Every witch has their own beautiful personality. It is not better to be introverted or extroverted; outgoing or shy; rather, what matters is that you accept who you are and keep relationships with people who love you and your uniqueness.

If you are feeling depressed or anxious, your social wellness may change. Yo may also need to care for the social aspect of your life if you are not getting enough interaction with others, if you think you need to end a relationship, or if you don’t know why you keep choosing people who hurt you.

The good news is, much of your social wellness is a part of your holistic health that is within your control. You can change the way you interact with people and how you feel about your relationships. Read our Mental Health for Witches Social Wellness guide below to learn more.

What Is Social Wellness?

The term social wellness refers to how we interact with the people around us, as well as how we deal with the relationships that matter to us. This does not imply that you need to achieve a certain level of social interaction or “social status” to stay well, but rather, you should feel comfortable with the level of social interaction that you do have — and you should also feel that you are thriving within your chosen relationships with others.

How to Care for Your Social Wellness

Know the Signs of Social Wellness: Review common signs of social wellness to gauge how you are doing. Could you adjust some parts of your social life, such as balancing personal and relationship time, taking more time to nurture your support network, or practice being authentic with the people you spend time with? Check-in with your social wellness often, and don’t be afraid to talk to a counselor, therapist, psychiatrist, spiritual advisor, or trusted friend or family member if you have questions about how to enhance your social health.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) also recommends that you:

-Take time to nurture and build healthy relationships

-Strive to make social connections with others, whether it be online or in-person

-Engage in active, enjoyable hobbies with loved ones and friends

Here at MHW, we also recommend that you become comfortable with your personal, optimal level of socialization. For example, if you don’t like to hang out with people on a daily basis but feel that you need a virtual event or social outing on the weekends, strive to meet your goal. Don’t compare yourself to your sister the social butterfly, or your coven mate who talks to everyone in the group daily.

What If I Don’t Feel Social?

There are times when you may not feel like being social, even if someone wants you to. That is okay. Listen to your body and mind. If you want to be alone, honor yourself. Your true friends will learn to understand. Consider telling loved ones if there are times when you don’t feel like talking or interacting. Let them know it has nothing to do with them and that you just need some time to relax, de-stress, think, or decompress.

When you feel like being social again, thank them for their understanding and enjoy their company. You will be surprised at just how easy it can be to meet everyone’s social needs with a little honest and open communication. When a friend or family member just won’t accept that there are times that you don’t want to be social, consider whether their energy or reaction is helping or hurting you. Does their opinion really matter? Is their negative energy even bringing value to you?

If you think that your behavior is out of character, or you have suddenly become antisocial, it could be a symptom of a mental health condition such as depression. There is nothing wrong with getting an evaluation from your primary care doctor, a psychiatrist, or a counselor – the symptoms are pretty recognizable and you can be on your way to feeling better quickly, whatever therapy or treatment plan you choose.

Living With Social Anxiety

Some people avoid social situations because they live with a condition known as social anxiety disorder. This condition may also be referred to as social phobia. It is an intense fear of being socially rejected, judged, or evaluated. Social anxiety can impact daily life and cause strong physical symptoms like nausea, sweating, and a rapid heart rate. A witch may even develop panic attacks related to social situations.

Millions of people live with social anxiety. If you are diagnosed with this condition, you are not alone. Talk to a licensed mental health counselor, licensed therapist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or doctor who specializes in social anxiety. You may even find social anxiety assistance in your occult or alternative medicine community. There are many options for treating social anxiety disorder. A form of psychotherapy known as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is known to provide benefits.

Every Witch Can Achieve Social Wellness

Now you know that your social wellness is all about you. Take some time to journal or jot down notes about your social wellness today. If you think you need to adjust aspects of your social life, we are here for you. Look out for our peer support services, coming soon. In the meantime, you can contact us with questions, learn more about us, or check out our emotional wellness resources that may be able to help you with your overall social needs.