Humans are wired for connection, and one of the most basic yet potent ways we feel connected is through a hug. A hug is not only a physical response, but also serves to comfort and calm down the emotional state of an individual, strengthening personal relationships. Science has shown that hugs are good for mental health and can make one feel calmer, happier, and more supported.
When people hug us, our bodies pump out the "love hormone," oxytocin. Oxytocin is a stress reliever and enhances trust and bonding. In addition, hugs lower cortisol, the stress hormone, so you’re less anxious and tense. Because of this chemical response in the brain, hugs are a natural stress reliever. Hugging stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, preventing the rapid heartbeat and increasing relaxation. Which is the reason a warm embrace can lend a sense of safety and grounding to even the hardest moments.
Emotional Benefits:
- Lowers loneliness: a hug is a reminder that we are not alone, providing comfort in times of sadness or loneliness.
- Enhances mood: When a person touches another person, they release serotonin and dopamine, which raises their mood and lowers their levels of depression.
- Enhances relationships: Hugs encourage trust and promote emotional closeness between family, friends, and partners.
Regular hugs help patients to handle stress, anxiety, and even signs of depression. As far as parents go, hugging gives kids a sense of security and emotional stability. For adults, hugs are a buffer against the daily stresses and can help challenges to feel less overwhelming. A culture of kindness, as well as support through gestures like hugs, in workplaces or communities can be important to overall well-being and preventing burnout. Not everybody feels OK with touch, but every little act of affection, like a pat on the shoulder, can have an equivalent impact.
Hugs promote mental health. One simple, yet immensely beneficial thing they are like are the warm arms that a woman holds in her arm. They make feel-good hormones; they relieve stress; and they build emotional connections. When loneliness is such a big part of what leads most people to heartbreak and anxiety, a heart-to-heart approach does more than feel that care and love a heart-to-heart touch can be the antidote. The science behind hugs demonstrates that the best medicine for the mind is sometimes just to be held.
