"Should I ask friends for advice?" How to know if your friends are safe people to share your worries and fears with

Friendships are incredibly important for our overall health and well-being.

In fact, research shows that people who have strong family and friend connections, as well as intimate relationships, live longer and happier lives. The pandemic led to the separation of family, friends, and colleagues, and we are slowly getting back to work, family and friend get-togethers, and public events.

Perhaps you found yourself connecting more closely with new people or old friends, and distancing yourself from people who were a normal part of your life. Friendships change over time, and this is a normal part of life. Many people report making friends online during the pandemic and learning new ways to connect with old friends. On the flip side of these fresh digital connections, many couples are now in therapy recovery from online affairs, pornography addiction, communication problems, or parenting and money conflicts. 

If your marriage is struggling, you aren’t alone. If your partner betrayed you through an online relationship or sexual affair, your world may feel like it’s falling apart. You can’t trust your partner, and you fear your friends and family will judge you. After betrayal trauma, many people take a close look at their social relationships, self-care routines, and develop ways to manage stress. These are all important steps in the recovery process.

Here are a few questions to help you consider whether your friends are safe people to share your worries and fears.

• Are they willing to listen without giving advice?

• Are they open to hearing your perspective and respectful of your beliefs and values?

• Do you feel supported?

• Do you feel valued, understood, and needed as a friend?

• Do they encourage you?

• Do they offer sound advice when you want it? 

It is important to surround yourself with people whom you can rely on and trust. If you are alone and struggling to find friends that support you, a qualified mental health professional can help you set boundaries and find ways to seek fulfilling and trustworthy relationships. 

Schedule a free 20-minute phone consultation to find your way back to yourself, with less anxiety and more ease in San Marcos and Cypress, Texas.