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by Esther McIlveen |
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A friend dropped by recently to share thoughts about the plight of single mothers.
Isolation: women often move far from family and have difficulty linking up with friends. Women need the sense of community that used to happen when they got together for quilting bees or for canning.
Lack of support: we all need someone to extend to us hope, courage and wisdom. Friends help to put things into perspective and dissipate the mountain of despair.
Transitions: change can cause depression. A trustworthy friend to whom you can tell everything is a rare gift.
Inability to measure accomplishment: low levels of depression builds after weeks of feeling, "I am not getting anywhere". Shifting a schedule can often free one to read, sew, paint or take a course.
Low self esteem: doing something kind for yourself can help bolster a low ebb.
"Health exists in the quality of our social relationships," says Ronald Labonte, a consultant in community development for Toronto. "Without our social networks, we run two to four times the risk of becoming ill or dying, and that's independent of every other known risk factor for disease."
