Good, healthy relationships do wonders for our mental health. Strong, supportive social bonds foster resilience, reduce stress, and regulate emotions.
And when stress is reduced, that helps our hormones balance out, which is a very, very good thing that affects our overall health and functionality.
So it makes sense that it would do good to do what one can to maintain these good relationships and fortunately, there are many ways we can do that!
There is one less utilized way that I would like to talk about.
In the modern age of text messages, emails and video chatting, I'd like to ask a question - Remember hand-written letters?
There is something special about receiving a physical card or package in the snail mail. Not packages from Amazon or any other store, but a hand-written letter or a card with a penned down personal message that is meant just for you.
For generations, people have written letters by hand to keep in touch with each other. It's something special to receive a piece of paper that a loved one has handled themselves and took the time and effort to create something special for you.
Not only is it the message, but the real, personal connection that can be shared between people via paper that has travelled a number of miles, reaching you from another place, another life, another heart that thinks of you.
People have spent years collecting letters from their near and dear ones. Occasionally taking them out and reading them. It's a really special way to maintain ties.
But the paper card or letter seems to be a dying art.
It's easier to send an email or text message, sure, but what about those special messages you have for your people that are closest to your heart but farther by distance?
Reserving the occasional letter or care package can be a wonderful way to let them know you still love in nowadays would be considered a more unique, retro, but personal way.
Even sending a special letter once or twice a year can be a treat to the receiver. Not just the typical Christmas card, but what about annual updates? Keeping your people in the loop on what's been going on with you where you are.
Let's take a look at the alternative, loneliness and how that affects us.
According to Google - Chronic isolation triggers the body's stress response, actively accelerating the onset of depression and anxiety. In turn, these mental health conditions make it significantly harder to form new relationships, creating a difficult cycle.
The Vicious Cycle
Loneliness is not simply being alone; it is a distressing, subjective feeling that you lack the meaningful social connections you desire. The relationship between loneliness and mental health goes both ways:
Mental Health Causes Isolation: Conditions like depression or social anxiety can drain your energy and impede emotion regulation, leading you to withdraw from social situations.
Isolation Heightens Symptoms: Lacking a strong, supportive social safety net makes it much harder to cope with life stressors, causing general anxiety, depressive symptoms, and paranoid thinking to increase.
Long-Term Health Impacts
Leaving chronic loneliness untreated can have detrimental effects on both your mind and body. Doctors equate the health risks of severe isolation to smoking or obesity. Long-term consequences include:
Elevated levels of stress hormones and chronic inflammation.
Higher risks for developing dementia.
Increased susceptibility to cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
Higher rates of substance misuse and suicidal ideation
Dang.
That's kind of hard to look at, I myself can be pretty introverted and can have loner tendencies. I can't deny that being alone too long can affect you and it is really a good thing to have friends you can regularly talk to and connect with.
I remember getting letters and care packages from my grandparents and great grandparents after we moved away when I was a kid. I have saved their cards and letters over the years and occasionally look through them. They let me know that despite the distance, I wasn't ever forgotten and was still loved.
They told me this over and over with their own words and their character came through not only in the style of paper they chose, but also their individual handwriting, and I could almost hear their voice as I read their notes.
That always meant a lot.
So, given my experience, hand-written letters, cards and care packages in the snail mail make sense. Offering a more human connection than typing out quick digital messages.
That's why I design cards and stationary, amongst other things. You can see all that fun stuff in my shop.
These are crucial for our overall wellbeing. Don't take these treasures for granted and let them fall by the wayside. Make it a point to regularly invest in the key relationships in your life in the ways the best works for you!