Stay Emotionally Connected When Far Apart
Though we may be physically distanced, we don’t have to feel emotionally distanced from our families. Keep those connections alive. The support of family is more important than ever.
Families, particularly now, face forces that can pull them apart. Healthy communication amongst families is more important than ever to help foster a sense of connection. “This idea of feeling connected becomes very reinforcing, to all of us, and it contributes to happiness, it contributes to mental health and it does contribute also to physical health,” says John Northman, a psychologist from Buffalo, NY.
“It’s well known that when people feel better connected, that they feel better physically, they’re certainly less likely to feel depressed — or if they do, they’re in a better position to get out of being depressed. “Overall, it leads to a feeling of a greater degree of support and connection psychologically,” he said.
Help your family stay connected:
Communicate: “Communication is what creates families. When family members communicate, they do more than send messages to each other -- they enact their relationships.”
Stay connected: Send a card or brief email. Leave a message or send a text message without the demand or expectation of one in return.
Support one another: Good family communication is important because families are what we most often turn to for support, Vangelisti says. If families aren’t communicating, support systems can fall apart.
Though we may be physically distanced, we don’t have to feel emotionally distanced from our families. Keep those connections alive. The support of family is more important than ever.
Kinoo is reimagining how families connect online, turning video chat into video play. Join our community and learn more. www.kinoo.family