How we break

Disappointments and challenges are a part of life. What they do to us depends on who what is around us.

The Rehbinder effect in physics is the reduction in the hardness and ductility of a material, particularly metals, by a surfactant film.

A proposed explanation for this effect is the disruption of surface oxide films, and the reduction of surface energy by surfactants. 

The effect is of particular importance in machining, as lubricants reduce cutting forces.

Source: Wikipedia

A surfactant layer is any chemical that can cause the surface tension to be reduced. In the case of the video posted below, water plays a role.

The ceramic mug in the above example falls apart when struck in air. When the same blow is delivered underwater, the water absorbs the pressure through cavitation. 

This same phenomenon can be extrapolated to your mental health. The kind of people you surround yourself with matters. There are people who would offer you support and those who would not. There are those who will gather around you when you are at your lowest and there are those who will disappear. If you surround yourself with people who will hear you out, support you, comfort you, and be positive, you will be able to weather whatever external pressure you are made to endure. It may hurt you, but it will not destroy you.

If you are surrounded by people who would offer you no support or worse remain pessimistic, even the slightest challenge can break you. 

What kind of people are you surrounding yourself with?