WHEN DO I NEED NEW FRIENDS?

Our social connections are as important to our health as proper diet and exercise. Research has linked social bonding to longer lives, lower incidence of depression and anxiety, and reduced risk of disease. And yet many of us feel lonely. A recent study quoted in Scientific American found that a staggering 47 percent of Americans often feel alone, left out, and lacking meaningful connections with others. This is true for all ages, teens and adults alike. Loneliness is not just unpleasant to us, it actually poses a significant health threat. Sometimes we need to assess our current relationships and make adjustments, not just for the sake of loneliness, but for our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health.