Friends are there to help you

Hugging your friends can be a great way to show you care for them. Physical contact can be comforting, especially when someone feels alone. So, go for it! It's not always easy to find the right place to start. Our 'What's on your mind? Why good friends are so important Research has shown that the better the quality of your relationships, the more likely you are to be happy. Signs of a good friend Friends will come and go in your life.

What can I do now? Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Wilson RE, et al. Personality and friendship satisfaction in daily life: Do everyday social interactions account for individual differences in friendship satisfaction? European Journal of Personality. Ong AD, et al. Loneliness and health in older adults: A mini-review and synthesis.

Gerontology ; O'Connell BH, et al. Enhancing social relationships through positive psychology activities: A randomised controlled trial. The Journal of Positive Psychology. Yang YC, et al. Social relationships and physiological determinants of longevity across the human life span. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Hall-Flavin D expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Thoits PA. Mechanisms linking social ties and support to physical and mental health. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. Halter JB, et al. Preventive gerontology: Strategies for optimizing health across the life span. In: Hazzard's Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. New York, N. Accessed Sept. McCloskey W, et al. Are Facebook "friends" helpful? Development of a Facebook-based measure of social support and examination of relationships among depression, quality of life, and social support.

Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking. Introduction to the Process of Making Friends. Self-published, Rakel D. In: Integrative Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa. Bystritsky A. Complementary and alternative treatments for anxiety symptoms and disorders: Physical, cognitive, and spiritual interventions. See also Tips for being happy A Very Happy Brain Anger management: 10 tips to tame your temper Anger management: Your questions answered Be kind to yourself: How self-compassion can improve your resiliency Change your mind to grow COVID and your mental health Denial Empty nest syndrome Focus on progress, not perfection Reduce stress with a kind gesture How to be happy Mental health Passive-aggressive behavior Put a leash on anger Boosting self-esteem Self-esteem check Stay healthy by making friends Stop multitasking and focus Show more related content.

Having a close circle of friends can decrease your risk of health problems like diabetes, heart attack, and stroke. Having strong social ties can also decrease feelings of loneliness, which evidence shows can take a toll on your longevity. According to a review, people with strong relationships have half the risk of premature death from all causes. Social isolation and loneliness are linked to a variety of health issues such as high blood pressure, substance abuse , heart disease, and even cancer.

One possible explanation for those health benefits is that friendships can help you make lifestyle changes that can have a direct impact on your well-being. For example, your friends can help you set and maintain goals to eat better and exercise more. Additionally, people are more motivated and likely to stick to a weight loss or exercise program when they do it with a buddy.

It's much easier to get out and stay active when you have a friend by your side. That friend may also suggest activities that you would not have considered on your own—thus, pushing you outside your comfort zone to challenge your anxiety.

If you find yourself going through a hard time, having a friend to help you through can make the transition easier. Research also shows that happiness is contagious among friends. One study of high school students found that those who were depressed were twice as likely to recover if they had happy friends.

Likewise, kids were half as likely to develop depression if their friends had a "healthy mood. Everyone has self-doubts and insecurities every now and then.

But having friends who support you plays a big role in building your self-esteem , or how much you appreciate and love yourself. Supportive friends can help you feel more confident by offering praise and reassurance when you're feeling unsure. They'll shine a light on just how amazing you are and how much you have to offer others. Everyone goes through stressful events. If you know you have people you can count on, you may be less likely to even perceive a tough time as stressful.

Spending time with friends can also help reduce stress. According to Harvard Medical School, "social connections help relieve levels of stress, which can harm the heart's arteries, gut function, insulin regulation, and the immune system. Friends can also help you cope with stressful situations. According to one small study, when children hang out with their friends during a stressful situation, they produce less cortisol, a hormone released when the body is under stress.

A lack of friends can leave you feeling lonely and without support, which makes you vulnerable to other problems such as depression and substance abuse. Friends can also provide a positive influence. If you make friends with people who are generous with their time, help others, or are ambitious or family-oriented, you are more likely to develop those values yourself.

Great friends have the power to mold you into the best version of yourself. They see you and love you for who you truly are.