A constant narrative among my patients is loneliness. The lack of connection with another human being. Feeling isolated in a world that pushes a lot towards individualism is the epidemic of the century.
My patients, like thousands of people, want to feel good. They tell me about their emptiness, their pain, their fears and how alone they are. The majority have their own family and their family of origin, they have partners and acquaintances and they live in society... how can one feel alone living and living with more people every day?
I have been studying the relationship between love and mental health for years.
Starting with my own experience... how many pills, insomnia, tears, gray days I would have saved if I had had access to unconditional love from an early age.
In the busy world we live in today, it is essential to recognize the importance of love for our mental health.
Friendship is a special bond that connects us with people we have chosen to have in our lives, people who give us support, joy and understanding in good times and bad.
Friendship is a relationship that goes beyond blood or the anonymity of family ties. They are people we have chosen to share our experiences, emotions and concerns. The love of friends brings a sense of belonging and acceptance in a world where we often feel alone and disconnected from others.
Importantly, friendship not only brings us pleasure and fun, but also plays a crucial role in our mental health. The love of friends can help us combat stress, anxiety and depression by providing us with emotional support and a safety net in difficult times.
In situations of stress and adversity, having friends who support us and listen to us helps us cope with difficulties much better than we could alone. They give us a shoulder to lean on, a listening ear willing to listen to our concerns, and honest advice that can guide us toward a solution. Those difficult moments become more bearable knowing that we are not alone and that we have people willing to accompany us along the way.
The love of friends can also play an important role in our self-esteem and self-confidence. When we feel loved and valued, we enter the world with a more positive and confident attitude. Friends motivate us, inspire us, and remind us of our strengths when we feel defeated. Your love and support push us to achieve our goals and help us overcome our fears and doubts.
Additionally, the love of friends can be a powerful source of joy and happiness in our lives. Shared laughter, fun times, and shared experiences help us create lasting memories that fill us with gratitude and happiness. Having friends who love us and accept us as we are makes us feel special and valuable. His unconditional love nourishes us emotionally and reminds us that we are worthy of being loved.
However, it is important to remember that friendship is not one-way. We too must be loving friends and support those around us. Reciprocity and commitment are essential elements to maintaining a healthy and lasting friendship. We must be willing to listen, provide help when necessary and be a constant support for our friends. We have to work on these relationships, give them the time and importance they deserve. By being loving friends, we are not only improving the mental health of our loved ones, but also our own.
And just as I tell my patients, I share it with you... you need a beautiful love that makes you feel that life is worth living, that your passage through this life is not in vain and that there is someone in this world to whom your existence is the best thing that has happened...
