Needs Well + Good

Dear Seekers,

“Needy” is considered a dirty word in a culture that places a premium on independence. In reality, neediness is synonymous with humanness. Because interdependence is discouraged, many of us feel pressure to disown our needs in a way that goes against our biology–humans are designed to depend on one another. In fact, research shows that when you hold the hand of someone you love while experiencing pain, you rate the pain as less than you do when you are alone.