Human beings naturally have a desire to be close to other individuals. We need to connect and build relationships with others around us. Healthy relationships (romantic or not) can help make for a healthier life overall.
A healthy relationship can be shared between any two individuals who both practically and emotionally love, respect, encourage and help each other. In no clear order, individuals in stable relationships engage in the following activities:
- Listen to each other.
- Communicate openly and interact without judgement
- Trusting each other and respecting each other
- Allow time for each other regularly.
- Recall knowledge of each other’s lives.
- Engaging together in healthy activities
Here are some benefits of healthy relationships. While some only relate to romantic relationships, others don’t.
Reduced Stress
Being in a committed relationship is associated with less cortisol production; a stress hormone. This means that married or partnered individuals are less prone to psychological stress and that it can be a great buffer against stress for the social and emotional support that comes with having a partner. There is even evidence to suggest that cohabiting couples are happier than those who are not.
Better Healing
The report shows that married individuals who have undergone heart surgery are three times more likely than single patients to survive the first three months after surgery, whether it’s having someone there to remind you to take your medication, or having a companion to help take your mind off the pain. Married patients have reported feeling more positive in their ability to cope with the pain after surgery and were less concerned about the overall surgery. A little emotional support can go a long way to helping a person heal from a disease or procedure.
Healthier Behaviours
Healthy relationships set the right tone for an overall balanced lifestyle. You are likely to follow in their footsteps if your family, friends or other loved ones support eating a balanced diet, exercising, not smoking, etc. When you surround yourself with individuals that do the same, it’s much simpler to take on healthier habits.
Higher Sense of Purpose
For humans, it’s normal to want to feel wanted, and like they’re part of something bigger. Many individuals strive to feel like they’re doing something positive for someone else and somehow changing the environment. Being in a loving relationship will give a person a sense of well-being and purpose, no matter what kind. It’s actually possible that having a purpose will add years to your life, actually.
Longer Life
Research shows that having good social connections has a greater effect on preventing early death than being exposed to air pollution or taking blood pressure medicine. One research also reveals that a lack of social interactions has the same health effects as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
When it comes to relationships, managing stress and living a safe, fulfilling life, everyone is special and has their own needs and desires. If you’re the type of individual that loves being alone, that’s good, too but trying to build a few close relationships might mean major mental and physical health benefits.
It can end up being more than worth it to have at least one good friend (or a trusted co-worker, therapist or counsellor) to help direct you through problems such as social anxiety or depression. It could be not very easy, but it could be just what you need, too. Even having one or two strong, stable relationships in your life can have a beneficial health effect. Hope this helps you value your relationships more and look for healthy ones with intention, love and light, Wonder….
