How Friendships Boost Mental Health: Insights from Experts

Friendships are a unique relationship that make good times even better and bad times a bit easier to handle. Every friendship has its own essence, and these bonds significantly impact one’s mental health. Movies like Dil Chahta Hai and Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara highlight the importance of friendship in daily life. Whether you’re an introvert with a small circle or someone with a large group, these relationships run deeper than they appear and resonate with our internal systems.

How Friendships Affect Mental Health

In today’s world, some friendships are surface-level while others run deep. They can be high or low-maintenance, and as Gen Z might say, some friends are “toxic,” while others are essential for our health. Friends help keep us grounded, offer constructive criticism, and provide new perspectives. Cherishing these relationships is crucial.

Priyanka Kapoor, a psychologist and psychotherapist in Mumbai, says, “Good friendships are essential for support, resiliency, and optimism throughout life. Close pals help us grow and learn from one another. These relationships expand our network, offer emotional and mental support, and benefit us both personally and professionally. They are crucial for personal development.” Sessions with friends can boost confidence, self-assurance, and self-esteem. Friends hype us up when we’re anxious or nervous, enhancing our self-worth and motivating us to succeed.

The Importance of Being Socially Active

The digital age has made life easier, but the hustle culture can lead to stress and burnout. Taking breaks from work to focus on personal life is important, and friends play a major role in relieving stress. Humans are inherently social creatures, and interactions with friends, such as outings, sleepovers, trips, and phone calls, are essential. Dr. Mona Gujral, Chief Psychologist at coto, says, “It has a positive impact on our mental health, social well-being, and overall personality, helping us become empathetic, kind, and passionate beings.”

Social activities with friends reduce loneliness and boredom, provide a sense of social acceptability and belonging, and offer a break from daily routines. Friends allow us to be ourselves without fear of judgment, making life more meaningful and enjoyable. Kapoor adds that spending time with friends helps us release stress and become calmer and happier overall.

Group outings and activities test our social skills and bring us closer to understanding our personalities and tolerance levels. They improve teamwork and help us acquire new skills. Dr. Gujral notes that these activities also help us relax and rejuvenate, further reducing stress.

However, during severe emotional crises, spending time with friends might not be enough. In such cases, seeking therapy from a professional is essential. Friends can also join live therapy sessions together, ask questions, and support each other, strengthening their bonds.

Therefore, cherishing friendships and spending quality time with friends, whether near or far, is beneficial for mental health.