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| FRIENDS IMPACT ON MENTL HEALTH |
"Our friends play a significant role in shaping our lives, from shaping our personality to impacting our mental well-being. The quality and quantity of social connections we have with others can have a profound impact on our mental health. This article explores the extent to which friends impact our mental health, the types of relationships that are beneficial, and the ways in which we can cultivate positive and supportive friendships for optimal mental health."
Friendships can have a significant impact on your health and well-being, but they are not always easy to form or maintain. Continue reading to learn about the value of friendships in your life and what you can do to cultivate and nurture new ones.
Loneliness becomes unavoidable in the absence of social connections, and it can increase the risk of mental health problems. For example,
In a 2002 study of over 28,000 men, it was discovered that people with few social ties were nearly 20% more likely to die within ten years, regardless of their socioeconomic status. The study discovered that men who reported loneliness were more likely to have accidents, commit suicide, or die from cardiovascular disease.
Another study on friendship found a strong link between friendship and social support, as well as a link between friendship and better health outcomes (Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 2010).
Several studies have found that close friendships are beneficial to one's physical, mental, and emotional health.
Friendship Has Many Advantages:
1- Friends not only keep you from feeling lonely, but they are also:
2- Increase your sense of purpose and belonging.
3- Increase your happiness while decreasing your stress.
4- Increase your self-esteem and confidence.
5- Assist you in dealing with traumatic events such as divorce, serious illness, job loss, or the death of a loved one.
6-Encourage you to change or avoid unhealthy lifestyle habits like binge drinking or lack of exercise.
7- Assist in putting your problems into context in order to develop a stronger sense of meaning and direction.
8- Increase feelings of security and aid in stress reduction
9- Reduce the emotional impact of difficulties and provide new approaches to dealing with them.
What is the significance of friendship when someone is ill?
It is important to try to maintain friendships when someone has a mental health problem or is experiencing mental distress, even though people with mental health problems often want to see their friends less than usual.
Friendship can play an important role in assisting someone to live with or recover from a mental health problem, as well as overcome the isolation that often accompanies it. It's natural to be concerned when a friend is in trouble, and most of us don't want to abandon a friend in distress, no matter how difficult it is to support them. Many people who manage to keep their friendship alive believe it has grown stronger as a result.
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| TELL FRIENDS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH |
1- Choose a trusted friend to be the first person you tell. Determine how to discuss your mental health issue in a way that will allow both of you to avoid embarrassment as much as possible.
2- You can either practice your opening sentence or just go with the flow.
3- Choose a time and location that is convenient for both of you.
4-You might want to consider whether:
The environment is quiet or noisy, indoors or outdoors, you are alone or with others, for example, in a pub or cafe you are doing an activity together, such as going for a walk or simply sitting down for a chat.
5-You could call or write to your friend, but if you do, try to talk to them in person afterwards.
Some people have strong reactions to such news. Be prepared for your friend to be surprised or to dismiss it at first. Although mental health issues are common, this may be the first time they've heard someone mention them.
They might feel awkward and unsure how to respond. This could be because they are concerned about you, or it could be because your news has struck a chord with something in their own life.
Because most people are unaware of mental health issues, it may be a good idea to inform your friend about the issue.
Conclusion
In conclusion, friends play a crucial role in our mental health. Whether it is through providing emotional support, offering a shoulder to lean on, or simply being a source of positivity and happiness, friends can have a profound impact on our well-being. While it is important to maintain a healthy balance of alone time and time spent with friends, having a supportive network of people can make all the difference in promoting and maintaining good mental health. So, it is important to invest time and effort into cultivating strong, positive friendships and building a supportive social network.
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