Health isn’t just physical. Our relationships can shape stress levels and immune responses, and are linked with how long we live. The U.S. Surgeon General has compared the increased risk of premature death associated with insufficient social connection to that associated with smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. Toxic relationships can create persistent stress. Supportive ones can feel like medicine.
But here too, the issue often lies beneath the surface. Why do we isolate? Why do we stay in draining relationships? Why do we sabotage the connections that could give us strength? In my approach, we explore whether these patterns are connected to buried feelings of unworthiness, fear, or mistrust.
The Ultimate Exercise is my approach to facing these root beliefs. The aim is to create space for healthier connections, so relationships can stop being battlegrounds and become sources of support, joy, and resilience.
Strong connections are associated with longer life. They make those years worth living. They can support our healthspan by helping us manage stress and supporting mental health, and are associated with better cognitive health as we age.
SOURCE REVIEW NOTE — The original WFHealth article identified Dr. Mark Colafranceschi, D.C., as reviewer and listed July 2026 as its review date.
Mark Colafranceschi, D.C. • Licensed Chiropractic Physician – Arizona License #009154 • Scottsdale, Arizona