talk it out?

There's no harm in gabbing with your favorite girls over coffee or martinis, right?

The answer might not be as clear as you think.

For years, the support networks inherent in female friendships have been touted as beneficial. Shows like "Sex and the City" end with uplifting messages about how nothing beats the tried-and-true power of your girls.

But now, in this recent NY Times article, psychologists say extended gab sessions with female friends can actually be detrimental to a woman's health. An excerpt:

Dwelling and rehashing issues can keep girls, who are more prone to depression and anxiety than boys, stuck in negative thinking patterns, psychologists say. But they also say it is a mixed picture: friends who co-ruminate tend to be close, and those intimate relationships can build self-esteem.

I've never really been one for hard-core female bonding. I've always had friends, but I operate under the mindset of talking out problems as a last resort.

I don't think there's one "right" or "wrong" way to approach friendship. However, I agree that discussing life's minute aspects at length can really just breed unnecessary anxiety.

Then again, you have to ask yourself: Would you rather have no one at all?