Social support and friendships are a crucial part of an emotionally healthy lifestyle. We know that social support is crucial for preventing and recovering from depression. But for many people with depression, they can often feel that their friendships and level of social connection is shallow, or not as deep as they would like. If you would like to improve your level of social connection and social support, the first place to start is building closer friendships and deepening current relationships. This video provides some practical tips for how to build closer friendships and deepening the quality of some of your current relationships.

Some of the things that you can do to build closer friendships or deepen the relationships you have include:
1) Make relationships a priority over other activities like chores or solitary pursuits.
2) Focus on regularity. Try to set up regular meetings with friends and ensure that not too much time is passing between when you see your friends.
3) Open up about yourself, share your feelings, opinions and experiences. By doing so, you increase your level of emotional vulnerability and connection with the other person.
4) Allow yourself to be vulnerable with the other person. Allow them an opportunity to see behind the “social media highlight reel” that you might typically share with most people.
5) Combine activities by layering socializing on top of other things you do such as shopping, exercise, carpooling or play dates with your children.
6) Ensure that you are casting a large net and maintaining friendships with a number of people, rather than focusing on just one person.

For more information on understanding your social network, check out this video:    • Do You Have Enough SOCIAL Support? Ho...  

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For more information about the North Shore Stress and Anxiety Clinic, visit: http://www.nssac.ca

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