Social Support Matters!
People were not meant to be alone. We are social creatures. When a person suffers from pain of any kind, they often realize that need more than ever. Coping with stress and disease can be exhausting and debilitating. Depression is common and the threat of withdrawal a common reality. People benefit from developing a social network to gain strength and support from. It is better to develop a network of friends before you need to fall back on them.
It is possible you have friends but you have been too busy to reach out to them. In fact you may have relatives that fall into that same category. There is no better time than now to consider taking a couple minutes to reach out to them. Give them a call. See how they are doing. Consider planning a meeting or an informal get together over a bite to eat. Share a genuine desire to keep in touch with them and make sure you do so. Maybe put a reminder on your calendar to take some time to make a brief call to your social network.
If you are a member of a household of faith, make a point of getting to know some of the folks there. Consider attending social programs or special events so you can mingle and develop relationships with a few of them. Perhaps you might offer your services to help someone. Perhaps there might be a shut-in who would love to have a phone call from a caring soul! Why not consider being that special person who reaches out to that person!
If there are folks in your church family who suffer similar physical limitations, consider starting a prayer group and lift each other up in prayer on a regular basis. Offer the opportunity for folks to call when they feel the need for additional strength and support. What a neat way to care about self and others!
About 25 years ago, my dearest friend Pam and I developed what we called the Code Purple Hotline. And that hotline has been busy and active for all of the 25 years.
I encourage everyone to consider developing their own code purple hotline! It is not hard. It just takes at least two people, a phone, and the commitment to accept phone calls at any time of the day or night in order to support a friend in time of critical need. The Code Purple hotline has seen us through some of the most painful life experiences and it has created for us a bond of friendship that will last a lifetime.
Have you created a social network of your own? Would you like to share stories about it? Feel free to read my blog about Code Purple and share your own story. Post a comment here, or visit my Pain Management or Migraine Board.
Related Topics: Toxic Friends: Less Friend, More Foe, Praying for Health: Study Stirs Debate
Technorati Tags: friends, networks, society
It is possible you have friends but you have been too busy to reach out to them. In fact you may have relatives that fall into that same category. There is no better time than now to consider taking a couple minutes to reach out to them. Give them a call. See how they are doing. Consider planning a meeting or an informal get together over a bite to eat. Share a genuine desire to keep in touch with them and make sure you do so. Maybe put a reminder on your calendar to take some time to make a brief call to your social network.
If you are a member of a household of faith, make a point of getting to know some of the folks there. Consider attending social programs or special events so you can mingle and develop relationships with a few of them. Perhaps you might offer your services to help someone. Perhaps there might be a shut-in who would love to have a phone call from a caring soul! Why not consider being that special person who reaches out to that person!
If there are folks in your church family who suffer similar physical limitations, consider starting a prayer group and lift each other up in prayer on a regular basis. Offer the opportunity for folks to call when they feel the need for additional strength and support. What a neat way to care about self and others!
About 25 years ago, my dearest friend Pam and I developed what we called the Code Purple Hotline. And that hotline has been busy and active for all of the 25 years.
I encourage everyone to consider developing their own code purple hotline! It is not hard. It just takes at least two people, a phone, and the commitment to accept phone calls at any time of the day or night in order to support a friend in time of critical need. The Code Purple hotline has seen us through some of the most painful life experiences and it has created for us a bond of friendship that will last a lifetime.
Have you created a social network of your own? Would you like to share stories about it? Feel free to read my blog about Code Purple and share your own story. Post a comment here, or visit my Pain Management or Migraine Board.
Related Topics: Toxic Friends: Less Friend, More Foe, Praying for Health: Study Stirs Debate
Technorati Tags: friends, networks, society
2 Comments:
This is a great blog. I learned a lot and the link to toxic "friendships" sure rang a bell with me. Trying to work with toxic people is stressful and can sure contribute to pain processes! Thank you so much.
i am looking for a support grOUP, networK, GROUP OF STRAIGHT GIRL FRIENDS... ANYTHING. IM FINDINGIT HARDER TO ACCOMPLISH THAN THE WAY EVERYONE MAKESB IT SOUND...CAN NYONE POSSIBLE TAKE TIME TO HELP?SNOWBROOKLYN2404@AOL.COM...I ALWAYS FEEL SO ALONE NO AA/CANCER/ SEX /WOMENS GROUP SEEM TO FIT ME.WHY HOW COME I JUST DONT SEEM TO FIT IN ANYWHERE?
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