Bear One Another’s Burdens: How Relationships Can Be A Resource For Emotional Health

In therapy, a therapist frequently inquires about a client’s social circles.  Are they close with their family?  Do they talk to their friends often?  Have they spoken to others about what they are going through?  More times than not, clients respond to this question by stating they have not spoken with others about their struggles as to “not be a burden to them”. 

In Scripture we hear Jesus tell us to “bear one another’s burdens”.  But what does this look like and how can we do it in a way that will lead to feeling refreshed rather than burnt out?  In order to share our burdens with others, we have to first know how to recognize them in the first place.  Our burdens are the things that feel too heavy to carry on our own.  The things greater than our everyday responsibilities that make getting through the day feel exhausting.  Loss, depression, anxiety, emotional fatigue are just a few of the examples of things that can become too heavy.  We can attempt to power through and distract from these struggles but that only leads to them feeling even heavier.  Instead, identifying what we are capable of handling while being honest about where our capacity ends can open up opportunity for us to find closeness in our relationships and relief from our burdens.

Our brains will try and convince us that going through hard things is inconvenient and that bringing in a friend or a family member to help us through it is selfish.  However, Bowen family systems theory shows us that openness in a relationship can lower tension and increase intimacy.  This can look like approaching a friend and not expecting them to solve all of our problems but trusting that they are capable of sitting with you in the uncomfortable feelings that these burdens can bring. It can serve as a reminder that while we are capable of managing our own emotions, receiving extra support with accurate expectations can be a helpful push to get us there.

At New Life we encourage you toward closeness in your relationships as a resource for healing.  Therapy can push you towards growth in many areas of life, but the real work happens during the time between sessions. This is where having a strong social circle can provide some relief.  We were created for community but at times our internal narratives or heightened expectations keep us from fully experiencing it. Therapy is a helpful tool for individuals experiencing these kinds of burdens who need the encouragement to engage with their relationships in a way that brings emotional freedom. Reach out today if you find yourself carrying the heavy things alone and need help identifying what it looks like to tap into these resources.

Preslee Townsend LPC-Associate

Supervised by Deana Reed LPC-S #68220

PresleeTownsend@nlcc1.com