Social support.

Having people around you who can give you love and support in difficult times is of great value. Social support is something very valuable, but not everybody receives support or the right support or aid.

 

Social support can be an arm around the shoulder and and a listening ear. It can also be advice or material support. Social support is highly stress-reducing. Talking about a problem to someone who listens to your story does not solve the problem (unless youtalk to someone who is the problem!), but it does air. It can also create new insights that can contribute to the solution. Talking about your problem lowers the levels of tension in your body. This reduction is valuable, because your body can retain some energy and use it for rehabilitation instead of maintaining high levels of stress.

If you find it difficult to talk about your problem with a friend or a relative, you might consider putting it in writing. It has almost the same positive effect as talking about a problem.

Are you now using the support that you could get? Do you talk about your problem or rather not?