What is a good friend versus a best friend?
Psychologists focused on friendship explain and share the mental-health benefits to know about.
The list of examples is really quite endless.
Am I damaging my mental health by not having a best friend?
Am I otherwise missing out on something?
Friendship was a hot topic on one recent episode ofThe Well+Good Podcast.
psychologist, friendship expert, and author ofBest Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup With Your Best Friend
Marisa Franco, PhD
But how many close friends is the magic number?
Its a question Dr. Franco says she gets asked a lot.
Its not about the number of friends thats important, but the quality of the friendships, she says.
What constitutes a best friend?
It isnt always easy to know what separates a casual friendship from the quality friendships Dr. Franco references.
But having someone to rely on when you need them is a very specific key in of need.
Can a partner be a best friend?
But your partner shouldnt be youronlyfriend.
With this in mind, there are positives to take away from media portrayals of friendship.
psychologist, friendship expert, and author ofBest Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup With Your Best Friend
Most notably, they tend to emphasize the value that both experts say is so important.
(And that component is part of what led me to question my own relationships.)
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