Relationships and Family
Relationships and family are at the center of human life, and they can have a huge influence on your health. Having good friendships and family support eases stress, helps you avoid mental illness, and gives you energy and courage for living a healthier life.
Relationships start when you give someone else your time and attention. If you find yourself isolated, the best thing to do is reach out through community activities or family connections. Finding ways to help others will make you feel better, and then pay off later when you need support. Good health means caring for yourself, which is infinitely easier to do when other people are also caring for you.
If your relationships are in trouble, take steps to resolve the conflict through communication or seeking counseling. The payoff is greater well-being for all involved.
Recently Answered
- Q How long does it take before people are willing to work in support groups?
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Dr. Dean Ornish, Internal MedicinePeople who come to our weeklong retreats are often familiar with my books and understand the purpose of the groups. They are ready to do this work. Even so, we find it extraordinary to watch a group of people who are total strangers to each other make a... Full Answer
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- Q Do I want my relationships to be smooth and easy going?
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You can never allow yourself to be complacent because a relationship seems good. Just like living creatures, relationships need to be cared for and nourished, otherwise they wither and die. All the same, you should not become despondent if your... Full Answer
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- Q How can I maintain an optimistic relationship with my partner?
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Dr. Kathleen Hall, Preventive MedicineGo out on weekly dates as a couple, talk about the science of optimism and discuss how you can learn to be more optimistic with each other. Check in with each other regularly and do an optimism checkup on your relationship. Are you the cheerleader for... Full Answer
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- Q How can I strengthen my relationship with my partner?
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Dr. Kathleen Hall, Preventive MedicineDon't wait until your relationship is out of gas, has dirty oil, and needs the tires rotated before getting a tune-up. See a counselor. If either one of you doesn't like your counselor, find a new one.Mark off your calendar for date nights, and plan to... Full Answer
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- Q How can I make sure my family has happy holidays?
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Dr. Kathleen Hall, Preventive MedicineHolidays are occasions that instill optimism in a family. No matter what happens in a family during the years -- deaths, divorces, arguments, or estrangements -- holidays create the opportunity for hope, new beginnings, and healing. Don't allow holidays... Full Answer
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- Q How can I make family time more special?
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You can make family time more special by being -- boring! Watch this video from Dr. Paula Rauch of Harvard Medical School to find out how sticking to a routine can make family time more special. Full Answer
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- Q What are the benefits of having a partner with ADD?
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Dr. Lara Honos-Webb, PsychologyIf you have a partner with attention deficit disorder (ADD), the typical ADD symptoms of impulsiveness, focusing difficulty, and non-compliant behavior can be reframed as creativity. For example, the ADD tendencies toward being "spacey" and... Full Answer
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- Q Are my feelings interrelated with everyone else in this world?
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There are times when our interrelatedness seems freakishly weird and anything but scientific. Although our usual paradigm of reality is one of separation and discrete degrees of differentiation, all of us experience unexplainable moments of obvious... Full Answer
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- Q My boyfriend broke up with me three months ago. Why am I still depressed?
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Your question does not say how long you and your boyfriend were dating. There is a rule of thumb, however, for how long grieving continues: for every five years you were together, it takes one year to get over it. That said, the holidays are a tough time... Full Answer
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Dr. Kathleen Hall, Preventive MedicineWe live in a culture that believes that the family structure has little or no value. Yes, we pay lip service of how valuable the family is and how it is the basis for any civilized society with great values, but what have we, our corporations, or... Full Answer
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