 Hey psych2goers and welcome back to another video. Our mission is to make content on mental health and self-help more accessible to everyone This is made possible through your continued love and support. We're so grateful for that. So thank you. Now, let's begin Is there someone in your life that you consider a lifelong friend? Are you confident that no matter what, they'll be there for you? Friendship is a beautiful thing and the lifelong kind can be even more so It's a researched fact that friendships boost your mental and physical health Having strong friendships not only increases your pain tolerance and boost your immune system But also increases your sense of self and belonging and purpose So here are eight signs you've made a lifelong friend One you can confide in them. Have you ever shared confidences with someone? Are you certain your secrets are safe with them? If so, it means you trust your friend. You feel comfortable around them and you're sure they won't judge you Checking all of those boxes is a surefire way to discern a lifelong friend Inviting in someone is great for your mental health because research says it intensifies your sense of purpose and belonging Belong is to feel comfortable and confident with who you are and if you feel that way around your friend You know, there's a good chance that they're here to stay Number two you enjoy similar things You and those you consider your close friends enjoy doing some of the same things you have similar hobbies study similar things in school Having similar interests is actually a sign of lifelong friendship Research shows that forming friendships based on common interests creates a valued sense of community between you This is definitely not a hard and fast rule And it's more applicable to making friends in college or school where your lives are more or less grouped by your interests and hobbies With that said though Enjoying similar things has the potential to ensure a lifelong friendship as it can lead to sharing similar passions and values Number three you feel comfortable and safe around them Do you feel safe to express yourself around your friend? Or do you feel like you have to hide parts of who you are and fear that they'll judge you? All of this refers to emotional comfort and safety, which seems like a given but to actually achieve this in a friendship It's important that both people listen to each other actively with a non-judgmental mind You should feel that no matter what your friend has your best interests at heart and appreciate things that make you you Number four they emotionally support you when you don't feel well Can you be sure they won't turn your back on you if you fall sick sad heartbroken or worried? Ups and downs are a part of life and a lifelong friend will be willing to be there for you through all of it True friendships don't fizzle out when things get difficult rather you can count on them to get you through When you're mentally unwell, you might want to isolate yourself Friends who still emotionally support you can actually help pull you out of its debilitating effects Number five they inspire you do your friends make you want to become the best version of who you are? According to research lifelong friendships can encourage you to make up healthier habits such as exercising and help you drop Unhealthy habits like overusing substances or overthinking things Have you ever had a friend help you quit something that was difficult for you to quit on your own a lot of times? Loneliness can cause you to perpetuate mentally destructive habits But secure long-lasting friendships can change your perspective by showing you that you aren't really alone And that in itself can help remove some of your negative thinking patterns Number six you feel valued around them Lifelong friends will show you how much they care about you through their words and more importantly their actions And this is so important because feeling valued and cared about is known to contribute to your happiness as an individual Rather than only talking about themselves. They'll call you to check in on you They'll show up on time and when they are with you, they'll give you their full attention Lifelong friends will lift you up when you're feeling down simply by being present with you and reminding you how much you matter to them Number seven they're honest with you Have you had a friend who called you out when you made a mistake, but still didn't leave your side? You may have felt embarrassed or even angry at the time, but that friend truly has your best interest at heart Friends like these are so important and usually lifelong because they show you that not only will they be there for you But you can trust them to give you their honest opinion to help you succeed and become a better person on your own Rather than sitting back saying nothing and watching get hurt or fail And number eight they respect your boundaries Believe it or not boundaries are crucial in friendships They make sure that you grow as an individual and that you and your friends don't become too dependent on each other If there is something you don't want to talk about a lifelong friend will accept that and continue to emotionally support you Rather than distance themselves out of anger Boundaries are necessary because they keep you safe and a good friend will make sure not to cross ones that you have set Have you made a lifelong friend how many of these signs described your friendship with them Let us know in the comments below if you found this video helpful Be sure to hit the like and subscribe button and share it with someone who might benefit from it as always Thanks for watching and we'll see you in our next video