Weekly Wellbeing: Support Networks
Wellbeing Activity: Support Networks
Hi everyone! We’re back with another weekly wellbeing activity.
Something that I think is so important, is knowing who is in your support network. Knowing who you can go to for help or advice when you’re feeling down and knowing you can rely on them to help make you feel just that little bit better can be really helpful. Think of the people in your support network as being part of your ‘team’. Everyone wants to do well together and is willing to support each other when one person is down.
Opening up to people and letting them know how you feel can be really calming and help you release all of your worries. Having somebody who you know cares can make all the difference on an off day. Opening up to someone can be scary at first because it’s a new level of intimacy and vulnerability you share with that other person. But once you do it you will feel so much better knowing you have someone to support you and that you’re not alone! Also, anybody on these forums is already a champion! Well done for either being so brave and asking for help on here or being so caring and giving people advice and comfort!! Woohoo!
Support networks can be made up of anybody you trust. It can be from your immediate or extended family, close friends, close teacher, professional psychologist or psychiatrist, even neighbours, anybody from an extracurricular club you’re in and of course- us on ReachOut!!
This week’s wellbeing activity is to write down who is in your support network. Remember that even if you feel you are alone, there are so many of us on these forums who care about you and want you to feel beautiful, empowered, happy and amazing 🤗 In other words, you already have an army of people behind you! 😎❤️
Comments
Thank you so much @ayrc_1904 , this is such an excellent idea for a Weekly Wellbeing!
I've had times in my life where I've felt really alone and isolated, and @MB95 I can really relate to those feelings of wanting to build a support network, but also being naturally a fairly private person who was scared of getting hurt, finding it hard.
Being vulnerable with other people is one of the hardest things I've learned to do over the last 15 years, but also the most rewarding - it's a slow process, but I can say that it's also the best thing I've ever done. I still have pretty strong boundaries, but I'm more open and honest with people close to me these days.
My main support networks are my friends and family - and right now, a lot of that happens over WhatsApp, because we can't see each other due to covid (well, at least my parents and brother, and other close relatives who are overseas)... we do the occasional "zoom dinner", which is pretty fun!
I'm also so lucky to have some amazing colleagues here at ReachOut- I feel so grateful to get to work in an organisation that's full of genuinely lovely, fun, supportive people 💛
Recently I've also reconnected with a few old friends who now live in my "bubble" and we are able to meet for the occasional socially distanced walk- having one on one time with people who i've known for years, but haven't necessarily been able to spend heaps of time with recently, has been amazing. We wear our masks, and go for little local bushwalks
That's been a breath of fresh air for me in these weird lockdown times, and after some time in nature and chatting with an old friend, I'm usually ready to take on the world again!
Finally, I have my mates who I chat with online - and they're some of my closest friends, even the people who I hardly ever see in real life- and a huge part of my support network
Nice idea@ayrc_1904 !! My support network is my boyfriend, parents, brother and my 3 closest friends 🤩
My support network is definitely this incredible community 💙
I am trying my best to broaden it but being vulnerable is not easy when you've been hurt so much in the past, no matter how badly you need/want people in your circle.
I admire you all for being brave and only hope that one day I'll be able to look around me and say I have a network too because I think it's beautiful you have people around you to remind you you're not alone.
Thank you for being such a support for me these past couple of years. I appreciate you all SO MUCH 💙
@ayrc_1904 This is such a great idea! 😄 I always find that talking about what I'm going through makes it easier and makes me feel less alone too!
My support network is my best friends, my little brother, and my psychologist 😊 I feel like no matter what, they always have my back. It's hard sometimes to talk about things, but I always feel better afterwards!
Hi @ayrc_1904 ☺️
This is a great post! Having a support network is definitely very important. It allows us to get things off our chest and relieve some of that pressure we are feeling.
My support network is my two best friends. I go to them whenever I have something to talk about and they are always there supporting me. They remind me that I am not alone.
I hope you and everyone that's reading this is well!
