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How can I protect my well-being while supporting others? Well-being is the overall state of a person's health, happiness and quality of life. It involves feeling good and functioning well in different areas of life. Supporting others can be rewarding, but it can also be emotionally demanding. Protecting your well-being allows you to continue helping others in a sustainable way. You can do that by setting clear boundaries. Be clear about what you can and cannot offer. Avoid taking responsibility for solving other people's problems. When your capacity is limited, learn to say no, not right now, or that doesn't work for me. Avoid over identifying with other people's struggles. Remember their feelings belong to them, and your role is to support, not to carry their emotional burden. Maintain a balance between helping others and meeting your own needs. Check in with yourself and ask yourself, How am I feeling emotionally, mentally, physically? Notice whether you feel drained, overwhelmed or resentful. And a good question to ask yourself is what do I need right now? Regular self-reflection can help you notice signs of stress before they become overwhelming. Prioritize self-care. Make time for activities that restore your energy, such as rest or adequate sleep, exercise or movement, meditation or mindfulness, spending time in nature, creative hobbies, connecting with supported like minded people. Even people who support others need support themselves. If you are thinking of harming yourself or feel unsafe, please call your local emergency number or crisis line.