When I was at my lowest points in life, I had someone who stuck with me and listened. I can attribute most of my success these past few years to this individual who has been there to see me cry, laugh, scream, and still loves me. I think the biggest misconception about mental health is that it is a personal battle, something to be quietly dealt with then swept under the rug. I’ve never been very open about my state of mind, but having a friend whom I could trust with anything, without the fear of judgement, completely changed my outlook. Recently, I’ve done a lot of thought about the concept of friendship and its direct relation to one’s mental state. I asked myself the question,
“How did having a good friend affect my brain?”
Having a stable support system is key in maintaining a balanced headspace. Whether it be one person who consistently shows up for you or a large friend group that’s always there to listen, a strong foundation has a multitude of effects on the body, including lowering blood pressure and stabilizing heart rates. Both of these factors contribute to stress management within the body.
To delve even deeper into the effects of friendship on the body, I took a look at the brain in particular. The brain has 5 crucial regions that make up the reward pathway, which triggers feelings of pleasure and happiness and encourages us to repeat positive actions that stimulate the pathway. These 5 regions are:
Ventral Striatum and Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (vmPFC) - Responsible for decisions and reward perception; Friendship triggers these areas of the brain, indicating its rewarding effects
Amygdala - Senses emotions (fear & threats); Friendship regulates amygdala activity, thus reducing anxiety and stress
Hippocampus - Affects learning and memories; Friendships stimulate this part of the brain, enhancing cognitive abilities
Medial Prefrontal Cortex (mPFC) - Controls social and self awareness, and mentalization (processing others’ thoughts and feelings); Friendships require presence and awareness, thus triggering the mPFC
Temporoparietal Junction (TPJ) - Similar to mPFC, affects mentalization and social cognizance; Friendship stimulates this region by requiring perception of other’s emotions
Social interaction affects each part of the brain’s reward circuitry uniquely, thus causing the brain to process friendships in a positive manner.
At the end of the day social interaction isn’t just for fun, it plays a crucial role in our well-being. Strong friendships play a part in our lives that even science can’t always measure: laughter, comfort, and the kind of companionship that makes the worst days feel brighter. This is your sign to go out and find some people that make you feel more you.
