Recently I’ve been reading a lot of articles on how to improve my health without relying on medications. Maybe it’s part of growing old. The following ideas were found on Better Health Channel.
Health benefits of strong relationships: The number and strength of our relationships affect our mental and physical wellbeing. The benefits of social connections on good mental health are numerous, including lower rates of anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, greater empathy, and more trusting and cooperative relationships. Strong, healthy relationships can also help to strengthen our immune system, and may even lengthen our life. The good news is that while many of these benefits can make us happier and more contented, there’s also a flow-on effect, whereby people around us will want to spend time with us. In this way, social connectedness generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Impact of loneliness on health: Loneliness can have dramatic consequences for our health. Loneliness can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, elevated blood pressure, and increased cortisol (a stress hormone). It can affect our immune system and decrease our overall sense of contentment. Loneliness is also a risk factor for antisocial behavior, depression and suicide.
Older people are particularly vulnerable. If your mobility decreases, it can be harder to get together with other people. However, older people who remain connected with others and have strong relationships are likely to: have a better quality of life, be more satisfied with their life, have a lower risk of dementia and mental decline, need less domestic support.
Younger people (teenagers and people in their 20s) are also at risk when they are isolated. A lack of social relationships can have a direct impact on a young person’s physical wellbeing by increasing the risk of obesity, inflammation and high blood pressure.
Feeling lonely is hard to cope with. Even if you live a healthy life, you still need to be socially active to stay well and happy. It’s important to recognize that loneliness is different from solitude. Feeling lonely is a problem, but being alone may not be a problem at all. Many people live alone and have happy, fulfilling lives.
One way to strengthen your social connections is to reach out to the people you already know, such as co-workers, family, school friends or neighbors. Give someone a call, or write or email them and let them know you would like to be in touch more often.
Spending Time With Friends Is One of the Best Things You Can Do for Your Health. Remember that having friends and social connections is good for your health and wellbeing; being lonely or isolated can affect your mental, emotional and physical health.
NO VACATION PLANS (Love Plans Series, book 9)
Denise Lambert fell in love at first sight with Damien Booker, a biracial law student. They danced the night away, and she welcomed his passionate kiss. But then he disappeared.
Five years later, she can’t believe her eyes when the pizza delivery boy sporting a long frizzy mane and a bushy beard is none other than Damien. He kisses her and runs away. She manages to d reconnect with him. For weeks, they chat on the phone, until she bumps into Zorro, the exotic male dancer, at her friend’s bachelorette party—Damien again who kisses her senseless. But Denise is fed up with the jack of all trades. She’ll have to break it off with him unless…
Determined to be worthy of her love, Damian set aside his resentment against discriminating lawyers. Clean cut and well-groomed, he applies to various firms, until he finally lands the right position in the right firm. Will his effort pay off? Or will he have to fight her friends and relatives to bring Denise into his arms?
No Vacation Plans is part of Love Plans Series.
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, Mona Risk, received an Outstanding Achiever Award from Affaire de Coeur Magazine. She’s a two time winner of Best Contemporary Romance of the Year from Readers Favorite; a winner of Best Romance Novel of the Year from Preditors & Editors Readers Poll; and an EPIC Award finalist.
Mona Risk’s name has often been posted on the Amazon.com 100 Most Popular Authors in Romance list, and her books have garnered: Top Pick, Outstanding Read, Sweetheart of the Week, and Best Book of the Week from various reviewers, and received two mentions in Publisher’s Weekly.
Mona lives in South Florida and has traveled to more than eighty countries on business or vacation. She writes contemporary romances, medical romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal fantasy. Sprinkled with a good dose of humor, her stories are set in the fascinating places she visited or more simply at home.
If you like to travel and love to read, come and enjoy her international romances. Meet the spirited heroines and special heroes who share irresistible chemistry in stories that simmer with emotion.
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