Interpersonal Relationships: Key to Your Life and Healing in Los Angeles

“No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”

- John Donne.

Interpersonal relationships are easy to develop - you grow up with or meet someone, and you can develop a relationship with them. So, then, it stands to reason why we are feeling so disconnected today. How we live life the Los Angeles way can offer a sneak peek into this - fast-paced, multiple roles to meet, and just the pressure to just roll with it leaves no room to take a step back and connect with yourself and the significant persons in your life.

Yet, healthy communities and societies are built on meaningful and fulfilling social connections. Psychologists, such as Abraham Maslow, have theorized that interpersonal relationships are an innate need that can leave you wanting when not met. So, how you find and foster interpersonal bonds adds to the experience of your life and healing from substance use and mental health struggles.

Interpersonal relationships are relationships you develop with those around you. This can mean family, friends, co-workers, intimate partners, and other acquaintances.

These bonds develop whenever you encounter and interact with someone. While some relationships may lose their importance over a period of time, others become stronger and enduring.

Linda Whiteside, Clinical Supervisor at the NuView Treatment Center, says, “You begin developing interpersonal bonds right from your birth - from your parents, siblings, friends, and romantic partners, to acquaintances and co-workers. It is not the number but the strength of these bonds that tells you how meaningful a relationship is to you - at a psychological and spiritual level.”

Every relationship you have in your life is unique and cannot be neatly put in a box - still, we can broadly categorize interpersonal relationships into 4 main types:

Family

Your family is your first connection to the world. Family can mean your parents, siblings, grandparents, and extended family. As you grow, your definition of family develops and changes. You will have your intimate partner and children whom you will call family as well.

While your relationship with your family can vary depending on the ebb and flow of life, it is still the deepest and most visceral interpersonal bond in your life. As an old saying goes, “You begin and end with your family.”

Friends

Friendships are the relationships that go beyond kinship. Think of your friends as the family you choose.

While friendships are largely situational and depend on your preferences, your friends can come in different types. You connect with some of your friends every day of your life, while you meet others once or twice a year. Nevertheless, your friends are those you can rely on and who make you feel happy.

Colleagues

Colleagues or co-workers are the relationships you make at your workplace. While many choose to draw a strict line between friends and colleagues, it is a fact that an average employee spends 2,087 hours at work every year. Bonds are bound to develop.

Sharing healthy bonds with your colleagues will ensure you feel good and willing to work, which also impacts your productivity and performance.

Romantic Partners

Probably the most written about interpersonal relationships, romantic partners are the intimate bonds you develop - with whom you share your dreams and life.

Psychologist Robert Sternberg says that it is passion and intimacy that differentiate romantic love from other relationships, while passion, intimacy, and commitment are all needed for a romantic bond to thrive.

Here are some ways in which you can develop and foster strong interpersonal relationships in your life:

• Emotional Intelligence: You learn to identify and manage your emotions so that you can relate well to others, instead of reacting impulsively.
• Empathy: Try to put yourself in others’ shoes to properly understand them. It creates a safe environment, where others can reach out and open up with you - as they feel they will not be judged.
• Communication: Communication needs to be two-way - you use active listening, ask clarifying questions, avoid interrupting, and open body language to show engagement.
• Openness and Flexibility: People and circumstances change, so being flexible helps relationships grow. Be open to different personalities, ideas, and events - this makes it easier to connect with diverse people and navigate differences together.
• Consistency: To build trust, be consistent in what you say and do. If you are unable to, put in the time and effort to repair the damage and practice forgiveness.
• Conflict Resolution: Disagreements happen - what matters is how you handle them. Stay relaxed, listen to the other side, ask questions to understand their perspective, and work together toward a compromise. How you resolve conflicts is personal to you, but do not let these wounds fester.
• Boundaries: Interpersonal boundaries might make no sense in relationships immediately, but to have healthy relationships, you need to maintain healthy personal and emotional boundaries.

Linda Whiteside informs, “Whether you are outgoing, reserved, or somewhere in between, we all like the feeling of being loved and listened to. The interpersonal bonds in your life can only be fulfilling when there is trust, respect, and commitment.”

In Los Angeles, an estimated 1,482,000 residents are struggling with a substance use disorder, while 1 in 5 people in Los Angeles struggles with a mental health condition each year. 33% of the time, these struggles tend to overlap. One main reason for this is the hidden epidemic called loneliness.

Social isolation and withdrawal can be precipitating factors in substance misuse and mental health concerns. But on the other hand, studies have shown that those with close family and friends are less likely to suffer from mental health issues, like depressive disorders. At the same time, they are also less likely to die from different causes - even heart and chronic conditions.

Linda Whiteside informs, “At NuView’s Los Angeles facility, we specifically strive to create recovery programs that unite families and loved ones in recovery because it translates to increased treatment engagement and adherence, real positive outcomes, and a reduced risk of relapse.”

To foster healthy interpersonal relationships in recovery, NuView integrates family therapy, couples therapy, group therapy, social skills training, communication skills training, and conflict resolution skills into broader substance use and mental health recovery options.

Interpersonal relationships are key to your lasting recovery - they act as a buffer and protect you from crisis, and they also offer motivation and support during the trying times in your healing journey.

At NuView in Los Angeles, we teach you how to develop positive interpersonal bonds in your life by building empathy, communication, and commitment, so that you can learn to care for those closest to you, even as you begin to care for yourself.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at (323) 307-7997 to connect with your experts today!

1. Why are interpersonal relationships crucial to recovery?

Strong interpersonal bonds create a supportive environment that promotes treatment adherence, positive outcomes, and reduced relapse rates.

2. Is it necessary to involve my family or loved ones in recovery?

While it is not necessary, treatment centers like NuView offer family-inclusive recovery programs designed to enhance understanding, support, and promote healing.

3. How do I rebuild relationships that were strained during a crisis or illness?

With supportive counseling, life skills training, and forgiveness, you repair connections and restore mutual understanding.

4. What if I feel too isolated to start building relationships?

Substance use and mental health can make you feel too isolated to start building relationships, but by gently rebuilding confidence and social skills, you can begin to develop social connections yet again.

5. How will NuView support me if I want to improve social or workplace relationships as part of my recovery?

NuView integrates interpersonal skill-building into broader recovery options, so that you can thrive in both personal and professional settings.