Leaning on Social Support

When you feel distressed, do your thoughts ever seem to spin cycles in your mind? Do you ever feel a pressure building up as you hold your emotions inside? Do you ever feel isolated in the middle of the challenge you are facing? Finding a person to talk to about what you are going through can be a powerful way to untangle your thoughts, release emotional pressure and experience a feeling of connectedness. That can bring a sense of calm, clarity and resilience to face what you are going through. Can you think of anyone in your life to confide in? If so, you are encouraged to do that as soon as possible as a helpful way to respond to your distress. However, it can be common to find ourselves in moments when we are not sure who to open up to. If that is the case, consider the following questions, watch the video and then start taking steps to connect with others!
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Social Support Suggestions

• Do you have people in your life that have shown potential to provide good support to you, but you feel reluctant and avoidant in regards to opening up to them? If so, consider the following questions: What could be the benefits of getting support from them? What would be the disadvantages of avoiding getting social support and keeping the distress to yourself?
  
  

• Sometimes when we are feeling distressed, we may not be ready or in the mood to talk about the specifics of what we are going through.  However, it might be beneficial to be around other people for a sense of connection, support and a helpful distraction.  While it is important to eventually find someone to talk to about any lingering stressors, simply being around others without telling them everything that is going on can be helpful for short-term relief.
  
  

• Consider processing distress with a professional counselor. If you have lingering grief, depression, anxiety or addiction you could consider joining a support group tailored to that issue.
  
  

• If you want an objective and trained professional to talk to immediately, check out the following resources:
  
• Warm Line is a 24/7 support line when you aren’t in crisis 602-347-1100
  
• Crisis Line is a 24/7 support line when you are in crisis: 602-222-9444.
  
• 100 Club is a 24/7 confidential support for police officers: 602-433-2677.
  
• Firestrong is a 24/7 confidential support for firefighters: 1-844-525-3473
  
• Employee Assistance Units can be great supports for public safety employees within their department
  
  

• If you need to build new connections, start brainstorming how to begin.
  
• Is there anyone at work, school or your neighborhood that you see potential in to become friends?
  
• Are there any relationships you lost touch with that you could reach and try to rebuild a connection?
  
• Would you consider joining a group, club, gym, team, class or church centered around a passion of yours?
  
• Would you consider researching platonic relationship building websites or phone apps to build new connections?