Stress basics (8)
- Stress symptoms: Effects on your body, feelings and behavior
- Stress assessment: Rate your stress level
- Stress: Win control over the stress in your life
- see all in Stress basics
Stress relief (21)
- Social support: Tap this tool to combat stress
- Stress relief from laughter? Yes, no joke
- Spirituality and stress relief: Make the connection
- see all in Stress relief
Relaxation techniques (7)
- Exercise and stress: Get moving to combat stress
- Tai chi: Discover the many possible health benefits
- Relaxation techniques: Essential for reducing stress
- see all in Relaxation techniques
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get StartedSocial support: Tap this tool to combat stress
Having close friends and family on whom you can count has far-reaching benefits for your health. Here's how to build and maintain these essential relationships.
By Mayo Clinic staffIt probably doesn't take a scientific study to convince you that surrounding yourself with people who genuinely care about you can have a positive effect on your mental well-being, but there's plenty of research to confirm it.
A strong social support network can be critical to help you through the stress of tough times, whether you've had a bad day at work or a year filled with loss or chronic illness. Since your supportive family, friends, and co-workers are such an important part of your life, it's never too soon to cultivate these important relationships.
What is a social support network?
A social support network is made up of friends, family and peers. A social support network is different from a support group, which is generally a structured meeting run by a mental health professional. Although both can play an important role in times of stress, a social support network is something you can develop when you're not under stress, providing the comfort of knowing that your friends are there for you if you need them.
You don't need to formalize your support network with regular meetings or an official leader. A coffee break with a friend at work, a quick chat with a neighbor, a phone call to your sister, even a visit to church are all ways to develop and foster lasting relationships with the people close to you. Don't wait for someone else to make the first move. If you meet someone you think might become a good friend, invite him or her to join you for coffee or another casual activity.
Benefits of a social support network
Numerous studies have demonstrated that having a network of supportive relationships contributes to psychological well-being. When you have a social support network, you benefit in the following ways:
- Sense of belonging. Spending time with people helps ward off loneliness. Whether it's other new moms, dog lovers, fishing buddies or siblings, just knowing you're not alone can go a long way toward coping with stress.
- Increased sense of self-worth. Having people who call you a friend reinforces the idea that you're a good person to be around.
- Feeling of security. Your social network gives you access to information, advice, guidance and other types of assistance should you need them. It's comforting to know that you have people you can turn to in time of need.
(1 of 2)
- Karren KJ, et al. Mind/Body Health: The Effect of Attitudes, Emotions and Relationships. New York, N.Y.: Benjamin Cummings; 2010:225.
- Sood A. Log On: Two Steps to Mindful Awareness. Rochester, Minn.: Morning Dew Publications; 2009:354.
Find Mayo Clinic on