Having a good friend that you can confide in, share beautiful memories, and laugh with is among the most important things you can have in life. According to The Doe, practicing self care and love, as well as surrounding yourself with healthy relationships, is crucial to protecting your mental health. Talking and listening to a good friend helps keep us grounded and helps us look at things and life differently. Thus, you must put in the effort to maintain and make new friends.
But remember, not all friends are good, but good friends can communicate openly, so what are the benefits of friendship with your mental well-being?
1. Friends help you reduce stress
We all face stress levels in life, which might be significant life changes and shifts or small doses. No matter how big or small it seems, this could pile up and be overwhelming for one to handle. But with strong friendships, you can cope with whatever life throws at you. Because you don’t feel you are handling the issue all alone; as a result, it could even reduce the chances of addressing these issues.
If you are feeling down and don’t know what to do, you can call your friends. Make a plan and go enjoy with them. Stressful situations make your mind dull and impact your decision-making skills. However, with the right friends, you can spend a good time together.
If you have social friends, they might plan a party to divert your mind. Or they might take you somewhere where you can forget all your worries and enjoy the time.
2. You get some emotional support
Emotional support is part of the package of a good friendship. You get support by listening to your troubles, validating the feelings you might be experiencing, making friendly gestures because they care about you, and when you are upset, they can help distract and keep your mind at ease. Many of us run to our romantic partners to offer this emotional support. It is perfectly okay, but don’t rely only on your romantic partner, ensure you are maintaining healthy relationships besides your partner.
3. They could help in your development
With good friendships, you can break from bad habits and develop a much healthier lifestyle. Remember, we insist on saying good friends, as bad friends might lead to bad habits and lifestyle choices. Good friends will provide positive and healthy lifestyle practices while supporting the positive changes you make in your life.
For example, you are addicted to smoking and desperately want to quit. It might be difficult to do it alone. However, if one of your friends has a strong will or you two woe to do it together, it will become easier to achieve your task.
4. You get a sense of belonging
Feeling like you belong to something gives you a better outlook on life and makes you feel like you matter. After you have achieved your basic needs in life, getting food and shelter, your belonging needs are also essential. Healthy friendships help foster these feelings; caring about other people will make your life more meaningful. Because when you care for another individual other than yourself, you have taken the responsibility to offer emotional support and compassion to another individual; as a result, giving your life some purpose.
The nature of humans demands a sense of belonging. They want someone who they own and can make them do whatever they want. Usually, your spouse, friends and children come in this category. Every single one of you must have felt jealous when someone calls your friend their friend.
This is the sense of belonging that we want. Moreover, you can share anything with them. Even if you cannot see them daily, you can talk with them any time without any hesitation.
5. You avoid social isolation and loneliness
Loneliness is directly connected with the physical and mental health of individuals. The busy lifestyle routine most of us have developed makes us feel isolated. Especially with superficial friendships, you meet up for a quick coffee or go to the gym but can’t confide with them. Ensure you have a friend that you can confide in to give you that emotional support; you will feel your life is lonely without this.
As we grow and change and take on the different challenges in life might affect relationships. But at every stage of your life, it is essential to have good friends.
6. They support you to withstand challenges
Life is full of unexpected events. Not everything goes as we plan. Therefore, we must be aware of the downfalls that we might face. However, if we are well aware of the risk, sometimes they are too heavy for us to handle. We are merely humans with emotions and not superpowers.
Have you ever experienced a traumatic event? Like going through a divorce or breakup? It isn’t always easy for everyone. Especially for the ones who have given their all to that relationship. Likewise, the death of someone you loved or your pet is something that breaks your heart.
While going all such experiences, you will feel stressed and demotivated. Furthermore, you will lose interest in everything going around you. Even if someone puts luxuries right in front of you, you won’t like them. All such expensive things will be nothing for you at that moment. The only thing that can help you at such a time are your friends. They will be your support pillar.
7. Help you cope up with family problems
Unemployment and family problems are problems that you cannot share with everyone. Only your close friends know that. For example, you are having some family problems with your spouse or parents. This is the hardest thing that you can encounter.
Such matters take away your thinking ability. Your brain stops working and you cannot make the right decisions. All of this happens because of your emotional state. Sometimes, you feel too apologetic towards them and sometimes, you suffer from the hurtful words they say.
Therefore, a sincere friend is all you need at such a time. He/ she can analyze the situation in a better way because of being the 3rd person in that situation. So their solutions will be more applicable than your impulsive reactions.
