UCLA study shows that women keep each other sane

Apparently the Beatles were right when they sang "I get by with a little help from my friends". Well, as far as women are concerned at least. As shows like Sex and the City have shown, women tend to turn toward their girlfriends when they're having trouble with work, kids, boyfriends, husbands and anything or anyone else out there that adds stress to their lives.

I know when I've had a bad day the only thing that I really want to do is get together with friends for a chat. We don't even have to talk about the cause of my troubles. Just having those girls to joke and laugh with makes all the difference. I imagine that most of you ladies out there also have a great group of women friends, or even just one best girlfriend, who you turn to for support and comfort on a regular basis.

Have you ever wondered why we girls gravitate toward each other for emotional support? According to a study by UCLA -- which is reported on here -- when a woman is feeling stress her brain releases chemicals which counteract the typical "fight or flight response" that is prevalent in men, and instead encourages her to stick around and congregate with fellow females. According to the article, the effects of the hormone oxytocin, which is responsible for this reaction, is enhanced by estrogen and diminished by testosterone. So while men would often rather work out problems on their own, women are programmed to go to each other for support.