Relationships and Social Connection

Relationships are treated as biological health inputs rather than optional lifestyle accessories. Lack of tribe, friendship, and social interaction is proposed to signal unsafety to the nervous system and keep the body in threat mode. Love is described as including sex drive, romantic love, pair bonding, and bonds extending to family and social relationships. Healthy relationships are presented as beneficial, while unhealthy attachment can involve stalking, harassment, domestic abuse, trauma bonding, or returning to harmful partners. Social isolation is described as a major health stressor associated with diseases of despair such as alcoholism, drug addiction, suicide, and homicide.