Rooted in Resilience: Connection Is Survival

How Connection and Commuity Strengthens Our Body and Spirit

We are social creatures, there’s no denying that. We need and desire connection. What I didn’t always understand is just how powerful our relationships are in shaping not only our emotional health but our physical well-being, too. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1970s that scientists began to fully recognize the physiological importance of human connection. Reading Friendship: The Evolution, Biology, and Extraordinary Power of Life’s Fundamental Bond illuminated so much for me—especially during a time when isolation became a global norm.

Truthfully, I might not have included community in this healing series if not for the deep loneliness I experienced during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. While I always valued friendship, I hadn’t realized just how much we rely on our support systems for resilience and healing.

Why We’re Wired for Each Other

Evolutionarily, community is how we survived. In tribal societies, being part of the group wasn’t optional—it was survival. Being cast out meant danger, and that primal truth still lives in our nervous systems today. Depression, some scientists theorize, is the body’s way of signaling separation from the group—a biological alert that you need reconnection. (Johan Hari explores this powerfully in Lost Connections.)

In our modern world, we’ve been conditioned to operate independently. We live alone more than ever before. Loneliness has become a silent epidemic—and then COVID-19 amplified the disconnect. Isolation became not just common, but necessary. And it took a toll.

The Buffering Effect of Belonging

The year I began transforming my life was the same year I started cultivating deep, aligned friendships. That wasn’t a coincidence. Through what scientists call "social buffering," healthy relationships act as emotional anchors, literally lowering the effects of stress on the body. Social connection brings us back to a sense of safety.

Just being in the presence of trusted friends can lower cortisol levels, ease inflammation, and stabilize our nervous systems. That’s what happened when, after months of strict quarantine, I finally saw a few of my closest friends. I didn’t realize how heavy I’d been carrying everything until I felt the relief of being with them. It was like exhaling for the first time in weeks.

Not All Support Is Created Equal

It’s important to note: not every relationship is nourishing. Some connections can actually intensify anxiety and stress. When you're seeking support, notice how people make you feel. Do you feel more grounded after spending time with them? Or more tense? True community uplifts and steadies you. It’s okay to be discerning.

Connection and Physical Health

What really drove this truth home for me was learning about the physical impacts of loneliness. In study after study, social isolation has been shown to be as dangerous to our health as smoking or obesity. It increases inflammation, weakens the immune system, and can even double the risk of mortality.

For example, in research with AIDS patients, closeted gay men with limited social support died significantly faster than those who were openly gay and more connected to community. Social stress literally changes how our bodies respond to illness. That’s why isolation during a health crisis can be so complex—even as we try to protect our bodies, disconnection can be compromising our wellness.

Staying Connected, Safely

Even during times of separation, we have to get creative about maintaining connection. Whether it’s through Zoom, outdoor walks, masked visits, or heartfelt voice notes, don’t underestimate the healing power of being seen and supported.

You don’t have to go through anything alone. In fact, you were never meant to.

Ready to Begin Your Healing Journey?

If you’re feeling the call to reconnect with yourself and others, I’d love to support you. In my medicine work, I help you build emotional resilience and rewire subconscious patterns through breathwork, somatic practices, and integrative guidance rooted in both science and soul.

When we work together, you gain tools for self-regulation, processing, and growth—but you also gain a safe relationship where you don’t have to do it all alone.

If you’re ready to reclaim your sense of trust, power, and connection, let’s talk.

Click here to schedule a free discovery call.