<p>The following resources can help you to build stronger support systems among your friendship group and minimize the stress you experience from unnecessary "drama." </p>

How to have a healthy friendship

<p>Assertiveness is a skill that not only helps with marriage and interpersonal relationships but all of your relationships. It can reduce stress and help you attain more balance at home, at work, and in life. Assertiveness establishes healthy boundaries and reduces stress for everyone. Learn more about assertiveness, <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-aggressiveness-aggressiveness-in-communication-3145097">aggressiveness </a>, and passivity, and see how assertiveness training can improve your life. </p>

Assertive communication

<p>Letting go of a relationship is never easy. We gain so much from friends and loved ones, that we often hold onto relationships that are no longer good for us out of habit or loyalty. Read why negative relationships can actually harm you, and find a step-by-step plan to help you decide where to draw the line in letting go of a relationship that is no longer good for you.</p>

Goodbye uneasy relationship

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<div data-tooltip="Elizabeth Scott, MS, is a wellness coach specializing in stress management and quality of life, and the author of &amp;#34;8 Keys to Stress Management.&amp;#34;" data-tooltip-position-x="left" data-tooltip-position-y="top" dir="ltr">

<a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/elizabeth-scott-m-s-3144382" data-tracking-container="true" dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr">Elizabeth Scott, MS</span></a>
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<a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/rachel-goldman-4779228" data-tracking-container="true" dir="ltr"><span dir="ltr">Rachel Goldman, PhD, FTOS</span></a>
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on January 27, 2021</span>
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</button></form><figure><img src="https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/uAL_EpueJAyUFiiwJmK0OHaPYhA=/500x350/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/social-support-emotional-friends-Robert-Daly-56a906445f9b58b7d0f7688a.jpg" srcset="https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/nfp4ApruMMJCfqVrYuOPBJTxzfw=/300x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/social-support-emotional-friends-Robert-Daly-56a906445f9b58b7d0f7688a.jpg 300w, https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/_hYr9tRoL4KmsB2cHOOxBY0O0ms=/417x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/social-support-emotional-friends-Robert-Daly-56a906445f9b58b7d0f7688a.jpg 417w, https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/bGcECoQS7KCH8JX1o8i5qeFBv34=/534x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/social-support-emotional-friends-Robert-Daly-56a906445f9b58b7d0f7688a.jpg 534w, https://www.verywellmind.com/thmb/1So-HMDiCC8KPQwFa8y76XvlOfI=/768x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(webp)/social-support-emotional-friends-Robert-Daly-56a906445f9b58b7d0f7688a.jpg 768w" alt="social support with emotional friends" width="721" height="480"><figcaption dir="auto">Robert Daly/Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>
Friends add a wonderful dimension to our lives: they help us celebrate the good times, and they help us make it through the tough times. Having a strong, supportive social network has been associated with lower levels of stress, increased longevity, and greater levels of happiness. Unfortunately, conflicted relationships can bring significant amounts of stress to our lives, and the stress can be ongoing.&nbsp;Learning how to minimize that type of stress while maintaining as much closeness as possible can be difficult, but dealing with volatile relationships can be even more difficult.&nbsp;Therefore, time spent focusing on how to maximize the positive aspects of your relationships and minimizing the toll of the conflict is time well spent.
</p><p>
The following resources can help you to build stronger support systems among your friendship group and minimize the stress you experience from unnecessary "drama."&nbsp;
</p><h2 dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-create-social-support-in-your-life-3144955" dir="ltr">How to Create Supportive Relationships</a> </h2><p dir="ltr">
All social support is not created equal. Here is what you need to know to create mutually supportive, enduring, truly healthy friendships that will bring you support, the opportunity for personal growth, and stress management benefits. Find out why it's important to develop listening skills, your intuition, <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/reduce-stress-with-increased-assertiveness-3144971" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" dir="ltr">assertiveness</a>, and other skills that can pay off with increased social support, healthy friendships, and a sense of belonging.
</p><h2 dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/the-hows-and-whys-of-cultivating-social-support-3144951" dir="ltr">How to Cultivate a Supportive Circle of Friends</a> </h2><p>
Numerous research studies have shown that supportive friendships can provide emotional help during stressful times and even improve our health and increase longevity. Learn the numerous stress management and health benefits a circle of friends provides, and discover how to begin expanding your number of supportive friendships.
</p><h2 dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/learn-assertive-communication-in-five-simple-steps-3144969" dir="ltr">Assertive Communication</a> </h2><p dir="ltr">
Assertiveness is a skill that not only helps with marriage and interpersonal relationships but all of your relationships. It can reduce stress and help you attain more balance at home, at work, and in life. Assertiveness establishes healthy boundaries and reduces stress for everyone. Learn more about assertiveness, <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-aggressiveness-aggressiveness-in-communication-3145097" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1" dir="ltr">aggressiveness</a>, and passivity, and see how assertiveness training can improve your life.&nbsp;
</p><p>The key to assertiveness isn't to assert your rights more, but rather to assert your rights in a non-timid but non-aggressive way that shows respect for yourself as well as the other person.</p><h2 dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/letting-go-of-a-relationship-that-stresses-you-3144980" dir="ltr">Letting Go of Relationships That Stress You</a> </h2><p>
Letting go of a relationship is never easy. We gain so much from friends and loved ones, that we often hold onto relationships that are no longer good for us out of habit or loyalty. Read why negative relationships can actually harm you, and find a step-by-step plan to help you decide where to draw the line in letting go of a relationship that is no longer good for you.
</p><h2 dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/managing-conflict-in-relationships-communication-tips-3144967" dir="ltr">How to Improve Your Relationships With Healthy Communication</a> </h2><p>
Social support is a great stress reliever, but relationships can also be a major source of stress. Conflict within a relationship can create emotional stress as well as new obstacles and challenges to deal with in your life if conflict within a relationship spreads to create conflict in several relationships or within a group. As conflict is virtually inevitable in any relationship, here are ten important tips on managing conflict in a respectful way that yields positive results, rather than damaging your connection and causing additional stress.
</p><h2 dir="ltr"> <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/conflict-resolution-mistakes-to-avoid-3144982" dir="ltr">The Ten Worst Ways to Handle Conflict</a> </h2><p>
Conventional wisdom (and research) says that good communication can improve relationships, increasing intimacy, trust, and support. The converse is also true: poor communication can weaken bonds, creating mistrust and even contempt! Here are some examples of negative and even destructive attitudes and communication patterns that can really mess up a relationship. How many of these sound like something you’d do?
</p><div>Was this page helpful?</div>

Having a strong, supportive social network brings many benefits. Learn more about the value of social support, and find ways to create more of it.

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

<p>Friends add a wonderful dimension to our lives: they help us celebrate the good times, and they help us make it through the tough times. Having a strong, supportive social network has been associated with lower levels of stress, increased longevity, and greater levels of happiness. Unfortunately, conflicted relationships can bring significant amounts of stress to our lives, and the stress can be ongoing. Learning how to minimize that type of stress while maintaining as much closeness as possible can be difficult, but dealing with volatile relationships can be even more difficult. Therefore, time spent focusing on how to maximize the positive aspects of your relationships and minimizing the toll of the conflict is time well spent. </p>

<p>The following resources can help you to build stronger support systems among your friendship group and minimize the stress you experience from unnecessary "drama."  </p>

<p dir="ltr">All social support is not created equal. Here is what you need to know to create mutually supportive, enduring, truly healthy friendships that will bring you support, the opportunity for personal growth, and stress management benefits. Find out why it's important to develop listening skills, your intuition, <a data-component="link" data-ordinal="1" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" dir="ltr" href="https://www.verywellmind.com/reduce-stress-with-increased-assertiveness-3144971">assertiveness </a>, and other skills that can pay off with increased social support, healthy friendships, and a sense of belonging. </p>

How to Cultivate a Supportive Circle of Friends

<p>Numerous research studies have shown that supportive friendships can provide emotional help during stressful times and even improve our health and increase longevity. Learn the numerous stress management and health benefits a circle of friends provides, and discover how to begin expanding your number of supportive friendships. </p>

<p dir="ltr">Assertiveness is a skill that not only helps with marriage and interpersonal relationships but all of your relationships. It can reduce stress and help you attain more balance at home, at work, and in life. Assertiveness establishes healthy boundaries and reduces stress for everyone. Learn more about assertiveness, <a data-component="link" data-ordinal="1" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" dir="ltr" href="https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-aggressiveness-aggressiveness-in-communication-3145097">aggressiveness </a>, and passivity, and see how assertiveness training can improve your life.  </p>

<p>The key to assertiveness isn't to assert your rights more, but rather to assert your rights in a non-timid but non-aggressive way that shows respect for yourself as well as the other person. </p>

Letting Go of Relationships That Stress You

<p>Letting go of a relationship is never easy. We gain so much from friends and loved ones, that we often hold onto relationships that are no longer good for us out of habit or loyalty. Read why negative relationships can actually harm you, and find a step-by-step plan to help you decide where to draw the line in letting go of a relationship that is no longer good for you. </p>

How to Improve Your Relationships With Healthy Communication

<p>Social support is a great stress reliever, but relationships can also be a major source of stress. Conflict within a relationship can create emotional stress as well as new obstacles and challenges to deal with in your life if conflict within a relationship spreads to create conflict in several relationships or within a group. As conflict is virtually inevitable in any relationship, here are ten important tips on managing conflict in a respectful way that yields positive results, rather than damaging your connection and causing additional stress. </p>

<p>Conventional wisdom (and research) says that good communication can improve relationships, increasing intimacy, trust, and support. The converse is also true: poor communication can weaken bonds, creating mistrust and even contempt! Here are some examples of negative and even destructive attitudes and communication patterns that can really mess up a relationship. How many of these sound like something you’d do? </p>

Maintaining Friendships for Stress Relief, Happiness and Longevity

How to have a healthy friendship

Assertive communication

Goodbye uneasy relationship

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