Social Wellness: A Key To General Wellness

Health     Elizabeth Scott, M.S., your About.com Health Editor     You may instinctively feel that having supportive relationships can help you feel happier in your life, but do you know all the facts about the impact of your social life on your health?  Supportive relationships can stave off stress, help you take on healthier habits, improve your health in many different ways, and even lead to a longer life.  Conversely, negative social experiences like conflict and loneliness can have a damaging effect on your health as well.  Because July is Social Wellness Month, now is a perfect time to learn more about the benefits of a healthy social life, and work on making the most of your social circle.  Read on for some of our best relationship-related resources from About.com’s Health Experts. Want more from About.com Health? Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or visit our Pinterest page for healthy living tips for you and your family.     The Benefits of Social Support   As you know, social support can benefit you in many ways.  Here are just some of the positives you gain from a healthy, supportive circle of friends. READ NOW Relationship Research for Stress Relief You've Got to Have Friends: Happy People Have Stronger Social Ties Athletes With Supportive Friends and Family Are More Successful How Do Relationships Improve Aging?   The Damage Of A Lacking Social Circle   Conflicted relationships, loneliness, and other negative social experiences can take a toll on your health and happiness.  Learn more about what to avoid, and why it pays to invest in social wellness. READ NOW Loneliness: Deadlier than you think How Bad Relationships Affect Your Health What Other People Think Is Important To Health And Happiness How Social Interaction Helps Senior Health: Loneliness Can Make You Sick   How To Use Social Support To Your Advantage   How can you use social support to increase your personal wellness? The following are proven ways that social wellness can lead to physical wellness. READ NOW Simple Ways to Get Emotional Support When You Diet Six Steps for Having a Life with IBS: Finding Social Support Stay Mentally Healthy with Strong Social Connections Best Ways to Make Exercise Social Use Social Networking to Find Healthcare Information   When Social Support Is Vital   When we face more serious challenges to our health and wellness, sometimes having a supportive circle is more necessity than luxury. Here are some resources for cultivating support when you need it the most. READ NOW Social Support for Panic Disorder: How to Build a Support Network Developing Healthy Relationships to Maintain Abstinence From Alcohol Social Support and Lung Cancer Survival How to Support Your Spouse Through Health Issues Finding Emotional and Social Support During Breast Cancer Treatment Finding Support for PTSD: Seeking out and Establishing Social Support   Follow us on:       ADVERTISEMENT More from About.com Sign up for Shareables! An every-morning rundown of the day in history, with headlines and trends produced by your pals at About.com. Click here to sign up! It's free (of course) and we think you'll like it! Want More From About.com? Check out our social channels tailored to every interest! Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. If you would like to unsubscribe from all newsletters sent from About.com, please send an email to optout@about.com with "Unsubscribe" as the subject line. Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2014 About.com