Strong, healthy relationships are a powerful weapon against stress: They give us emotional support, keep us grounded, and remind us of what's really important in life. But finding -- and keeping -- them can be a challenge in itself. These tips can help you cultivate positive relationships and improve (or get rid of) negative ones.

Research has long suggested that having friends benefits both sexes. But women, especially, lean on their pals as a way to cope when the going gets tough. Forming close female bonds, then, is important to your health. If you're not happy with yours, make a move to improve them.

A friend who doesn't pull his or her own weight can add significant stress to your relationship -- you might not want to start an argument by voicing your complaints, but fuming privately is not the best option.

Avoid being taken advantage of and make sure your friend knows that you feel you're putting in more effort and picking up his or her slack. In the end it will strengthen your bond and you'll both be happier with your results.

Have you ever felt on top of the world, only to be suddenly deflated by a friend or coworker's bad mood? It's no surprise, given that emotions are even more contagious than colds or flu. That's good news if you're surrounded by boundless optimists, but unfortunate, even unhealthy, if those around you act sour.

It's hard to have a healthy relationship with anger, an inherently unhealthy emotion. And the consequences of being at the extreme ends of the anger spectrum -- either suppressing it completely or staying in a constant state of rage -- can reach far beyond the immediate conflict, with potentially serious effects on your health and happiness.

But by understanding how your body and mind process anger, you can find a balanced path.

It's extremely common for bickering and squabbles to occur among friends. If you're the one that your pals always run to to listen to their problems -- or to mediate fights between them -- you may need to push pause and put the focus back on you.

Your friends want a confidante, a sympathetic ear, a sage dispenser of advice -- but this can put you in an awkward position. Before you do anything, you need to make a mental commitment to staying true to yourself and getting what you need.

You can see it now: your combative Aunt Barb cornering you at a family get-together, your squinty-eyed sister-in-law calling your personal life into question over dessert. Families come in all shapes and sizes, but they rarely come without the (at least) occasional feuds.

Whether you see your family members every day or once a year, chances are high that your interactions won't always go smoothly. But if you can change the way you navigate these interactions, you'll set yourself up for a more positive experience.

If you struggle with shyness when you're with groups of people, it can be hard to make new friends and enjoy social situations.

The next time you're hanging out with friends, ask yourself, "What would I be doing if I were not shy?" Imagine how your body would feel -- relaxed, alert, light? Choose one action to take, perhaps hugging goodbye, making a joke, or even just smiling. Let your desire for connection help you conquor this fear.

When someone we love becomes sick and needs caring for, most of us would step up and volunteer in an instant. But that doesn't mean it will be an easy thing to do.

Becoming a caregiver for a sick or aging parent, friend, or relative can be an extremely stressful sacrifice. If you find yourself in this role, you'll need self-care strategies to keep your own head above water.

Looking for true love can be stressful, especially if you feel the pressure of friends, family, and society to find someone -- anyone -- before time runs out. But how can you get what you want from your relationships if you don't even know what you really need?

In his book "Elemental Love Styles," relationship counselor Craig Martin outlines a simple way to determine what you should look for in a partner. Take our quiz to discover your relationship type and approach your love life in a new way.

Is there something missing in your relationship? Many couples deal with a lack of intimacy or a loss of passion after years together. Even if you're the best of friends, it's important to keep your romantic and physical relationship alive, as well.

Think about the reasons you're not connecting the way you used to -- is your lack of libido physical or emotional? Addressing these problems can help you reignite an old spark and become closer than ever with your partner.

It's often the little things that contribute the most to the wear and tear on a relationship. Left unaddressed, even trivial annoyances -- like dirty socks on the floor -- can morph into big power issues over time and can seem like a slap in the face.

But petty arguments can also be a chance to cultivate compassion, if you learn to keep your lines of communication open and approach the situation with your full attention.

Your mother criticizes your weight. Your best friend constantly asks for favors at the last minute. Your husband's boss tells you how to raise your kids. Even if you think that you're ignoring these boundary bashers, they're probably still getting through to you on some level, hurting your confidence and straining your patience. While these friends and family members mean well, it's important to put them in their place so you can live your own life.

A colleague takes credit for your idea. Your husband forgets your birthday. A trusted friend divulges your secret, and now everyone knows. Whether it's a slight transgression or an all-out blow, coping with an offense on any level can put even the most generous spirit to the test. When you've been hurt, the last thing you want to do is forgive.

But experts say forgiveness isn't about making life easier for people who hurt you, or letting offenders off the hook. It's about protecting your health, and replacing pain with peace.

Sometimes the person you can be the most critical of is not a friend or family member -- it's yourself. Women of all ages are lightning-quick to point out the so-called problem areas on their bodies. The degree of scrutiny, even loathing, can be alarming.

Yet our bodies carry us around all day, every day -- our whole lives. When is the last time you checked in with yours? Ask yourself if it's time you forged a stronger relationship with your body.