Relationships and Mental Health: Why Connection Matters

Key takeaways

• Managing Wellness in a Networking World

• Understanding The Link Between Your Relationships and Mental Health

• How-To: Avoid Being “Those Parents” This School Year

• The Importance of Staying Connected

• The Different Roads to Relationship Health

Managing Wellness in a Networking World

As social media continues to flourish, its effect on our mental health becomes more evident. Arguments can be made that spending time on social platforms both positively and negatively influence our psychological and emotional well-being. Finding a balance is key. With some reflection and insight, you can learn to manage wellness in a networking world.

Growing Numbers Checking social media remains one of the most popular activities among internet users, likely because humans are social creatures. Worldwide, more than 3.6 billion people were using social media in 2020. By 2025, that number is expected to reach more than 4.4 billion users.

Understanding The Link Between Your Relationships and Mental Health

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you may be surprised to know how important those special people in our lives are for our mental health and wellness. Through our interactions with friends, partners, parents, step-parents, or even our siblings, we establish certain behaviors that either positively or negatively influence the way we feel about ourselves and the boundaries we set for others.

The Mental Health Benefits of Social Relationships Stepping away from our computer screens and smartphones to spend time with loved ones can actually help lower blood pressure, boost energy levels, and motivate us to bounce back from feelings of stress or anxiety. However, because our relationships and mental health are so closely linked, it’s important that we surround ourselves with positives connections and make the effort to instill healthy habits in our interactions with others.

How-To: Avoid Being “Those Parents” This School Year

As kids get older, they make a valiant effort to train their parents out of being “embarrassing.” When I was a kid, being “embarrassed” by my parents meant that they were caught singing or dancing in the car, or called me “Curly Sue” in front of someone, or tried to set me up on a friend-date. Every school year, I’d sit my parent’s down so I could lecture them on my expectations for them, at least around my peers. That was, of course, a lot easier when my expectations were that they would buy my school supplies, drop off birthday treats, and come to at least one field-trip a year.

For kids of today, the number one reported concern about in my office has been that kids are afraid their parent’s won’t be politically correct in front of their peers. For parents, the number one reported concern has been that technology is consuming their kids. This creates a minefield for parents and children to navigate, dramatically increasing the odds of a rocky transition back to school.

The Importance of Staying Connected

Growing up, my parents led very active social lives. They went out on weekends with their friends, got involved with charities, enrolled in continuing education classes and volunteered for causes they believed in. I have watched my parents’ generation age and have learned so much from their example.

Although some-including my mom-have passed away, the survivors remain connected. Now in their 70s and 80s, many of these seniors still exercise, attend church or synagogue, keep up with world events and make time for their friends. This older generation is blessed with a rich circle of friendships and activities that sustain them.

The Different Roads to Relationship Health

Modern marriage has come a long way from the age of dowries, trousseaus, exchange of lands, and “till death do you part.” Modern marriage doesn’t have to be exclusively between a man or a woman but can embrace marriage between two men, two women and more broadly can join any two people who want to become married, either legally or civilly in a recognized committed relationship.

Historical marriages were role defined and gender defined, as well as religiously and culturally defined. No longer. Modern relationships might look very different but certain issues remain constant when a couple decides to seek relationship therapy.

When to reach out

If symptoms are affecting relationships, work, school, sleep, or daily routines, professional support can help you sort through what is happening and choose a realistic next step.

MHCS provides therapy and mental health support for individuals, couples, families, teens, and adults.