You all have friends. A lot gets talked about friendships. Everyone wants a true friend, and many of you believe that you have a best friend who can be called a true friend. What kind of relations do friends share? After a romantic relationship, friendships are the most important relationships you can have.
The very first sign of a very good friend, not necessarily a true friend is that you are not worried about courtesies. You will call your friend at any hour and talk without any thought of time in your mind. Similarly, whenever you need support, you will call a very good friend and ask him/her to help you out. They expect the same from you. Another important trait of such relations is that you are not much worried about exposing yourselves. You speak about everything in your mind without worrying about what your friends will think. You are sure that they will take your talk in the spirit it was made. You are unguarded and open with friends in our talk.
Your best friend is the person you share the most personal areas of your life. The ups, the all too often downs and the general feeling of knowing there’s someone to share life with. A best friend is different to a partner and according to science, they can keep you healthy.
Conventional wisdom suggests that good friendships enhance an individual’s sense of happiness and overall well-being. Indeed, a number of studies have found that strong social supports improve a woman’s prospects for good health and longevity. Conversely, loneliness and a lack of social supports have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, viral infection s, and cancer, as well as higher mortality rates overall. Two researchers have even termed friendship networks a “behavioral vaccine” that boosts both physical and mental health
In a study carried out in America, a group of 100 children were asked to fill out a diary five times a day over a period of four school days. The children, aged ten to 12, were asked to rate how they felt about what they’d experienced over the prior 20 minutes to their diary entry. They had to detail who they had been with (family, friends, best friend, teacher, a stranger or alone) and then had saliva samples taken to measure for the stress hormone, cortisol.
During any negative experiences the hormone shot up, but whilst in the company of their best friend more than anyone else, the child produced less cortisol.
So there you have it. We already know that a beer or a cuppa with your best friend makes you happy, but now there’s a medical reason for a catch up!