Your health, your call: 5 reasons why moms choose a support system
Whether it’s at birth, as a toddler, or during the school years—parents, particularly mothers, often find themselves asking questions about health and safety. A mother may not know anyone who’s experienced the same kinds of problems, while another mom may feel too shy to share the details or ask questions directly.
This is where communities and support groups can become key. By finding other parents who are facing, or have faced, the same issues, many parents feel better able to navigate a path they never envisioned. With the increasing number of health issues today, it helps to know that you can connect with a group that can understand your situation and share information.
Thanks to the Internet, a few keystrokes is all it takes to find support groups both on and offline via a variety of sources, including nonprofit organizations, Facebook pages and groups, Viber and Whatsapp communities. Often, parents you connect with can lead you to other groups until you find the right fit.
Studies have shown that mothers who feel they control their lives and parenthood are more consistent and better at achieving their goals. Parents with a social support network maintain a better relationship with their children and make more informed decisions. (1)
What makes a good support system?
A support system is a group of people who provide mental, emotional, and practical support when you need it most. They also help keep you going strong and cheer you on when you’re doing well.
Support groups for mom help to reconnect you to the external world while allowing you to focus on other people and interactions. Sometimes this comes in the form of a heart-to-heart with a friend and seeking useful advice. Other times, you may find yourself on the giving end of the advice. Everyone is an expert at something.
A good support system also ensures that you only have reliable and factual information to help you make informed decisions. They follow community guidelines to maintain the authenticity and reliability of the groups. This is especially true for communities that provide health and safety tips and advice for families.
Why do you need a support system?
Having fellow mothers you can trust and turn to can help you manage everyday challenges, make difficult decisions, or even during a crisis.
The American Psychological Association shares the following benefits of having a support system: (2)
Sense of belonging: As we go through life, it is important to feel a sense of belonging. We develop these relationships with our family of origin and friends as we grow from children to adolescents to adults. We need to thrive, not just survive. Having an effective support system can help us flourish and reach our potential, no matter what our goal may be.
Reduces Stress: Support systems are important for reducing stress. A good way to reduce anxiety is to spend time with loved ones or people with the same interests. Call a friend or family member to go for a walk, hike or yoga class when you need to reduce stress. A supportive network can assist us in decompressing after a stressful day.
Improves overall health and well-being: A good support system helps with our overall physical health and provides useful tips and advice. A sense of belonging helps us feel physically and emotionally well.
Emotional support: An emotional support system is very important as good emotional health and well-being can increase overall physical health. A strong support system is pertinent to good emotional health as it gives us a community of support during trying times.
Improved self-esteem: When we have people we can rely on and who can rely on us for support, we feel better about ourselves. It is always good to feel as though we have some people rooting for us on the sidelines and rooting for those in our support system.
Whether you are a new mom, a seasoned mom or planning to be a mom, you will benefit from a support system who really cares for you and your family’s health. To get the latest tips, advice and reliable information on health and safety, visit and follow Call the Shots PH official page: https://www.facebook.com/CallTheShotsPH/
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