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What is Social Wellness?

Social wellness consists of not only balancing our own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, but also active participation in society.

Signs of Social Wellness

Social wellness denotes the level of interpersonal relationships that we have with others, whether friends, co-workers, or family.1 

There are many signs of positive social wellness. Some of the various indications of social wellness will be detailed below.

Maintaining and Developing Friendships and Social Networks

Regular contact with friends and family can promote a culture of health and reduce feelings of isolation and despair. 

Conveying your Thoughts, Ideas, Needs, and Wants

Conveying your thoughts, needs, and wants, assertively helps build trusting and healthy relationships with others and can help you become more empathetic and a better listener. 

Being Yourself in all Situations

The ability to be your authentic self in all situations is a sign of social well-being and social health, as is treating others with respect and valuing diversity. 

Balancing Social and Personal Time

Balancing social and personal time, setting boundaries, and remembering to have fun are essential in preserving social and mental well-being. Social dimensions of wellness mean recognizing one’s interconnectedness with others for the betterment of the community.

Why is Social Wellness Important?

Human beings are innately social creatures. We thrive on our connections with others within and outside of our family. Maintaining healthy relationships is essential to our overall health and wellness. 

Loneliness and Anxiety 

Loneliness and anxiety can lead to negative physical and emotional manifestations such as cardiovascular, mental health disease, and addiction. Those who struggle with loneliness and isolation are generally at higher risk for developing addictions to drugs or alcohol. 

Developing Healthy and Supportive Bonds

Developing healthy and supportive bonds with others can boost memory, reduce the risk of dementia, improve sleep by reducing stress, and lower overall mortality. The influence of social relationships on the risk of death is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality, such as smoking and alcohol consumption.2 


Relationships grant care and support during difficult times and can be protective, mentally, and emotionally. Close personal relationships can reduce feelings of isolation, enable self-care, and increase feelings of emotional connectedness by stimulating the brain’s dopamine response.

Sharing your Experiences with Others

Another one of the benefits of social wellness is the ability to share your life experiences and your story with others. While it is true that social media provides a quick and easy outlet to share our lives online, communicating with friends and family face-to-face is even more powerful. These face-to-face communications allow you to establish genuine, deep connections that can last a lifetime. 

How to Improve Social Wellness

There are many ways to improve your social health skills and increase your social wellness activities, including: 

Making Connections

Making connections is a way of practicing self-care, as it can increase both mental and social health through the reduction of isolation and loneliness. 

Activities with Family and Friends

Another way to improve social health is to get active with friends and family. This is a way to create connections and also stick to a healthy routine.3

Joining a Social Club

You should consider joining a local club or organization, focusing on your favorite hobbies, and increasing your social health activities. 

Support from Family and Friends

Support from family and friends during recovery and rehabilitation is central to success and can decrease the risk of relapse.  

Disconnecting from Unhealthy Relationships

Just as connecting with healthy relationships is essential to recovery, breaking away from unhealthy connections can have a positive impact as well.  

Social Wellness Therapy

Social wellness is important in addiction recovery because it reduces isolation and provides a social support system during difficult periods of life.


A therapist can help you improve your social wellness by assessing your strengths and areas for growth, assisting in defining your social wellness and health goals, giving you tips on healthy social interaction, and motivating you toward wellness-promoting strategies. 

Health Benefits of Social Wellness

There are many health benefits that come from nurturing our commitment to social health and wellness.

 

Positive Outcomes of Social Wellness

Those who experience and maintain social wellness will reap the benefits of:4

  • Close Connections with Others: Relationships can help us navigate the world, interact with others, express our thoughts and feelings, and become more socially, emotionally, and physically healthy. Having close connections with others is a huge promoter for making healthy choices in our lives, which in turn can foster mechanisms for coping with stress and becoming more motivated toward wellness in general.
  • Strengthening the Immune System: Some other health benefits include strengthening your immune system, building resiliency, increased social wellbeing, increased mental stability and better memory to name a few. Focusing on your social wellness goals can improve your life and help you achieve healthier living.
  • Mental Health: Social wellness is key to mental health, as it provides individuals with the necessary support systems to face all aspects of life, including illness or addiction.
Social Wellness

Improving Social Health and Wellness

Lack of social connection and social wellness can lead to isolation, loneliness, and relapse. This is why community engagement is necessary for long-lasting mental and emotional health.5


A few ways to improve social health and take part in social wellness activities are to make some time for yourself, contribute to society by participating in a community volunteer program, or broaden your horizons by doing something new and unexpected. 


Learn More About Social Wellness at Anew Treatment Center

At Anew Treatment Center, we can help you get connected. Social health and wellness can also play a role in addiction recovery as it boosts well-being and self-esteem, helps foster healthier behaviors, and creates higher success in addiction recovery.


If you’re seeking professional guidance to help improve your social, mental, and physical health, reach out to us at Anew Treatment Center. Contact our experienced professionals for disease treatment, therapy, and more health resources. 

Learn More About Our Treatment Programs

Our team is ready to talk and determine how we can help. Rest assured your call is confidential. We're here for you.

What is Social Wellness?

Social wellness consists of not only balancing our own physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, but also active participation in society.

Signs of Social Wellness

Social wellness denotes the level of interpersonal relationships that we have with others, whether friends, co-workers, or family.1 

There are many signs of positive social wellness. Some of the various indications of social wellness will be detailed below.

Maintaining and Developing Friendships and Social Networks

Regular contact with friends and family can promote a culture of health and reduce feelings of isolation and despair. 

Conveying your Thoughts, Ideas, Needs, and Wants

Conveying your thoughts, needs, and wants, assertively helps build trusting and healthy relationships with others and can help you become more empathetic and a better listener. 

Being Yourself in all Situations

The ability to be your authentic self in all situations is a sign of social well-being and social health, as is treating others with respect and valuing diversity. 

Balancing Social and Personal Time

Balancing social and personal time, setting boundaries, and remembering to have fun are essential in preserving social and mental well-being. Social dimensions of wellness mean recognizing one’s interconnectedness with others for the betterment of the community.

Why is Social Wellness Important?

Human beings are innately social creatures. We thrive on our connections with others within and outside of our family. Maintaining healthy relationships is essential to our overall health and wellness. 

Loneliness and Anxiety 

Loneliness and anxiety can lead to negative physical and emotional manifestations such as cardiovascular and mental health disease. Those who struggle with loneliness and isolation are generally at higher risk for developing dual diagnosis. 

Developing Healthy and Supportive Bonds

Developing healthy and supportive bonds with others can boost memory, reduce the risk of dementia, improve sleep by reducing stress, and lower overall mortality. The influence of social relationships on the risk of death is comparable with well-established risk factors for mortality, such as smoking.

 

Relationships grant care and support during difficult times and can be protective, mentally, and emotionally. Close personal relationships can reduce feelings of isolation, enable self-care, and increase feelings of emotional connectedness by stimulating the brain’s dopamine response.

Sharing your Experiences with Others

Another one of the benefits of social wellness is the ability to share your life experiences and your story with others. While it is true that social media provides a quick and easy outlet to share our lives online, communicating with friends and family face-to-face is even more powerful. These face-to-face communications allow you to establish genuine, deep connections that can last a lifetime. 

How to Improve Social Wellness

There are many ways to improve your social health skills and increase your social wellness activities, including: 

Making Connections

Making connections is a way of practicing self-care, as it can increase both mental and social health through the reduction of isolation and loneliness. 

Activities with Family and Friends

Another way to improve social health is to get active with friends and family. This is a way to create connections and also stick to a healthy routine.3

Joining a Social Club

You should consider joining a local club or organization, focusing on your favorite hobbies, and increasing your social health activities. 

Support from Family and Friends

Support from family and friends during recovery and rehabilitation is central to success and can decrease the risk of relapse.  

Disconnecting from Unhealthy Relationships

Just as connecting with healthy relationships is essential to recovery, breaking away from unhealthy connections can have a positive impact as well.  

Social Wellness Therapy

Social wellness is important in recovery because it reduces isolation and provides a social support system during difficult periods of life.

 

A therapist can help you improve your social wellness by assessing your strengths and areas for growth, assisting in defining your social wellness and health goals, giving you tips on healthy social interaction, and motivating you toward wellness-promoting strategies. 

Health Benefits of Social Wellness

There are many health benefits that come from nurturing our commitment to social health and wellness.

 

Positive Outcomes of Social Wellness

Those who experience and maintain social wellness will reap the benefits of:4

  • Close Connections with Others: Relationships can help us navigate the world, interact with others, express our thoughts and feelings, and become more socially, emotionally, and physically healthy. Having close connections with others is a huge promoter for making healthy choices in our lives, which in turn can foster mechanisms for coping with stress and becoming more motivated toward wellness in general.
  • Strengthening the Immune System: Some other health benefits include strengthening your immune system, building resiliency, increased social wellbeing, increased mental stability and better memory to name a few. Focusing on your social wellness goals can improve your life and help you achieve healthier living.
  • Mental Health: Social wellness is key to mental health, as it provides individuals with the necessary support systems to face all aspects of life, including illness.

Social Wellness

Improving Social Health and Wellness

Lack of social connection and social wellness can lead to isolation, loneliness, and relapse. This is why community engagement is necessary for long-lasting mental and emotional health.5

 

A few ways to improve social health and take part in social wellness activities are to make some time for yourself, contribute to society by participating in a community volunteer program, or broaden your horizons by doing something new and unexpected. 

 

Learn More About Social Wellness at Anew Treatment Center

At Anew Treatment Center, we can help you get connected. Social health and wellness can also play a role in recovery as it boosts well-being and self-esteem, helps foster healthier behaviors, and creates higher success in recovery.

 

If you’re seeking professional guidance to help improve your social, mental, and physical health, reach out to us at Anew Treatment Center. Contact our experienced professionals for disease treatment, therapy, and more health resources. 

Resources

  1. 1https://www.unh.edu/health/social-wellness
  2. 2https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316
  3. 3https://www.nih.gov/health-information/social-wellness-toolkit
  4. 4https://www.sccmha.org/userfiles/filemanager/1058/
  5. 5https://nida.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/2018/10/study-shows-impact-of-social-interactions-on-addictive-behavior

Learn More About Our Treatment Programs

Our team is ready to talk and determine how we can help. Rest assured your call is confidential. We’re here for you.