Are your friends keeping you alive?

Offra Gerstein, a clinical psychologist in Santa Cruz, has an article on the Santa Cruz Sentinel about the importance of relationships on our self care.  She outlines, among other benefits,

• Relationships reduce your stress
• Relationship affirm your worth
• Relationship help your feel supported & connected

In fact, she cites a study which shows friendships have a healing impact on us.  Those in the study "...with the strongest social ties had significantly lower disease and premature death than those who were poorly connected."

We are all very busy in these days.  Usually, keeping strong relationships is given a back seat to what we perceive are "more pressing needs."  Dr. Gerstein says resist the temptation.

Keep your relationships strong and you'll be serving strong!

Read the entire article.

Offra Gerstein, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice in Santa Cruz over 25 years. Her Web site is www.RelationshipMatters.com.