I love hugs. One of the most difficult things for me during the COVID pandemic was not being able to hug…or fist bump…or get closer than six feet. As we move through this public health crisis, hopefully we will be able to get back to hugging! Whether you hug someone you know well, an acquaintance or a stranger, hugs offer mental and physical health benefits. Hugs bring forth emotions and help us feel connected to others. Research shows that hugging, heart to heart, is effective at healing disease, stress and negative emotions such as loneliness, depression and anxiety. While less intimate, even side hugs have benefits. Let’s look at some of the ways hugging helps us:
*Hugs communicate caring, building a sense of trust and safety. Open, honest communication is easier when you trust someone and feel safe. It is important to hug others in a way that is reflective of how well you know them so as not to make the hug uncomfortable, fear inducing or communicating something you don’t feel.
*Hugs boost oxytocin levels in the body. Oxytocin or “the bonding hormone” promotes attachment in relationships. Oxytocin influences mood, behavior and body functioning. Increased oxytocin levels can help heal negative emotional states including feelings of isolation and anger. Think of the warm cocoon of nurturance a mother wraps her baby in as she holds eye contact and hugs her baby while feeding.
*Hugs held for an extended time can increase the level of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is thought to assist with mood balance and positive emotional states. Holding a hug with a friend or loved one sure creates happiness for me!
*Hugs show us that we are loved and special, increasing our self esteem. For those of us who experienced healthy physical nurturing as young children, our bodies will be reminded of those experiences, connecting us back to a time when others nurtured us, teaching us to love ourselves.
*Hugs relax our muscles and balance our nervous system, releasing tension and taking away aches and pains.
*Hugs teach us to give and receive caring. We can come to a better understanding that there is equal value in giving and receiving a gift.
*Hugs teach us to let go of worries of the past and future and be present in the moment. Hugs connect us with the beating of our heart, our breath and our emotions.
*Hugs are an investment in a relationship whether that relationship is short or long term, intimate or passing. Hugs encourage empathy and understanding. No one loses in the hugging process!
In short, hugs relieve stress, improve our health and our relationships, alleviate fear, anger, and loneliness, and just make us feel better.
January 21 is officially recognized as NATIONAL HUGGING DAY! Hopefully, the next National Hugging Day will be easy to celebrate. Just offer a hug to anyone and everyone you want! Give someone a hug! #NationalHuggingDay
“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” –Virginia Satir
