Sibling Support System

A bond that becomes stronger with fights and sharing of clothes and is held together with the pure thread of Rakshabandhan, that’s the bond of a sibling. Besides being your partner in crime when you want to sneak out of the house late at night or order food when you are hungry, siblings hold an essential place in our lives. And this bond becomes a part of something bigger, it transforms into being a support system for when you are feeling low or are looking for inspiration in life. Here is all about how siblings can become your biggest supporters in times of distress.

Siblings become a support system

They play a crucial role in holding a safe space for you, so you can share everything that makes your heart feel heavy. A sibling provides emotional support, understands your situation, and makes you feel okay when you are stressed. After all, they are your first friends in life. They help you cope with mental health challenges by opening the conversation and normalizing the concept of ‘asking for help.’ Because they know that when one doesn’t ask for help in times of distress, things become difficult. Here’s how stress can end up taking a hold of your life and lead to several other problems as well.

How does mental stress affect one’s life?

If not communicated and dealt properly with, stress can affect your life in various ways both physically and emotionally. It can affect your body leading to numerous diseases and illnesses while resulting in decreased quality of sleep, and a disturbed gut. The psychological effects of stress are also many:

– 51% of adults say that they feel depressed and 61% adults report that they feel anxious, as a result of stress

– About 20% adults report an increased inability to concentrate while 17% face a tough time making decisions

All this and more are direct results of mental stress.

In India, about 77% of Indians display at least one symptom of stress, and one in every third Indians struggle with stress and anxiety. This is because stress increases the level of cortisol in your body. So, to effectively deal with stress it is important to lower cortisol levels. For that, you need to spend some more time with your sibling and family while you add three60 de-stress & chill gummies to your diet. They naturally calm down anxiety within 30 mins while lowering cortisol levels with continued use.

Reaching out to your sibling may be difficult.

Sometimes, when you try to reach out to your closest one, aka, your sibling there is a barrier that stands in between. That’s the chain of stigma. Often you feel too shy talking about your problems to your past-time buddy and would rather watch some TV with your sibling. Other times you may find it confusing to open up the channel of mental health communication with your younger sibling. This is majorly because of the stigma that resides around mental health discussions in our country and coming out of these chains is important, too.

Breaking the stigma

Recently there has been increasing awareness around the issues of mental illness, still, many people struggle with discussing mental health problems, like, anxiety, and stress even with their closed ones. Siblings can play a pivotal role in breaking this stigma. This bond is built stronger with the love of a friend and the strength of family so siblings can be there for their brother or sister when they want to open about their struggles. Encouraging this initial conversation can be a critical step toward seeking further help and fostering a more open and accepting dialogue around mental health within the family and beyond. And all of this starts by listening to your sibling’s problems.

Having siblings as a support system

In times like these when stress and anxiety have become a part of our routine, one way of keeping it under control and looking at the positive side of life is by spending time with your sibling. Siblings can support each other by engaging in shared activities that reduce stress and enhance emotional bonds. Some of the steps to spending more time with your sibling can be to join a fitness class or go for regular walks together. You can also practice meditation or yoga to improve mental focus and relaxation and you both can try your hands on some hobbies like painting, cooking, or playing musical instruments that provide joy and relaxation.

The power of empathy and active listening

Empathy is what moves the world and sometimes, we can help someone a ton just by listening to them. As a sibling, it is important to listen to your brother or sister when they are sharing anecdotes about their struggle, no matter how big or small. Sometimes, simple gestures like checking in on them, making sure that they are doing better, offering support when required, being non-judgmental, or cracking a joke to make them smile can make a significant difference in their life.

Mental health effects of siblings moving away.

Sometimes, our elder siblings leave the home and move away for further education or to pursue career opportunities, leaving the next in line, aka, the younger one of the houses, with a void that can heavily impact their mental well-being. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and highlights the importance of maintaining strong connections even when there is physical distance present. Understanding these changes and tackling them with utmost consideration, love, and care can help both siblings adapt to the newer ways of life while staying emotionally connected. To do so, you can maintain regular contact with your sibling through calls and video chats where you share updates about each other’s lives and occasionally plan visits of vacations, too.

Building a lifelong support system

Even when you pursue different walks of life as adults, the sibling bond can continue to play a pivotal role in supporting each other through life’s unpredictable situations. Even as adults, you can continue to stay in touch, share your emotions, and make each other taste the sweeter side of life. By fostering stronger relationships early on, siblings can create a support system that endures throughout adulthood, providing a source of strength, comfort, and unconditional love.

(A marketing initiative by Open Avenues)

About The Author

Open