Exploring friendships and the health benefits that come from connection.

Science is revealing that social connections play a vital role in our health! From our immune system to our cardiovascular system, our core relationships influence us on a cellular level.

Studies have shown that the more social relationships someone has, the greater their ability to fight the common cold, recover from a heart attack, and are generally less likely to die prematurely of causes like cigarette smoking, obesity, and high blood pressure. 

In fact, social relationships have proven to be SO important that Dr. Vivek Murthy, former Surgeon General of the United States, hypothesized: “Loneliness and weak social connections are associated with a reduction in lifespan similar to that caused by smoking 15 cigarettes a day.”

In order to gain these health benefits, you have to move beyond casual or superficial relationships, which often don’t provide much in terms of emotional support. Just having a few close friends to listen to you, validate your feelings, and help distract you when you feel sad or upset is enough to support your body and mind on a biological level.

Want to make new friends, have community, or deepen the relationships you already have? Learn how a Wellness Coach can help you do so: