Do you feel your circle shrinking since a move, a separation or a change of pace? Friendship is not a treatment, but it can become daily health supportespecially when loneliness becomes endured.
The point is not to have a lot of friends, nor to force yourself to go out. It is rather a matter of identifying when isolation sets in and reintroducing the link to its extent.
When loneliness sets in, friendship becomes concrete support
Friendship remains a refuge value in a period when many adults see their social life tightened, following very recognizable situations: arrival in a new city after studies, separation in midlife, a circle which mainly revolves around the couple or work.
According to the Solitudes 2025 study by the Fondation de France, published in January 2026, 24% of those over 15 in France say they feel alonecompared to 20% in 2022. This figure does not say everything about the quality of relationships, but it reminds us that loneliness is not just an individual impression.
Certain signs may suggest that isolation is becoming burdensome:
- Observe that exchanges are limited to work or family obligations;
- Systematically postpone messages, calls or invitations, even if desired;
- Feeling alone despite the presence of other people around you;
- No longer having anyone to spontaneously suggest a simple outing to.
Solitude can also be chosen and restorative. The difficulty begins when it is suffered, painful or lasting. To better distinguish chosen solitude and suffered isolation, the quality of the bond often counts more than the quantity.
Friends do not replace the couple or the family, they play another role
In Le Parisien Dimanche, Solen Montanari, psychologist and psychotherapist, insists on what makes the friendly bond unique: it is chosen, less socially supervised than the couple or the family, and can offer breathing space.
“Friendship is first and foremost a free, secure (safe) and autonomous bond which only involves the two people concerned.”
This idea is valuable, provided it is not transformed into an injunction. A friend does not replace a spouse, parent, colleague or healthcare professional. But it does not play the same role : we can talk to him differently, share an activity without having to justify ourselves, or maintain continuity in periods of transition.
The medical data points in the same direction, with caution. A review of 47 meta-analyses published in the Journal of Affective Disorders in 2024 associates social support with a lower risk or less severity of depression, with varying results depending on the populations. A meta-analysis published in Scientific Reports in 2024 also reports an association between high loneliness or social isolation and an incident cardiovascular risk increased by 16%. However, this work reinforces the idea that the benefits of friendship on mental and physical health deserve to be taken seriously.
Recreate the bond without forcing yourself or putting pressure on yourself
Le Parisien Dimanche discusses friendly dating applications, such as Bumble BFF or Weezem, through testimonials from adults looking for close people to go out, chat or share an activity. These tools can help provoke an encounter, but they remain one tool among othersnot a medical solution.
To reconnect without rushing, a few simple tips may be enough:
- Send a short message to someone you have lost sight of, without waiting for the perfect moment;
- Suggest a specific, light activity, such as walking, drinking coffee or visiting a place;
- Ritualize a call or a meal at a realistic pace, rather than aiming for permanent availability;
- Join a local group around a center of interest, without obligation to return if it is not suitable;
- Use an application with caution, favoring public places and your own pace.
Rebuilding the bond often starts with a small, repeated opportunitynot with a grand declaration of friendship. This can also involve relationships that are already present but not well nourished: a neighbor, a former friend, a distant relative, a colleague with whom we share something other than work.
If loneliness is accompanied by lasting psychological suffering, a marked withdrawal or a loss of momentum, talking about it to a doctor, a psychologist or a support structure can help not to be left alone with this burden. The signs that show that the feeling of loneliness is setting in can then serve as a starting point, without self-diagnosis or guilt.