Focus for This Month
Social Wellness
Dialysis patients often have multiple health challenges in addition to managing the kidney failure with its requirements and side effects. Many of these challenges can lead to social isolation or a reduction in socialization that result in decreased social wellness.
Why is Social Wellness Important?
Healthy relationships are a vital component of health. The health risks from being alone or isolated in one's life are comparable to the risks associated with cigarette smoking, blood pressure, and obesity.
The benefits of social wellness include:
People who have a strong social network tend to live longer.
The heart and blood pressure of people with healthy relationships respond better to stress.
Strong social networks are associated with a healthier endocrine system and healthier cardiovascular functioning.
Healthy social networks enhance the immune system's ability to fight off infectious diseases.
Additional benefits
Coping skills: Having social and emotional support can improve your sense of autonomy, potentially making it easier to cope with stressful situations, even on your own.
Stress: Research suggests that having social support can make an individual more resilient to stress.
Feelings of belonging: Social support can give individuals “the feeling of being loved, cared, respected, and belonging to a network of communication.”
Physical health: Research suggests that social support can significantly predict the physical health symptoms an individual may experience.
Mental health: Research has also shown social support to be a strong predictor of mental health symptoms, such as depression. According to researchers, positive social communication with one’s social network can reduce anxiety and improve feelings of stability.
How can you increase your social wellness
There are two buttons to the top left of this text that you can click to download files with excellent ways to start improving your social wellness.
Other things you can do include:
Host a potluck or dinner party with friends and family
Organize a community volunteer event
Join a sports team or club
Attend a networking event or conference in your industry
Schedule regular phone or video calls with loved ones who live far away
Set boundaries for screen time and social media use
Prioritize face-to-face interactions over virtual communication
Use technology to enhance social connection, such as scheduling video calls with loved ones who live far away
References and Additional Informational Links
https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/july-social-wellness-month
https://www.myvirtuallifecoach.com/prioritizing-social-connection-celebrating-social-wellness-month/