Healing Through Community

Here are my old lady observations on the subject of community and its relationship to accountability, responsibility, and core values….

Isolation is terrible for mental health - but just being around people is not an automatic cure-all. At certain times in our life we need to reach out to community (however you define that) and ask them to hold and serve us. It might start with a therapist, or a visit to the ER. It might be finding a local club that fits your interests, mutual aid society or church. It is totally normal to have seasons where we show up and say, “AHHHHHHH…..” my people. And if it is an appropriate place to get these needs met, and the community has the tools it needs, this can be an amazing time for healing.

There will come a time when that itch is thoroughly scratched, and we begin to say, “What next?” If we need more support and holding, we need to define another need and find another community to scratch that little place on our back that we cannot reach. “AHHHHHHH…..” It may be a different therapist or a new home group or a new hobby or even a new church.

This is one helpful way to interact with community. It can serve us reasonably well. If our deepest need and core values are to find support and healing, then this is one way to achieve that and it is awesome if we can continue to seek and find.

Tomorrow, a further discussion on community holding and supporting.