Many of us have felt the emptiness of isolation over the past year and a half. We have been tucked away in our homes, far away from our loved ones and everyday acquaintances. Even in public, we are instructed to keep our distance from others. Maybe it was something you took for granted. Maybe you never had much connection to begin with. But feeling alone has brought the importance of connection to the forefront of our minds. Human beings need to feel connected to other people in good times and bad. Without it, we are more prone to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and a whole host of problems. Let’s take a closer look at the power of connection.

Loneliness

Feeling lonely is an obvious consequence of a lack of connection. If you feel connected you won’t feel lonely. You might think that loneliness is no big deal, that it just leaves us feeling a little sad. After all, who hasn’t felt lonely at some point in their lives? But, chronic loneliness is associated with multiple health problems, including depression, anxiety, and physical illness. Bottom line: feeling lonely sucks.

Addiction

Did you know that one of the best antidotes to addiction is human connection? Addiction is all about keeping secrets and fooling yourself into believing your problems arent serious. Maybe you don’t even know you have an addiction because you are in denial. Sometimes, people that are closest to you can see that you are having a problem that you don’t want to see. And connection is necessary for recovery. Why? Because if you are trying to beat addiction alone, you are almost certainly going to fail. That is why support and treatment groups are a vital part of addiction treatment. Having close friends and family can lend you the support you need to take on the powerful pull of addiction. If history has taught us anything about addiction, it is this: it truly takes a village.

Decision-Making

Did you ever think about the relationship between social connection and decision-making? It is easy to make poor choices when we are isolated from other people. Friends and family can provide different options that we might not have thought about. In addition, they can review the pros and cons of our decisions. Sometimes, we are about to make terrible choices and we need other people to set us straight. Just think about the value of being able to bounce ideas off of someone. Different perspectives are valuable when looking for solutions to complex problems.

Partners: A Special Connection

Anyone who has ever been in a long-term romantic relationship understands that it can be a roller coaster ride. But, despite some possible moments of negativity, the benefits of partnerships are undeniable. Some of the positive effects of romantic partnerships include reduced stress, improved mood, and even less risk of a heart attack. What’s more, married people are happier overall. So, if you arent in a romantic relationship, it may be time to take the plunge.

Mental Health

Maybe not surprisingly, social connection has a strong link with mental health. On the face of it, it makes perfect sense. Relationships offer support, love, and ward off isolation. Social connection is one of the strongest protective factors against developing depression. Additionally, people with strong relationships have reduced rates of anxiety, higher self-esteem, and exhibit more empathy. Want to feel happy? Reach out to others and form a connection.

Physical Health

What may be more surprising is the association between connection and physical health. But, many physical illnesses have psychological factors that contribute to their likelihood. Research suggests that poor social connections can lead to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and cancer. In addition, if you have a partner that exhibits healthy habits (e.g., exercise, healthy eating), you are more likely to exhibit healthy behavior yourself. It is much more difficult to live the life of a couch potato when people close to you are exhibiting a healthy lifestyle.

Stress

In a related topic, social relationships can act as a buffer against stress. This is plain to see if you have ever had to negotiate a difficult situation by yourself. Having someone else on your side makes you feel like you have some backup and reduces your distress. Now, you may be thinking that some of your relationships cause you a lot of your stress. And that may be true. But as a collective, strong connections with other people decrease cortisol (i.e., the stress hormone) levels and stress as a whole.

Mortality

Connection is so powerful that it even has a significant effect on the amount of time you will be alive. The stronger your social relationships, the longer you will live. Specifically, your risk of death increases if you have a low quantity or lower quality of social relationships.

Most people want strong social relationships. They want friends. They want to be loved. Who doesn’t want to feel close to someone else? But social connection is more important than just that. It is intrinsically associated with our overall well-being. Our mental and physical health is improved when we have close connections and damaged when we don’t.

Connection also requires effort. No one is going to interact with a person who doesn’t leave their house. Or the person standing in the corner. You have to attempt to be social, to get yourself out there. This may be more difficult for some than others. You may be anxious or have a poor self-image. But, as my grandmother used to say, “there is a lid for every pot”. No matter who you are, there are people out there who want to connect with you. You just have to go for it. Trust me, you will be glad you did.