Therapist's Guide to Clinical Intervention - Sigmund Freud

HOW TO BUILD AND KEEP A SUPPORT SYSTEM
1. To be emotionally well and keep my moods stable.
What do you do to maintain stable moods?
2. To take care of myself.
List your self-care behaviors:
3. To recognize and accept that others can help, but that I am responsible for
making myself okay.
Define what you must do for yourself versus what is reasonable for others to
do for you:
4. Develop appropriate social skills.
This can be done by working with your therapist, reading and practicing the
techniques you read about, participating in activities in the community or
special groups, taking a class at adult education programs if available,
watching what other people do and what responses they get. Be involved.
What resources are available to you?
5. Do volunteer work and be supportive of others.
Whether it is doing volunteer work or being supportive to people you know, it
is good practice.
Where could you volunteer?
Who supports you and how can you be supportive back to them?
6. Make it a point to keep in touch with friends and acquaintances.
When was the last time you invited someone to do something or made an effort
to get together? If it didn't work out was it the timing, the activity, or someone
who really isn't capable of being a social support for you? What are you going
to do to become more successful with this point?
7. How will you know if you are making progress in developing a support system?
312 3. Skill-Building Resources for Increasing Social Competency