Understanding human emotions is taking on new value and is changing people’s lives. The expression of emotions such as fear, happiness, anger, sadness, and others, has been, and sometimes still is, confined to moments of intimacy or therapy. Emotional health allows us, in fact, to manage our frustrations, our contrasts, everything that affects us emotionally.
When it comes to going through particularly fragrant moments in our lives, we often tend to forget that these negative emotions and feelings are experienced in a very different way if we have the support of others. In this Psychology-Online article, we will see what What emotional support is, some examples of it and some useful suggestions on how to give it.
What is emotional support
Emotional support means that ability to care, listening empathetically and actively to others. It is a two-way relationship and involves an emotional exchange between the parties; In many healthcare situations, however, support is unidirectional: one subject offers and one receives. emotional support provided primarily by contact with one or more people with whom you are closely linked (your husband or wife, a brother or parents, for example) although, under certain conditions, it is not excluded that other people can also be a source of support of this type (support groups for patients with alcoholism, drug addiction, etc.). Giving emotional help includes three aspects:
- Tips and information.
- Concrete and tangible help.
- Emotional support (presence, listening, guarantees and confirmation).
Why emotional support is important
This need exists from birth: At first, it is precisely the care figures who provide our emotional support, and only later is this role also sought in other people, such as partners and friends. If this need has not been adequately met during childhood, adults will have more difficulty recognizing and managing the emotions of others and, therefore, giving and receiving emotional support.
Emotional support does not necessarily consist of words to say, often this need can be met through a hug or a gesture.
Feel the presence of the other and their authentic support can help regulate some emotions by which the person may feel overwhelmed. Sharing therefore becomes an important means to manage and validate anger, sadness, fear, but also joy. This mechanism helps create a stronger and more secure bond.
How to give emotional support
Everyone can experience moments when one feels insecure and unable to manage their emotions, feeling inadequate or unprepared to make important decisions. The important thing is to acquire the necessary security to get out of these situations and address the problems with awareness and effectiveness. Sometimes, however, it is not easy to find the resources to change our approach on our own. In these cases, outside support can help us see more clearly the solutions that must be put into practice to regain serenity.
Knowing how to give emotional support is not easy, and it is easy to make big mistakes. Here are some helpful tips on how to give it:
- Choose the correct context. You need to make sure that those who need your support feel comfortable confiding in their problem. If possible, then, choose an empty room and a time that is not transitory. But even a corner away from prying eyes is enough, just to ensure privacy. Much better if it is a place with few distractions and where communication is easy.
- make questions. You can ask the other person what happened or how you feel, and the essential thing is to ensure that you listen. The other person has to understand that you are really interested in what they have to say and that you really want to support them.
- Actively listen. Look at the other person while they talk to you and give them your attention, as this will make them feel more important. Therefore, make this moment a personal and symmetrical interaction, in which one person expresses themselves and the other supports them by trying to understand how they feel. For example: maintaining eye contact, commenting without abruptly interrupting, summarizing the information provided by the other, etc.
- Rephrase what they tell you. Empathy is an essential element in helping others feel supported, and to identify with your interlocutor, you have to clearly understand what they are trying to communicate. You will have fewer doubts about his point of view if you take note of what he says and reflect on his speech; This way the other person will feel your support and understanding. In this article we explain.
- Imagine how they feel. Try to understand the other person’s true state of mind while he or she talks to you. By helping the person you are confronting identify what they are really experiencing, you will allow them to recognize and accept their feelings. To do this, use words of emotional support.
- Be understanding. You must let go of any thoughts or prejudices about the situation: be present and pay attention to what the other person is saying. Your job is not to solve her problems or find a solution, but to think about offering a safe ground in which she feels heard and understood.
- Be reassuring. It is important that the other person does not have difficulty expressing their feelings. Therefore, this is not the time to criticize him or the situation he finds himself in, because your goal is to communicate support and understanding.
- Ask what they plan to do. If the person believes that he needs emotional support, it is likely that something is wrong in her life. It is a great opportunity to help you understand what steps you can take to restore your emotional balance. This is another important tip on how to offer emotional support.
- Identify concrete measures. Your interlocutor will probably not be able to answer you right now, and you will have to help him solve his problem gradually. Therefore, it is important to find the next step, even if it is trivial.
- Show your support. In addition to beautiful words, you must also concretely demonstrate your emotional support, without abandoning her. Once you listen to the other person, you will likely have a better idea of what you can do to help them feel more protected.
In the following article, you can see.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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Bibliography
- Mascia, D. (2009). The organization of the reti in sanità. Theory, methods and instruments of social network analysis. Milan: Franco Angeli.
- Torricelli, C. (2020). Il sostegno emotivo nella copy. Retrieved from: http://www.amaepsicologiassociati.it/2020/02/06/il-sostegno-emotivo-nella-coppia/