5.3: Love and Union Formation

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Elizabeth B. Pearce
Linn-Benton Community College via OpenOregon

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Love and Union Formation

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

–Lao Tzu, Philosopher

Relationships represent the excitement, passion, security, and connection we experience; they also represent the sadness, heartbreak, insecurities, violence, and loneliness we find at times.

Close relationships, such as those with a confidante or spouse are highly associated with health, and with recovery from disease. In studies of various forms of cancer, including breast cancer, having one or more confidants decreased the likelihood and frequency of relapse.^[1] As a social species,intimate relationships are a fundamental aspect of our life.