PART 3

A IS FOR ATTACHMENTS

As we discussed in the introduction, social connection is one of the four key aspects of health, along with the biological, psychological, and spiritual components. Our social attachments bring us our greatest joys and our most painful sorrows. When relationships are stressed or break apart, people become unhappy and are vulnerable to acting in counterproductive ways. To use a computer analogy, attachments are like network connections that link us to others in meaningful ways. Brain health is often the missing piece in understanding healthy or difficult relationships, trauma, and grief. These two chapters will give you powerful tools to improve any relationship and help eliminate the hurts that haunt you. In chapter 6 I’ll look at habits that can elevate all of your relationships, and in chapter 7 I’ll share helpful ways to deal with the grief and trauma that can come from loss, broken relationships, or other difficult circumstances.