Why Is Your Support System Important in Mental Health Treatment?

Life can appear unbearable sometimes, especially when living with mental health conditions like depression or anxiety. However, being alone in your battle against painful emotions and symptoms can be even more disheartening. On the other hand, lacking someone to mark meaningful events or triumphs can be equally isolating.

A support system honors this need for encouragement. 

When receiving ketamine treatment, your “chosen family” of trusted individuals can motivate you in difficult and happy times, reminding you of your plans. 

Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of social support throughout treatment and beyond.

What Do We Mean When We Say ‘Support System’?

A support system encompasses close individuals who enhance your life, well-being, and stability. They want to see you find happiness and often play a critical role in achieving your goals. 

Some may view interdependence as a weakness, but this mindset couldn’t be further from the truth. Research shows support is critical for overall health, helping reduce stress, loneliness, and psychological concerns. In fact, humans are instinctively driven to form relationships and cultivate communities.

Encouragement comes in many forms—each person can offer one or more of these types simultaneously. For example, a family member can motivate you to enroll in college and assist you with financial aid applications. Moreover, support adapts to new circumstances, flowing with you as you encounter and learn from new challenges. 

Below are the different types of support:

Emotional support

Emotional support is essential when coping with loneliness, depression, or disheartening circumstances. Having space to release tension, celebrate successes, and find comfort can make all the difference in navigating life.

Below are some examples of emotional support:

• Complimenting someone on a job well done
• Listening to a loved one share their struggles
• Asking clarifying questions 
• Accepting and validating feelings
• Using nonverbal communication to express interest (e.g., smiling, sitting up straight, nodding, etc.)

Informational support

Loved ones can provide mentoring, guidance, and education when facing big decisions. These people could include parents, teachers, or spiritual advisors—anyone who can deliver level-headed, sound suggestions and education. 

Below are some examples of informational support:

• Offering constructive feedback when asked
• Sharing experiences about facing a similar issue
• Helping someone find mental health resources
• Instructing someone on how to solve a problem
• Educating a child on a new skill

Instrumental support

Instrumental support can be invaluable when ill, swamped with work, or otherwise out of commission. A perfect example would be making your child chicken soup when they’re sick. Offering or receiving this assistance alleviates immediate problems and expresses love.

Below are some examples of instrumental support:

• Helping a sick friend take care of their house
• Volunteering to clean up after an event
• Assisting a coworker on a stressful project
• Babysitting for a neighbor
• Cooking someone a meal

Why Is a Support System Important in Therapy?

After you’ve chosen a ketamine therapy clinic, you must find ways to sustain constructive changes made throughout treatment. Here is where we see the pivotal impact a healthy support system can have on your life. Falling into negative patterns becomes easy without encouragement from loved ones. You can lose sight of your values and future goals, landing you back at square one. 

Instead, a network of caring, reassuring, and kind people can provide the necessary motivation to stay the course. They can pick you up and push you in the right direction when anxious, lost, or dismayed. Essentially, social support only benefits overall wellness, from self-esteem to stress management. 

Here are four beneficial effects of social support when receiving ketamine therapy:

1. Encourages Productive Choices

Ketamine offers the opportunity to explore your inner world with a unique perspective. Many patients use this freedom to identify problem areas in their lives, such as unhealthy relationships or unresolved emotions. This information can guide them in making choices that advance their mental wellness. 

However, maintaining these changes can be challenging for those without steady encouragement from others. A supportive network will commemorate efforts to improve yourself and your environment. And, this emboldening doesn’t end when you misstep. These people will remain with you through thick and thin, ensuring you stay grounded and inspired. 

2. Teaches Coping Skills

You can never have too many positive coping mechanisms! These skills can ease uncomfortable emotions when overwhelmed by endless responsibilities, anxieties, or setbacks. Unfortunately, we can also adopt unhealthy habits that only divert our attention momentarily, leaving our issues unresolved. Ultimately, these behaviors can cause more harm than good. 

A support system can help you notice when you slip into negative cycles. They can suggest alternatives that align with specific goals, such as reducing stress or navigating a difficult conversation. While you can learn some coping strategies through therapy, loved ones can supply a new toolkit to enhance your current approach.

3. Boosts Motivation & Hope

Hope is often an unnoticed gift of ketamine therapy. Many patients revitalize past ambitions, faith, and harmony after gaining mental and emotional clarity during treatment. This motivation can propel those positive changes we mentioned earlier, but having someone in your corner can further enhance outcomes.     

Support systems can boost inspiration when your reserves run low. They’ll toast to your strides and validate your troubles, helping you stay focused on the journey ahead—not past traumas or pain. 

4. Instills Self-Esteem & Confidence

A strong support system will bolster you in the toughest moments, emphasizing your value to them and the world. They’ll help you see past the negative self-talk clouding your mind and hindering you from seeking growth. Hearing, “You are worth so much to me,” can reignite a lost sense of self-esteem, assertiveness, and courage. 

Finding Support at New Pathways

Our team at New Pathways values the importance of social support when receiving mental health treatment—and we want to be a part of your network! Our clinic is dedicated to enhancing wellness and encouraging growth through therapy and support groups. We’ll equip you with the tools and education to maintain improvements during and after ketamine treatment. We’re not just providers but allies in your healing journey. 

Interested in a free consultation? If you’d like to pursue this journey, we have locations in Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati.