Counseling

A friend of mine recently started counseling. That set me thinking on the lines of why some people need 'professional' help, some don't.
But don't we all need an outlet for the pent up stress built up in day-to-day life?

The difference lies in using relationships as pressure valves. You need to have a core group with whom you can talk about anything, to just let out the steam. Bottling it up is just NOT an option.

On an unrelated note, how do I define a friend?
A friend is someone I can talk to, without the fear of being judged.