Peer Support: It Just Makes Sense
Peer support just makes sense. Why? Because when stress increases and we’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, we all benefit from effective outlets for decompressing.
It’s common for people dealing with everyday life challenges to say, “I don’t need therapy. I just need someone who will listen to me without judging me.” That’s what peer support and peer listening provide: the opportunity to talk and share in a safe, supportive environment.
Pre-clinical Help Is Here
Peer support is a pre-clinical behavioral health option. It’s aimed at helping people through everyday stresses along with significant life events like a big job change, a divorce, or managing an illness for oneself or others. In times of uncertainty, anxiety, or discomfort, having someone to turn to who has experienced something similar is deeply meaningful. You feel understood, worthy of time and attention—and frankly, relieved that someone “gets it.”
“In times of uncertainty, anxiety, or discomfort, having someone to turn to who has experienced something similar is deeply meaningful.”
Peer listeners understand because they’ve been there, too. But beyond lending an empathetic ear, peer support focuses on advocacy, education, mentoring, and motivation. The shared human connection that peer support fosters is a catalyst for change—whether that change is successfully getting through today’s struggle or building life skills that apply to the next rough patch.
The Brain Knows a Connected Conversation
Connecting with others during stressful times also impacts brain functioning. When we connect through conversation, the brain plays a significant role in how we feel and bond. Four major chemicals involved in this process are dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin, and endorphins (DOSE).
Each of these chemicals plays a role in supporting our need for connectivity and being heard. The more we feel heard, the more valued we feel. We get an active DOSE of happy chemicals when we express our thoughts, ideas, experiences, and woes during authentic listening sessions.
Feeling valued, heard and cared for leads to having a sense of belonging. When the human needs for connectivity and belonging are fulfilled, we are more productive and our sense of well-being increases. These connected conversations and their impact on the brain provide great context as to why peer support like that offered by Kindly Human “just makes sense.”
