect on
their behaviors and situations. It can include constructive criticism, affirmations, and feedback that
help a person understand how they’re doing in various aspects of their life.
The frequency with which people engage in social activities or spend time with friends and family varies
widely depending on individual lifestyle choices, cultural norms, and personal circumstances. For many,
interacting daily with friends or family is common, especially if they live nearby or share a household. Others might connect less frequently, perhaps weekly or monthly, especially if distance, busy schedules, or different life stages come into play.
Balancing social activities with other responsibilities is key. Regular social interactions are important for
mental health, providing support and a sense of belonging. However, the right balance can differ from person to person, so it’s valuable to reflect on how these interactions affect your personal well-being.
Sharing feelings and concerns with others often brings comfort because it taps into our fundamental need for connection and understanding. Here are a few reasons why this can be comforting:
1. Empathy and Validation: When we share our thoughts and emotions, and others respond with
empathy and understanding, it validates our experiences. This validation can reassure us that what
we’re feeling is normal or understandable, reducing feelings of isolation or self-doubt.
2. Emotional Release: Talking about our feelings can serve as an emotional release, helping to lighten
the burden of stress, anxiety, or sadness. It’s a way to process emotions and gain clearer perspectives.
3. Support and Advice: Sharing problems or worries can lead to practical advice or solutions that we
might not have considered. It can also reinforce that support is available when we need it, which can
make challenges seem more manageable.
4. Strengthen Bonds: Sharing personal matters can strengthen relationships. It builds trust and mutual
understanding, key components of strong, supportive relationships.
5. Perspective and Insight: Others can offer new perspectives or insights that challenge our own views
and potentially lead to better coping strategies or solutions.
If you’re experiencing stress, it can definitely have an impact on your social relationships in various ways.
Here are some signs that your stress might be affecting your interactions with others:
1. Withdrawal: You might find yourself pulling away from friends or family and declining social
invitations more often than usual. Social withdrawal can be a sign of being overwhelmed and needing
space to cope.
2. Increased Irritability: Stress can make you more irritable or short-tempered. You might find
yourself snapping at people or being less tolerant than usual, which can strain relationships.
3. Communication Breakdowns: Under stress, your ability to communicate effectively can suffer. You
might struggle to express yourself clearly or listen effectively, leading to misunderstandings or
conflicts.
4. Dependency or Over-reliance: Conversely, you might find yourself becoming more dependent on
others, seeking constant reassurance or support, which can sometimes put a strain on relationships if
it becomes excessive.
5. Reduced Empathy: High stress levels can make it harder to empathize with others because your own
issues consume much of your emotional energy. This can affect the quality of your interactions and
potentially make you seem less caring or attentive.
Feeling supported by our social network during challenging times is deeply ingrained in human psychology and social behavior. Here are a few key reasons why this support is so impactful:
1. Sense of Belonging: Support from our social network reinforces our sense of belonging to a group or
community. This connection provides a safety net that reminds us we are not alone and that we matter
to others, which is crucial during tough times.
2. Emotional Comfort: The emotional support provided by friends and family can help soften the
impact of stress and adversity. Knowing that others care about our well-being can boost our mood
and reduce feelings of anxiety or depression.
3. Practical Help: Often, our social network can provide practical assistance, whether it’s helping with
daily tasks, offering financial support, or giving advice. This kind of help can alleviate the pressure
during challenging periods, allowing us to focus more on resolving issues or healing.
4. Shared Experience: Talking things through with someone who might have experienced similar
challenges or who empathizes with our situation can validate our feelings and provide comfort. This
shared experience can make us feel understood and less isolated.
5. Perspective and Guidance: Friends and family can offer new perspectives and advice, helping us
see solutions or aspects of our situation that we might not have considered on our own. This guidance
can be instrumental in navigating difficult times more effectively.
Improving your social support network is a beneficial step for enhancing overall well-being. Here are some suggestions on how you might do that:
1. Reach Out More Often: Regular contact helps strengthen relationships. Make an effort to call, text, or meet up with friends and family more frequently.
2. Diversify Your Network: Try to build connections with a variety of people who can offer different
types of support. Each person might bring unique perspectives and strengths to your life.
3. Be Proactive in Offering Support: Providing support to others can strengthen your own social ties
and encourage reciprocity; people are more likely to help those who have helped them.
4. Join Groups with Common Interests: Participating in clubs, classes, or online communities with
like-minded individuals can expand your social network and provide both emotional and
informational support.
5. Communicate Openly About Needs: Being clear about what kind of support you need can help
others provide it more effectively. Whether you need emotional backing, advice, or practical help, let
your needs be known.
6. Prioritize Quality Over Quantity: Focus on deepening relationships with a few key people who you
trust and feel comfortable with, rather than trying to maintain a large network of superficial
relationships.
7. Use Technology to Your Advantage: Utilize social media platforms and communication tools to stay
connected with your social network, especially when physical meetups are not possible.
In conclusion, To sum it up, improving your social support can make a big difference in how you handle
stress and enjoy life. By reaching out more, supporting others, joining groups, and communicating clearly
about your needs, you can build stronger, more meaningful connections. This not only helps during tough times but also enriches your everyday life.
Hope you will understand in detailed in this module about social support.
