Is it possible to have a life without friends?

Can you live without friends? When faced with this question, it is most likely that more than one person will say: “Of course it can! I do it, I have no friends and I’m alive». It is true, one will not lack oxygen because of not having social ties, the heart will not stop nor will we become blurred carried by the wind just for this reason. However, how do you live without them? Do we experience well-being or are we gripped by the sting of emptiness from time to time?

Indeed, it is clear that no one loses their life because they do not have at least one friend. However, in many cases, this fact is perceived with a certain sadness, disappointment and discouragement. Suffice it to say that One of the reasons why people go to therapy is because of the feeling of loneliness.for failing to build solid social ties and not having someone with whom to talk, laugh and share good moments in life.

People are social beings and the brain needs that quality interaction with peers to enjoy positive emotions, feel validated and find security. Now, as pointed out from evolutionary psychology, Having friends is not necessary for our survival, but it makes life have a higher quality. and that we achieve, from time to time, happiness.

Is it possible to live without friends?

It is often said that the quality of our social relationships is nourished by what we have experienced within the family. Now this is not entirely true.

There are those who have a traumatic past due to abusive or lack of affection parents and, nevertheless, they have built their real family with the ties of friendship. Sometimes it even happens the other way around: having a loving family does not always guarantee that we will achieve solid friendships.

On the other hand, and beyond all this, Nobody can deny that good friends give color to life. They are chance findings that, unlike the family, are not given to us. And almost without knowing how, they become accomplices, unexpected treasures that travel with us for a certain period or, sometimes, forever. There are friends who come and go; it’s true. Fake friendships and friendships that make us a better person.

However, there are those who, due to a lack of social skills or also because they have accumulated more than one disappointment, have not had these figures for a long time. The question, therefore, is Can you live without friends?

You can live without friends because we are an increasingly individualistic society.

You can live without friends, that’s right. In fact, in a research work carried out at the University of Arizona by doctors Melika Demir and Ingrid Davidson, something interesting was demonstrated that invites us to reflect. It was discovered that, indeed, friendships are a variable to experience happiness; However, this factor is not the most important on average for people.

The most decisive thing is the satisfaction of basic needs and also the feeling of competence. Feeling independent, having basic aspects such as food, work, housing or even having a partner covered is more desirable. Likewise, another factor is added and it is that of “liquid relationships.”

As the philosopher and sociologist Zygmunt Bauman would say, society is increasingly individualistic. This makes the links are more fragile, unreliable and even slippery. Friends come and go, they rarely last and although this can generate disaffection, there are those who get used to it.

I don’t need friends because I interact socially with many people.

People need to have access to everyday social interaction, the most basic at least.. Talking to coworkers, exchanging conversations with neighbors, with the person who sells us bread every day… These are moments that make us feel good, to the point that many people don’t need to go any further. That is, they do not want or do not seek to consolidate solid ties that become authentic friendships.

Therefore, That kind of rather superficial interaction is enough for certain men and women.who could safely say that, indeed, you can live without friends.

How to live without friends?

We know that not all people feel good or happy without having friends, so below we will offer you some recommendations on how to live without friends, for those who do not feel satisfied without this type of ties.

Accept yourself as you are. It is important that you accept yourself for who you are now. There is nothing wrong with you for being shy, different, or just not very sociable. Your worth is not determined by the number of friends you have. Learn to enjoy your time alone. Commit to loving your alone time by spending it in exciting activities. For example, make a list of fun activities you can do alone. You can include going to a concert, creating a DIY project at home, starting a scrapbook, planting a garden, reading a book…Explore your city. You don’t need a group of friends to leave the house and enjoy yourself. If there’s a museum in town you’ve never visited or a new restaurant, enjoy a day alone. Do what you love. The secret to a satisfying life is spending your days doing what you love. So, use your time to pursue your passions and interests, but not obsessively, dedicate time to leisure or family. Join a club or organization. Not having friends doesn’t mean you have to isolate yourself from the world. It also doesn’t mean you can’t try to be more social. Make an effort to connect with other people. Volunteering, joining a club, or attending a reading group or any activity can also help you make friends. Learn a new skill. Keep yourself busy learning something you’ve always wanted to learn. Consider studying a new language, working on your culinary skills, or taking a free online course on a topic that interests you.Do exercise. This is a great solitary hobby that improves your mood and self-esteem, as well as your health. If you don’t want to join a sports team, try running, cycling, or swimming

Is there a cost to not having solid friendships?

We already know that yes, you can live without friends. There are many people who lack this type of bond for one reason or another and they assume it that way, that’s how they spend their days. However… Does this fact perhaps have some type of psychological cost? It is true that each person is different and there will be those for whom the bond of family or couple is enough. Others may even feel fulfilled in their solitude.

However, it is not normal nor recommended. What’s more, there is one fact that we should take into account: suicides are increasingly frequent in this individualistic society with fragile relationships. Not having friends doesn’t kill us in itself, it’s true, but it makes life harder..

People need quality friendships, figures in whom we can place our trust to create spaces in which to nourish ourselves emotionally. Friendship makes existence fuller, gives it greater meaning and offers us that type of support that has so much impact on mental health.

The absence of this dimension creates voids and wounds in which disaffection and loneliness navigate. that stick painfully and deform our reality. Let’s not deprive ourselves of them, let’s look for people with whom we can share passions, with whom we can grow, laugh, share… The benefits are incalculable.

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