By Alex Horton — 2012
After months or years in far-off war zones, former soldiers are facing a new kind of isolation at college.
Read on www.theatlantic.com
CLEAR ALL
If you have ADHD, you might find it hard to date, make friends, or parent. That’s partly because good relationships require you to be aware of other people's thoughts and feelings. But ADHD can make it hard for you to pay attention or react the right way.
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"A dog or other animal in a veteran’s life is a great addition to the healing process."
Veterans are molded by military culture—a unique set of values, traditions, language and humor, with unique subcultures. It has enough consistency across different branches, ranks and time periods to make most veterans feel a kinship.
Coming from all over the country, these women, who ranged in age from their mid-30s to mid-50s, all shared one important characteristic: They had all served in the United States military, and now as civilians they were learning to adjust to life out of the uniform.
No matter where you move after the military, even if you’re returning to where you grew up, it takes time and effort to find your sense of belonging. Your civilian job likely won’t provide that as easily as the military did—or at all.
You not calling, as a friend, can actually compound the grief and loss they are feeling. Just pick up the phone, even if you get it wrong, just have a conversation and do your best. Your friend with cancer is still the same person they were before.
I’m afraid to need friendship, but it doesn’t change the fact that I do.
I have three children, some really good girlfriends, and family who lives close by that I can count on. Yet I am still taken aback by the lonely feelings that live inside me since I became a mother.
Research suggests that chronic loneliness may be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. But do we know what loneliness actually is?
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Want to get more out of your relationships? Be bold and shrink your social circle.