July is Social Wellness Month, a time to celebrate our connections to others. Social Wellness Month was started by a counseling group to recognize the importance of maintaining and creating social bonds with each other.
If you are in treatment for substance use disorder (SUD) or a mental health issue, your focus is understandably on your personal wellness: your physical and mental health. While your personal wellness is undoubtedly important, do not forget about your social wellness as you move forward.
What Is Social Wellness and Why Does It Matter?
This month is the perfect time to begin educating yourself about social wellness. This particular kind of wellness involves all of the different people you surround yourself with on a daily basis. This includes social circles such as your friends, family members, work colleagues, and classmates. The people you surround yourself with on a regular basis have an impact on you and your ability to make good choices for yourself.
If the people that surround you engage in substance use, this can potentially conflict with your decision to remain sober. Likewise, if the people that you spend most of your time with are more pessimistic and unhappy, this can cause you to think and view life in a negative way. It can even cause you to develop emotional disorders such as anxiety and depression.
How Do I Improve My Social Wellness?
To begin improving your social wellness, it is important first to consider your goals for yourself and compare these goals with the people you spend most of your time with. For example, if your goal is to feel happier and fulfilled in life, but you spend most of your time with individuals who are negative and pessimistic, you may find that spending too much time with them is actually weighing you down.
That being said, it can be helpful to find people who help you become a better version of yourself and achieve your goals. It can also be beneficial to begin engaging in activities that support your goals. If you want to remain sober, you can meet new friends at group therapy sessions or support groups. If you want to continue your education, you can make new friends in your classes. Establishing social bonds with people who share your goals, interests, and values can benefit your life in various ways.
Social wellness is vital when it comes to your mental health. Surrounding yourself with people who are self-defeating can cause you to engage in self-defeating behaviors as well. In order to begin improving your social wellness, reflect upon your goals and how the people around you impact your ability to achieve those goals. At The Guest House, we know how important social wellness is. We have the tools available to ensure that your social wellness is moving you forward instead of holding you back. Call us today at (855) 483-7800.