Healing from mental health conditions and trauma can be very lonely. First of all, few people in your life besides you and your therapists will know exactly what you’re dealing with. As you start unlearning harmful patterns of thoughts and behaviors, the way you understand yourself and your relationships with others may change. You might become aware of needs you never knew you had, and you may need to set new boundaries.
Supportive relationships can provide safety and stability throughout this process. Your loved ones can be a great source of motivation and purpose when you’re feeling discouraged. Physical touch comes with some specific benefits, and it’s not something that’s easy to recreate inside the clinic. Comforting touch from loved ones can help improve anxiety, depression, fatigue and pain, as well as biological processes like blood pressure.
At the same time, your treatment experience may put your closest relationships to the test. Working on your relationships both in the context of treatment and outside of it can help you maintain strong, healthy connections.
The following are five relationship habits that can help you feel supported during mental health treatment:
Transparent communication about needs and boundaries
When you’re not used to being straightforward, it can feel like you’re being too blunt or insensitive. However, when both parties can maintain an objective point of view, getting things out in the open can help you solve problems in a more direct way.
Try prefacing your thoughts with “I want to share something with you because I think it’s something we can work through together. I’m not sure how to say it, so please bear with me, I’ll do my best.”
Creating space for both connection and independence
Quality time is a key ingredient for any successful relationship. However, depending on the other person for your emotional security undermines your well-being. You also need some privacy and independence to build a healthy level of trust. This can be a difficult balance to maintain.
Discuss your boundaries in regards to your treatment and let your loved ones know that giving each other some space can ultimately help your relationships thrive.
Practicing active listening and validation
Active listening is a skill that takes time to develop, and it requires energy and attention. It’s a good idea to ask someone if they have the capacity to listen before unloading what’s on your mind.
It’s also OK to say that you’re looking for emotional validation and let them know if you’re open to problem-solving. Active listening might look like responding with affirmations such as “That sounds like a lot” and rephrasing what the other person said to confirm that you understand. Validation might sound something like, “That’s totally understandable. I think anyone would feel the same way in your position.”
Supporting treatment goals without overstepping
Sometimes, when trying to support a loved one in treatment, people end up violating their privacy or offering help in a way that’s less than helpful. In this situation, you might tell your loved one that you appreciate that they want to help you, but you need to take the lead. Then you can discuss some things they can do to help during family therapy sessions.
Building mutual respect for the healing journey
Each person has to take their healing and personal growth at their own pace. The same solutions that work for one person might not work for somebody else. In order to maintain respect, both of you may need to put your expectations aside and talk in terms of meeting your needs. With time, you may even be able to appreciate each other’s differences and strengths.
Find treatment with built-in support for your relationships at Lightfully
Navigating personal relationships while you’re in treatment is anything but easy. You can’t expect someone to be perfect, but you can let them know what you need and work together to find solutions. Healthy relationship habits create a sanctuary where you can be vulnerable and seek support. When you build connections based on mutual respect and clear communication, you create foundations for lasting mental wellness.
The comprehensive treatment programs at Lightfully include family therapy sessions. This is how we ensure each person has a safe and structured way to navigate these changes with support from their loved ones. You can include members of your biological family, your partner, people who live with you or anyone you consider chosen family.
We also focus on relationships as one of the four core processes that make up your mental well-being. You’ll learn about how healthy relationships function and work on interpersonal skills you can use to build and maintain healthy relationships. The other core processes are difficulties with emotions, thoughts and behaviors.
Are you looking for a treatment program that can help you build healthy relationship habits and a strong support system? Contact us with any questions or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team to get started.
