It is great if you have people who can give you support, but not everyone can be a support. Our experiences are usually the catalyst of us being a support to others.

People may often find practical support easier and although the practical side is the easiest form of support, it is also the more time consuming.

With emotional support we should be more able to act as a support to other people, later on. With work on ourselves, being supportive is something we could all do.

Just because we have never had support, doesn’t mean we can't act as a support. It may just take us longer to work through the logistics of how we can be a support.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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4 comments on “A question of support”

  1. That's one of the good things about my family. We are there for each other in emotional and practical ways.

    I try to support people the best I can and it is harder when you don't live close, so you give support the best way you know how.

    1. You're on one of the lucky ones. From my own experience not everyone has that support network.

      It is harder of course when family aren't on the doorstep, but we do what we can when we can and as you say Lisa in the best way we know how. I'm pleased for you.

  2. I never got any support of any kind when I was younger. I was just left to my own devices so virtually raised myself in an emotional and practical vacuum.

    That has certainly shown me how not to do it as a parent and I enjoy taking an interest in my children and their well being.

    I wouldn't have it any other way.

    1. Although we experience negative values in our formative years, you've shown how something negative can turn into something positive. Your parents missed out on good times.

      It's lovely as parents to be able to take an interest in our children's life and accomplishments. I agree with you.

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