Hello and welcome back to Your Absolute Mind, a podcast where we dive into all things mental health.

It's my job as your friendly neighbourhood therapist to break down complex topics and make them a little bit easier to understand.

Today, we're going to discuss something pretty important but that's often overlooked, reconnecting with our nearest and dearest, our close ones.

We'll break this conversation down into three parts, understanding the need,

recognizing the consequences and providing some practical solutions.

So let me ask you, have you ever noticed that eerie sense of distance, subtly weaving its way into your relationships,

with those who you hold dear, your parents, siblings, your partner, or perhaps those friends

that are more like family? It's a strange feeling, right? Like a beautiful melody just slowly

losing its harmony. And when you do feel it, it's as if the emotional drawbridge that linked your hearts is just gradually being hoisted up,

created an invisible motor around your relationship.

It's alarming and disconcerting.

Wouldn't you agree?

I mean, let's think about it for a minute. Who do we turn to when we're

tangled in a tough situation? Or when life feels like just a complicated jigsaw puzzle and we can't

seem to find the right piece, we turn to our close ones, our confidence, the ones who can decipher

our unspoken words, who can offer the right advice

or sometimes just sit by us in that comfort in silence. They are our emotional anchors,

grounding us when the tides get high. These emotional bonds with our loved ones serve as a guiding

beacon through the winding labyrinth of life.

When we're struggling, it's these connections that come to our rescue.

Much like a soothing balm and a fresh wound, a shelter in a storm, a comforting hug when we feel lost,

and our personal cheer squad when we succeed.

...