February 2008

  Healthy relationships: even more important than you realize!

Relationships are such hard work. Life situations change, people are temperamental, we all have needs and our emotions easily flair up. Some of us end relationships, some run in the other direction, some stay in unhealthy relationships. Either way, we cannot deny our need to relate to someone or something.

Each of us was created for relationship. Not only can we not exist on our own, but we begin to the suffer physical consequences when we are not living in safe, secure and loving relationships. We were created to give love and receive love. We need love to survive.

And now research can prove this! 

• Studies are linking marriage to lower rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease and mental illness.

• Isolation is just as dangerous as smoking, high blood pressure, and cholesterol.

• Conflict and criticism between family members can have negative influences on blood pressure.

• Individuals with healthy family and social relationships are physically healthier, recover more quickly from physical illness, and live longer.

• Children who experience high family stress have been shown to be at high risk for infections and hospitalization.

I was so excited to see Time Magazine focus on relationships. The last issue in January 2008 was dedicated to “LOVE” and why humans need love to survive. The psychology field has been researching this for years, and now the results are readily available.

Keep working on your relationships. The benefits speak for themselves, and you may even add a few years to your life.

Happy Valentine’s day!

Kathryn