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Social Support and Social Stress

Learn about the strong positive and negative effects of relationships, and find out how to keep your social life healthier and lower in stress.

Types of Social Support
Not all types of social support are the same. While social support in general is a valuable stress relief tool, different types of social support serve different functions, and it actually is possible to get too much of certain types of support, whereas people are starving for other types of social support. Learn more about types of social...

How to Help a Friend
Knowing how to help a friend in need can be tricky when you're not sure what the 'right thing to do' is. The following tips on how to help a friend provide guidelines on effective strategies for several different types of relationships.

How and Why You Should Maintain Friendships
Friends add a wonderful dimension to our lives: they help us celebrate the good times, and they help us make it through the tough times. Having a strong, supportive social network has been associated with lower levels of stress, increased longevity, and greater levels of happiness. Learn more about the value of social support, and find...

The Whys and Hows of Letting Go of a Relationship That Stresses You
Letting go of a relationship is never easy. We gain so much from friends and loved ones, that we often hold onto relationships that are no longer good for us out of habit or loyalty. Read why negative relationships can actually harm you, and find a step-by-step plan to help you decide where to draw the line in letting go of a relationship that...

Become Adept at Dealing With Difficult People
Dealing with difficult people is never easy. But while it may be better for your stress level and even improve your health to eliminate strained relationships from your life, it's not always a simple undertaking when the difficult people are relatives, co-workers, or people you otherwise must have in your life. What to do? These tips on...

Friendship = Less Stress
Headache guide Teri Roberts has some information on how friendship can decrease stress, and improve your overall health.

Is Your Social Life An Asset or a Liability? Take The Social Assessment Test!
Social support can be a great buffer from stress! Unfortunately, relationships that are conflicted or ambivalent can actually cause more harm than good, and volatile friendships can actually be worse for you than your relationships with your enemies! Does your social life help or hurt you? This test can help you find out, and provide...

Stress Management and Social Support: The Hows and Whys of Cultivating a...
Numerous research studies have shown that supportive friendships can provide emotional help during stressful times and even improve our health and increase longevity. Learn the numerous stress management and health benefits a circle of friends provides, and discover how to begin expanding your number of supportive friendships.

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