The Social Brain: Why Connection Makes You Mentally Stronger
Dr. Tracey Marks
Corporate Mental Health Speaker | Psychiatrist | CNN Contributor | Author of "Why Am I So Anxious?" | Helping Organizations Build Mentally Resilient Teams
Most professionals think resilience is something you build alone—through discipline, habits, or mindset. But neuroscience shows one of the strongest buffers against stress comes from something much simpler: human connection.
Your brain has a built-in social network—regions that light up when you interact with others. This “social brain” explains why a calm colleague can steady you during a tense meeting, or why a negative coworker can leave you feeling drained.
Here’s what science tells us about connection and resilience:
Supportive relationships lower stress hormones and calm the brain’s alarm system.
Trusted people boost oxytocin, which strengthens bonds and protects brain health.
It’s not about numbers—five to seven close relationships provide the greatest resilience benefits.
What this means at work
Check in regularly with your trusted circle—quick messages count.
Protect your energy by investing in quality over quantity.
Don’t expect one person (a partner, a manager, or a mentor) to meet every need. Build a balanced support system.
Resilience isn’t just about what you do solo. It’s reinforced by the people around you—and the right relationships can literally rewire your brain to handle stress more effectively.
👉 How strong is your support network right now? And how are you investing in it?