We all need to feel like there is at least one person with whom we can be ourselves, 'warts and all'. Friendship and intimacy (emotional, not just sexual) is a vital support during troubled times.

Questions to ask when considering the need for friendship and intimacy:

• Do you have at least one person with whom you can share most things, and with whom you feel at ease and comfortable in yourself?
• If you have no intimate relationships, do you want one?
• What can you do about this?
• Are you in a relationship in which you feel unable to be yourself?
• Do you feel like you have several meaningful relationships with those around you?
• Do you feel connected to others generally?
• Do you feel like you easily understand people, their feelings or behaviours or do you sometimes have difficulty in this area?
• Are you happy with your social skills or would you like to learn more or have more opportunity to practice?