The Role of Relationships and Social Circles on Mental Wellbeing

Relationships and social circles (i.e. friendships) are a common way to connect which is an essential part of life. The role these relationships play in your everyday life makes a huge impact on how you view yourself and others, so it’s important to take them seriously and choose wisely.  

How Do I Know If I Have Quality Relationship?

There are some distant differences between what a healthy and unhealthy relationship looks like. This extends into both plutonic (meaning non romantic relationships) and romantic relationships (the person or people you’re dating). The diagram below shows common signs of healthy vs unhealthy qualities to look for. 

This list is not exhaustive, but if you believe you may be struggling with the quality of your relationship, you can contact us for a free consultation.

How can an unhealthy relationship impact me? 

You may be familiar with the saying “one rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch.” This saying is suggesting that it doesn’t take much for toxicity to spread. Have you ever found yourself in a good mood, then you had an interaction with someone who was in a less than good mood, and suddenly you noticed your energy shifted? Well imagine that interaction occurring repeatedly over extended periods of time instead of just in one instance. Having an ongoing unhealthy relationship and social circle can lead to the following: 

• Damage self worth and confidence

• Increases anxiety, depression, and stress

• Emotional instability 

• Difficulty building healthy relationships in the future

• Trust issues

• Low energy and feeling drained

How can a healthy relationship impact me? 

While an unhealthy relationship has its impacts, so does a healthy relationship. It’s important to acknowledge how building healthy relationships has a positive influence as well. Having an ongoing healthy relationship and social circle can lead to the following: 

• Reduced stress

• Friends can sharpen your mind

• Encourage healthy behaviors

• Increases feelings of happiness

• Gain a sense of belonging

• Increases resilience

• Improve self esteem and confidence

What If I Believe I Have An Unhealthy Relationship or Social Circle?

It’s essential to acknowledge how those around you impact your mental wellbeing. Being able to distinguish between healthy vs unhealthy is the first step. If you have taken time to reflect on your social circle, and you believe your relationships have more unhealthy qualities than healthy, it can be time to take action. Some steps to consider taking can include the following: 

1. Get clear on what’s the issue. Before making a decision, it’s more important to recognize and identify the concerns. Being able to clearly define concerns, allows more space for making the most rational decisions. 

2. Set boundaries. Boundaries are essential in maintaining healthy relationships as well as letting go of unhealthy relationships. Setting boundaries may look like reducing availability, making choices that align with your personal values, respecting your time and energy through taking your thoughts and feelings into consideration prior to making decisions, etc. Ultimately, in setting boundaries, healthy relationships will maintain and unhealthy relationships will naturally dissolve. 

3. Prioritize positive connections. Healthy connections continue to grow with us as we grow. As you learn more about self, set boundaries, make decisions that align with your values, the positive connections will reveal themselves. Be sure to spend more time and energy with those who grow with you and accept you for who you are and your process.

4. Have honest conversations. While it can be hard to determine if a conversation is always needed when relationships are ending, it is essential to take the bigger picture into account. There are many factors that can influence the decision to communicate open and honestly. However, when at all possible without compromising your sanity and/or safety (not comfort because there is a difference), having an honest conversation can bring necessary closure and help resolve feelings to prevent them from lingering. 

5. Gradual withdrawal. In some cases, it can be more beneficial to gradually withdraw from relationships.  Mitigating ongoing and unnecessary conflict is sometimes the better approach. If you are unsure of the best move to make, try speaking with the positive connections you have to get their point of view.  

Seeking Professional Support Can Also Be A Great Alternative.

Professional mental health experts are a great tool to utilize as they can provide non judgemental and unbiased feedback. Signs that it could be a good time to consider professional support are if you notice a significant increase in stress, anxiety, or depression that is impacting your ability to function day to day or if you are struggling with letting go. If you are navigating a social circle and unclear on whether it is healthy or unhealthy and how to take next steps, CoreWellness, LLC offers support specifically for those going through life transitions, needing stress management, and wanting conflict resolution. Check out our website here to learn more. If you have any questions or comments, please complete the form below or contact us at 214-307-2649.