Does social support help? When and how do you contact your social support? What is the most important thing you get from those who support you?
Hi phil,
For me, social support helps me to know that I am not alone with my problems, and it helps me feel connected to others who can relate to the same difficulties I am having. It also provides me with an avenue to share my experience, strength, hope, and faith in recovery, and giving back is extremely important to me.
I contact my social network through email and instant messaging, as well as through online chat in recovery meetings and online Bible study devotional meetings. I make this contact both when I am in need of support and in order to give support to others. If possible, I try to make contact on a daily basis.
One of the most important things I get from those who support me is honest feedback and input that I am not always able to see myself. But most importantly, I get fellowship and the love of new friends that God brings into my life that enriches me in a way that I could never receive without their care and support.
As I was answering these questions, phil, it occurred to me that I had made an assumption. That assumption was that you are referring only to online social support help. Since this is not necessarily the case, I thought I would answer how I contact my face-to-face social support. In my case, my face-to-face support consists of my church family, and I share with them through the week on the telephone for prayer, emotional, and friendship support, as well as getting together for Bible studies and prayer meetings twice weekly. We also get together for meals and games nights, and I have a greater sense of connection with my church family than I do with my blood family. They are loving, caring, and accept me with the love of Christ just as I am.
God bless you, and thank you for this post, phil. Great questions!