The importance of a support system should never be underestimated. Those that have been through tragic events understand this at a very deep level. On a day-to-day basis, support systems are more of just a give and take relationship. One day, perhaps you’re giving a friend support for something that is near and dear to them, and on another day, you’re desperately needing their encouragement to find solace when you’re in a deep, dark place.
Creating an Effective Support System Takes Time
Effective support systems are built through a bonding process and not necessarily simply when misfortune hits. Trust is built through the everyday occurrences of life. A support system continues well after the recovery process. It’s there as an effective tool to encourage you to move forward through an event, keeping your mental health status in check.
Main Characteristics of an Effective Support System
Psychological Empowerment
Support systems only become apparent when the need arises. Professional counseling can play a vital role in providing relief from emotional stress and should be included in your support system. This should be a part of your system year-round and not just when the need arises. The trust that you build with a counselor will pay dividends in the long run as. Your willingness to take their advice increases as over time they have proven themselves to be an impartial but invaluable confidante.
It should also be understood that if you run into a situation where you are severely emotionally or mentally incapacitated, they can provide prescriptions to help ease you through your problems.
Accountability
You should expect that the people in your support system will hold you accountable for your behavior and any subsequent actions. They should be providing feedback. They’re providing you with constructive criticism and, while you may be angered by what they say, you should take their feedback with thoughtfulness and appreciation. Without accountability, you will find yourself justifying your actions, no matter how outrageous your behaviors may become. Without accountability, your deep fears and anger can take over your decisions, sometimes with grave consequences.
When your support system includes accountability,You’ll see faster results from recovery programs such as those for overcoming addictions, mental health healing, and dieting. Answering to an authority figure keeps you active, motivated and thinking things through with a positive mindset.
While it’s easy and even noble to think that we can take on our problems without outside assistance, it isn’t realistic. The longer we put off seeking outside professional guidance to show us a positive path, the harder it will be to find our way out of our ever increasing darkness.
Talking with Others
Communal support encourages rapid recovery. Like-minded people who share their stories and experiences will build that bond of trust discussed earlier. It not only offers a great way to recognize inclusion, it also offers a distraction from our own problems and struggles.
Support groups are often set up with individuals that are at the same stage of recovery. In this way, mentors can be helpful to you to guide you through a stage that they have already experienced.
Informative Discussions
A well rounded support system will provide you with up to date, accurate information about your situation and provide suggestions to aid in your recovery. The idea being that well-informed people have a deeper understanding of how best to reach a higher level of recovery.
For instance, a person who recognizes the root cause of their depression will soon see how it affects all of the decisions they make on an everyday basis. Acknowledging their past gives them a pathway to follow that will help them avoid actions that can lead to another bout of a relapse.
Sense of Purpose
The primary objective of group support is to foster recovery and encourage individuals to remain active in their recovery. People find different purposes for remaining in recovery and to improve themselves. It may be for their family’s well-being or to play a stronger role in the success of their company. It could also be to become a role model to mentor someone else who is at an earlier stage of their own recovery journey.
Finding a sense of purpose – knowing your ‘why’ – can be a strong anchor. It’s the essence of who you are and acts as a reminder of why you were ready to embark on a road to recovery in the first place. Defining your purpose re-invents your past mistakes as setbacks, not as the definition of that broken individual you once were.
Use these characteristics of a support system to ensure that you’re creating a support system for yourself. As we go through life, it isn’t a question of if you may need one, but when. Obstacles are a part of our life’s journey. Having the tools to overcome those obstacles isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a necessity.
