by hightechgrammy 13 Sep 2012

Girlfriends - They teach this at Stanford

In an evening class at Stanford the last lecture was on the mind-body connection - the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said, among other things, that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to be married to a woman whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends. At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences.
Physically this quality “girlfriend time" helps us to create more serotonin - a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of well being.

Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going. Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf? Yes. But their feelings? Rarely.

Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health. He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There's a tendency to think that when we are "exercising" we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged—not true.

In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!

So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky.

Sooooo… let's toast to our friendship with our girlfriends. Evidently it’s very good for our health.

So ..... All our Cuties Girlfriends are good for us!
We knew that.

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Comments (14)

by mumzyfarm 18 Sep 2012

This is so true just turning on my computer and coming to this site is therapeutic for me sometimes I am soo depressed I can't function but you guys take my mind off my problems and make life bearable. My daughter has terminal sarcoma cancer in her chest and has about a year to live. Love all you guys for helping me make it thru it. Hugs Dean

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by oigelcox 18 Sep 2012

This is so true. Hugs Joyce

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by jrob Moderator 15 Sep 2012

I learned this some 20 years ago when it just so happened that 4 of us girls lived in the same neighborhood that graduated high school together. We became friends again and have remained as such for all of these years. I would trade my time with them for anything in the world.
And now I have all of you here- Love you girlfriends! ;)

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by toogie 15 Sep 2012

I really believe this.Look at the elderly, for example. When a mans spouse dies, he can't do things for himself,he was so dependant on her,he gets depressed,lonely,& because of that MAN thing again,he doesn't open up and talk about it.He soon dies unless he remarries.Now the women on the other hand,can unload,cry their heart out and they have another woman that can relate to.They can remain single and seem to do just fine as long as they have their friends.My husbands aunt,along with about 5 other women are daily companions.Some go to the same church,they visit their other friends faithfully in nursing homes,they get together and travel and his aunt is widowed and 84 !

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by lenamae 15 Sep 2012

Thank you for posting this I needed it .I don't get out much but I think I will start getting out more.
Love and hugs Lenamae

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by meganne 15 Sep 2012

Funny you should write this now, I was only just saying to a friend that the only time I seem to be really happy lately is when I leave the house and spend time with my female friends.
This thought bothered me a little as I felt like I was betraying my marital relationship, but I KNOW that isn't so, because after a day out with my female friends I am much happier and far nicer to be with. :-)

Hmmmm? I wonder? Is Ray smart enough to realise this and that's why he indulges my days out???? LOLOLOL!!!!

Love you all GF's, online and real time.
hugs n roses, Meg

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by lidiad 15 Sep 2012

Thank you! Hugs to you and all the Cuties!
Lidia

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by zoefzoef 15 Sep 2012

Great ! Big hug to all my friends here !

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by tilde01 14 Sep 2012

Men don't do this as think it would be preceived as unmanly and would be the butt of jokes from their friends. I'm so glad we women can do this.

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by anangel 14 Sep 2012

This speaker at Stanford is very wise, indeed! I have known for many years that my interaction and spending time with my girlfriends was nourishment for my wellbeing! There's no greater stress reliever or uplifting of one's spirit, than time spent with good friends!
Jan, thanks for posting this, my dear friend!!
Hugs to YOU!
Angel