The Importance of Togetherness: How Connection Supports Mental Health

This article is authored by Gunjan Adya, an Expressive Art Therapist & Founder of Tula Journey

We all know that it’s the ‘comfort’ we seek when we are with our loved ones. What if I told you that it’s the ‘discomfort’ if sought , can bring us immense comfort.

With changing times, people are going deeper into their shells revealing only the perfectly curated persona of themselves for the outer world not realising that slowly & slowly it becomes a natural way of living making the person completely out of touch with who they really are. One, not only loses a connection with others but also drifts far from one’s own core.

This often makes people feel lost. It’s so important to remain in touch with one’s true self and sharing one’s vulnerabilities with our loved ones. This sharing helps grow trust making the other person too, become comfortable sharing their inner most feelings.

In an increasingly technology led world where people have scattered minds & short attention spans it’s imperative to make a sincere effort to slow down and take a ‘pause’ as the pause restores us. There is a surge of disconnection amongst people. We dedicate so much time to activities the mindlessly doom scrolling & watching endless seasons of TV series that we have no time for making ‘real’ connections with people … real humans! Studies show that loneliness is growing amongst today’s generation and they feel comfortable communicating from behind a screen.

Real interactions are becoming sparse. This often leads to anxiety and depression. Cultivating relationships is integral to foster a sense of belonging and reducing the feelings of alienation. Being able to spend time with others and share experiences helps individuals to form social bonds helping them grow patience and tolerance for each other and value different point of views. ‘Togetherness’ also helps in building strong support systems that provide comfort & guidance. These people are secure and have strong coping mechanisms.

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Connection is a powerful cornerstone of mental health contributing to a more fulfilling life. Connection brings about a sense of belonging and inclusion. If more and more people realise the importance of this , the world will be a much better place to live in.