Hugs Help Heal
Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash
Before social distancing, if you were in Costa Rica you might hear two friends say ¿Qué tal, mae? and embrace in a hug. The dialect and language might differ but across many countries in Latin America, Africa, and Europe hugs and kisses are a common greeting. Consensual forms of physical touch can also be a way to manage your mental health.“The health benefits of giving and receiving hugs are quite impressive. Hugs have a therapeutic effect on people,” says psychologist Joe Rock, PsyD. Many scientific studies prove that touch signals the brain to produce oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine. These hormones and neurotransmitters are natural chemicals that have multiple benefits in our bodies for our psychological and physical wellbeing.
“Hugs have a therapeutic effect on people,”
A short hug is a powerful way to ease pain. Hugs really heal! In just 20 seconds the body makes enough oxytocin to feel a physical improvement. Got 30 seconds to squeeze a loved one? Add 10 seconds more to get an extra boost of these hormones. Oxytocin reduce inflammation, and the cravings for drugs, alcohol, and sweets. The body heals wounds faster when we have more oxytocin. This combo lowers our cortisol levels which slows our heart rate and lowers our blood pressure to helps us sleep better. It’s easier for us to get sick if we are stressed. Hugs reduces risk for illness and strengthens our immune system.
These soothing chemicals also help us feel safer and chills out our stress response that lives in our parasympathetic nervous system. Consensual touch is comforting and a coping tool. Just the right amount of touch relaxes and relieves physical and emotional pain. Research connects touch with lowers levels of anxiety and depression. When our mood improves, we feel happier and calmer. We’ve all been missing human touch and interaction for the past 12 months. The pandemic has robbed us of smiles, kisses, hugs, and all the ways we communicate love without words and language barriers. Hopefully, as more people become immune from the coronavirus until then, Cleveland Clinic shares some ways that ways we can safely give (and receive) affection during the coronavirus pandemic. If you live alone you might have to give yourself what you need. Try crossing your arms in front of your chest, squeeze your upper arms or tops of your shoulders for a self-hug and upper backstretch. A hand or foot massage is another great self-soothing option. Cuidate!
