What is a Healthy Support System and How to Build One

Close-up of hand pile of smiling adults and children..
People struggle for various reasons socially, mentally, and emotionally, so having a healthy support system is a good idea. (Image: Olesya Shelomova via Dreamstime)

People struggle socially, mentally, and emotionally for various reasons. Surrounding yourself with a healthy support system filled with supportive and positive individuals will aid healing.

Family and friends can influence your life’s professional and personal aspects. These may be the needed support you are searching for just in case you feel unhealthy and unhelpful habits get triggered.

A healthy support system

They are the group of individuals that give you ample emotional support, respect for professional views, and personal care and acceptance. They may not be your immediate family and friends or otherwise, but these support groups’ roots run deep in terms of connection.

Support group meeting where people are sitting in chairs arranged in a circle.
In a healthy support system, people feel deeply connected. (Image: Monkey Business Images via Dreamstime)

Knowing the different types of support systems is essential to be able to know precisely what it is you need. Here is a brief list of support an individual might need in their life:

  • Emotional and mental
  • Professional
  • Social and belonging ( religious or organizations, for example)
  • Recovery and rehabilitation

When trying to find the right support system, there are things you need to check to see if it is healthy for you. Here are a few things you need to check when finding out if this will be beneficial for your situation:

1. The bond must be solid

Building a bond with your support system will be best in situations like these. Your fellow supporters must be able to relate to what you are going through.

2. It should be educational and encouraging

You should receive enough educational direction and advice when joining a support group or system. It must not just be listening and support but rather an interactive bonding.

3. There must be a professional involved

There must be at least a presence of a professional or expert. This way, when you need guidance, they can surely assist you with it.

Individuals need a beneficial and healthy support system to cope with everyday stress and demands. This is a way for you to have a healthier mental, social and emotional state through bonding and fellowship.

Building a healthy support system

It doesn’t matter if this is for an emotional or professional support system. There are some essential tips you can follow to build an effective strategy that can benefit your situation.

Here is a simple guide on how you can get started:

Start from bonds present already

Before you search far and wide for a support group for you, try to check up on what you have at present. This means long-time colleagues, friends, and even close family members can be part of your support system.

Long-time colleagues, friends, and even close family members can be part of your healthy support system.
Long-time colleagues, friends, and even close family members can be part of your healthy support system. (Image: Antonio Guillem via Dreamstime)

Don’t be afraid to expand your connections

If you are concerned about networking or building your career path, add more professional connections to your healthy support system. This means more collaboration of ideas and corporate advice will take place.

Check on your recruits

This is the most critical thing you need to do. When creating a healthy support system, you must be comfortable and okay to be in the circle. This way, the experience will be more progressive.

Highlight the common interests you have with them

Your best building block in creating a healthy support system is how many similarities all of you have with one another. Your support group must have the ability to sympathize with what you are going through for you to connect.

Dealing with a lack of outside support

If you aren’t too fond of interacting with other individuals, there are different ways to build a healthy support system. Here is how you can start a sound support system alone before you try reaching out:

  • Write in a journal
  • Focus on strengthening your coping skills
  • Do meditation and exercises
  • Read self-help books
  • Try to welcome the idea of eventually joining a support group

It is a healthy support system when you feel safe and can freely discuss your struggles without feeling judged. If you are not yet open to engaging in bonds like this, there are other ways to cope alone.

Whether this may be for emotional reasons, professional concerns, or rehabilitation, a healthy support system will help your individual growth and peace for a long time.

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