The Powerful Medicine of Friendship: Combating Loneliness, Anxiety, and Depression

Friendship might be one of the most powerful medicines for depression and anxiety that we don’t talk about enough.

Recently my friend Richard reminded me of that.

A while back he rented a cabin in Broken Bow to go watch the eclipse, but something came up and he wasn’t able to make the trip. Instead of letting it go to waste, he called and said, “Why don’t you and your family use it? Enjoy it.” It was a gift.

Well… on that trip our pretty new Honda Odyssey broke down in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma. Completely dead. Technology glitch. No Uber, no real plan, and the place we were staying was about $800 a night. We were stuck.

I called Richard to tell him what was going on. Without hesitation he hooked up his truck, rented a trailer big enough for our van, drove four and a half hours one way, picked us up, and drove us all the way home. And he absolutely refused to let me pay him a dollar.

That’s the kind of friend that makes you feel safe, known, and valued.

Finding Your People

But here’s the part people don’t see.

Even as an adult—especially with little kids—I’ve had seasons where building friendships was hard. I’ve had times where I had to ask to be included in text threads, ask to be invited to things, and really pursue relationships.

Sometimes it worked.
Sometimes it didn’t.

And I’ve learned something important: if I have to convince you that I’m worth investing in as a friend, then eventually you’ve convinced me I need to find new friends.

That doesn’t make them bad people. And it doesn’t make you wrong.

It just means you need to find your people.

Real friendships take effort. Richard and I meet early—sometimes 6:00 in the morning or earlier. Sometimes it’s a Zoom call if one of us is traveling. I just went to watch his son play in a state championship out of town so I could celebrate with him.

Those kinds of friendships go deeper than just checking in on a Bible app or seeing each other occasionally. They build real connections; where you know each other’s families, struggles, and victories.

How Connection Fights Back

And here’s what I see as a counselor.

So many people today feel alone. And when we feel alone, depression grows. Anxiety grows. Even marriages begin to feel isolating.

Anxiety often shows up as fear about the future—what might happen, what could go wrong, what we might not be able to handle. Depression often shows up as a sense of hopelessness—things feel heavy, and it’s hard to believe they’re going to get better.

Healthy friendships push back against both of those.

When people show up for you… when they listen… when they help you think through problems you feel stuck in… when they remind you that you’re not alone… something powerful happens. You begin to realize you’re part of something bigger than just your own worries and fears.

You start to remember that you don’t have to figure life out by yourself.

Sometimes just having someone sit with you, pray with you, or help you think through a situation can lower anxiety because the burden is no longer sitting only on your shoulders.

And when people love you, care for you, and walk with you through difficult seasons, it can bring hope back into places that felt heavy and discouraging.

Now friendship isn’t a cure for every kind of anxiety or depression. Sometimes deeper healing and counseling are needed.

But healthy friendships can make life feel less lonely, less overwhelming, and much more hopeful.

Don’t Give Up

So if building friendships feels hard right now, don’t give up.

It takes pursuit.
It takes resilience.
It takes cultivating relationships like you’re mining for gold.

And when you find the right people… it’s worth it.

And if you’re in a season where loneliness, anxiety, or depression feel heavy, you don’t have to face it alone. At New Vision Counseling and Consulting, we help people build healthier connections—with themselves, with others, and with the life they want to live. You can call or text (405) 921-7776  to learn more or schedule an appointment.