While it’s clear that having a strong support network has its benefits, it doesn’t mean that it’s easy to build one. Many of us often feel ashamed or uncomfortable about our experiences. We worry that people may not understand the problems we’re facing or think that we might be burdening them. Unfortunately, this can cause others to further distance themselves away from us and continue the cycle.
Start to understand your social support needs and how you can develop your network to achieve them.
- Identify your needs: An important first step is to identify any specific goals or needs that you want to address. If, for example, you’re looking for emotional support, the types of people you’ll want to have in your support network may be different than those who can offer their professional wisdom.
- Assess your current support network: Regardless of your specific needs, the people that you’ll want to include in your support network should be those who you can deeply trust and confide in. Ask yourself the following questions:
- Who usually gives the best advice?
- Who can I share good or bad news with?
- Who can I be myself with?
- Who do you have the most positive memories with?
- Who do I turn to when I need help?
- Identify gaps in your support network: With your specific needs and the people you trust in mind, assess to see if you need to expand your support network for those needs. If you find your list to be on the shorter side, reflect on other people in your daily life who you’d consider as being supportive but who didn’t fit any of the previous questions. At the same time, you may want to exclude those who you feel may have a negative impact on your well-being.
- Expand your support network: While there’s no “best” way to expand your social network, keep the following tips in mind:
- Step out of your comfort zone: Actively meeting new people, whether that’s through hobby groups, professional organizations, support groups, or other means, can be a great way to create new connections. It can also mean reconnecting more deeply with those who are still unfamiliar to you.
- Remember to give back: Getting support from others is a two-way street; it’s just as important to check in and listen to the people who are helping you. The more supportive you are of others on a regular basis, the more likely it is that your community will do the same.
- Keep your mind open for unexpected opportunities: You may find yourself meeting new people in unexpected places or situations. Whether you’re on a walk with your dog at the park or at your child’s swimming class, it doesn’t hurt to get to know the people around you a bit more.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/healthfeature/gethealthfeature/Strengthening-Your-Health—Building-Support-Networks