When it comes to our well-being, cultivating close relationships with our friends is essential. 

Friendship supports our mental and emotional wellness in several ways.

The social connection provided by close friendship can combat the negative side effects of isolation - staving off deeper psychological issues such as extreme loneliness, anxiety, and depression. 

The emotional support we receive from our chosen family - aka, our friendship circle - can also help us through times of trauma, crisis, and stress.  

And - if Sex and the City’s Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte's relationship is anything to go by - platonic friendship can be just as important as romance to bring meaning, purpose, and happiness to our lives.

Here’s why.

Social Connection: Combatting the Cons of Isolation

With the advent of the COVID-19 lockdowns, many of us experienced severe loneliness for the first time. The impact of pandemic-related social isolation on our collective mental health was dramatic: the World Health Organization found that it triggered a 25% increase in anxiety and depression symptoms across the globe. Mental health practitioners were in higher demand than ever, eliciting a desperate call for more aspiring therapists to obtain industry-accredited qualifications like online masters programs in counseling psychology to treat the growing number of presenting psychiatric patients. 

The good news? Now that we’ve escaped the seemingly endless periods of social quarantine, we’ve had the chance to rebuild our social connections and enjoy the many benefits they can provide in supporting our emotional well-being. Namely - boosting our sense of connection with others, enhancing our confidence and self-worth, and just as importantly, helping us deal with emotional trauma, stress, and crisis.

Emotional Support: The Benefits of Leaning on Our Loved Ones

The social support our circle of friends can provide us in times of need is invaluable. Some examples of the support our friends can provide include:

Helping Us Relax and Enjoy the Good Times

Feeling stressed? Call a friend. Even better - they might want to meet you out for a glass of wine, or a stress-busting boogie on the dance floor.

But whatever you consider a fun time, you can always count on your friends to be there for you when you want to let your hair down.

Carrying Us Through Grief, Stress, and Trauma

The value of a sympathetic listening ear cannot be denied. Sometimes, we just need a non-judgmental shoulder to cry on - someone to vent to, who will just allow us to be heard.
Friends can do this - and a good friend? They won’t judge you for needing to get things off your chest. 

Celebrating Your Wins as If They Were Their Own

Ask yourself - who is clapping for you when you win? Your true friends will not be jealous of your success, nor will they try to undermine your achievements. 

On the contrary, they will celebrate your wins as if they were their own and even see your accomplishments as motivators to reach their own goals. 

Platonic Friendship: Friends Can Be Our Soulmates, Too

Just like Carrie, Miranda, Samantha, and Charlotte demonstrate in the iconic television series ‘Sex and the City’ - friends can be our soulmates, too. Some would even go as far as to say that friendship is the new romance. 

But whether you agree or disagree with this - the importance of platonic friendships to support us through life is undeniable. While romance comes and goes - who will be there in the end? Your closest friends will always be by your side - supporting you through a romantic breakup, losing your job, or even, the death of a family member. 

For this reason, cultivating and fostering close relationships with our friends is instrumental in supporting not only our emotional wellness but also, our mental health. 

If you’re feeling socially isolated,  you must focus on building closer relationships with your friends. Fostering genuine friendships is essential to our emotional well-being - and conversely, letting your isolation fester could have dire results. The good news? You can stave off symptoms of depression, anxiety, and extreme loneliness by focusing on your friendships.

Our final tip? Instead of desperately chasing that elusive romantic relationship - the answer to your quest for emotional closeness could be closer than you think: you could discover that your true soulmates are actually your platonic friends. 

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