Feb 15 min read

The Importance of Being Held

Alright, buckle up for this fantastic hug-tastic revelation! So, get this: your average hug lasts a measly 3 seconds. But guess what? The hug gurus (aka researchers) have unearthed something mind-blowing! When you go all-in with a 20-second bear hug, magic happens – and not the rabbit-out-of-a-hat kind.

Turns out, during this extended embrace, a superhero hormone called "oxytocin" (aka the love hormone) bursts onto the scene. This magical potion does wonders for your body and mind. We're talking relaxation vibes, feeling safe and sound, and even giving your fears and anxiety a one-way ticket to chill town.

And here's the kicker – this extraordinary tranquility potion is absolutely free! Yep, you get a dose every time you embrace a buddy, cuddle a kiddo, snuggle a furry friend, groove with your dance partner, or just go shoulder-to-shoulder with your pal. So, go ahead, spread the love, and let those 20-second hugs work their enchanting wonders! 🤗💖

A famous quote

Why should we hug often?

1. STIMULATES OXYTOCIN ! 🚀✨

Get ready for the lowdown on oxytocin, the brain's lovey-dovey neurotransmitter! This little superhero does a happy dance in the limbic system, the emotional command center of our brains. It's like a mood magician, waving its wand and sprinkling contentment, kicking anxiety and stress to the curb, and heck, even inspiring mammalian monogamy.

Hold onto your hats, because oxytocin is the VIP of our existence. Picture this: it struts onto the scene during childbirth, making our superhero moms forget the Herculean pain of delivering us into the world. Instead, it turns them into loving, hangout buddies who can't get enough of us.

But that's not all, folks! Recent intel from the University of California spills the beans on oxytocin's wild side. Brace yourselves, fellas, because it's not just a lady's best friend. It sprinkles its magic dust on human males too, turning them into affection pros and social bonding maestros. Plus, it cranks up the romance by boosting libido and sexual prowess.

And guess what happens when you throw a hug into the mix? Boom! Oxytocin rains down from the pituitary gland, pulling a double whammy by chilling our heart rates and kicking cortisol (that stress-bringer) to the curb. Say goodbye to stress, high blood pressure, and heart troubles! So, in the grand symphony of life, let's all give a big shout-out to oxytocin – the love hormone that's got our backs, hearts, and relationships covered! 🌟💕 💃🕺💖

2. CULTIVATES PATIENCE ! 🌱💖

In this wild, hustle-bustle world, we're all sprinting from one thing to the next like caffeinated squirrels. But hold up, because here's the game-changer – the mighty hug. It's like a time-out from the chaos, a chance to slow-mo the hectic pace and spread some love confetti..

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By taking a beat to deliver sincere hugs throughout the day, we're not just being huggable superheroes. Nope, we're doing ourselves a solid, sprinkling warmth on others, and brewing up a magical potion called patience within our very souls. So, in the grand dance of life, let's hit pause, share those hugs, and become the masters of appreciation and the captains of cultivating epic patience! 🤗✨

3. PREVENTS DISEASE

💖 Affection also has a direct response on the reduction of stress which prevents many diseases. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine says it has carried out more than 100 studies into touch and found evidence of significant effects, including faster growth in premature babies, reduced pain, decreased autoimmune disease symptoms, lowered glucose levels in children with diabetes, and improved immune systems in people with cancer.🎉✨

In a nutshell, folks, hugs and affection aren't just warm and fuzzy feelings – they're like superhero armor, fending off stress and keeping diseases at bay. So, let's sprinkle those affectionate vibes like confetti and keep the stress monsters at arm's length! 🎉💕

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4. STIMULATES THYMUS GLAND

Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free. 🌈💪 🎉🕺💕

5. COMMUNICATION WITHOUT SAYING A WORD

Almost 70 percent of communication is nonverbal. The interpretation of body language can be based on a single gesture and hugging is an excellent method of expressing yourself nonverbally to another human being or animal. Not only can they feel the love and care in your embrace, but they can actually be receptive enough to pay it forward to others based on your initiative alone.🌟💖

6. SELF-ESTEEM

🦸‍♀️💖 Hugging boosts self-esteem, especially in children. The tactile sense is all-important in infants. A baby recognizes its parents initially by touch. From the time we’re born our family’s touch shows us that we’re loved and special.

The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love💪🌟

7. STIMULATES DOPAMINE

Everything everyone does involves protecting and triggering dopamine flow.

Low dopamine levels play a role in the neurodegenerative disease Parkinson’s as well as mood disorders such as depression.

Dopamine is responsible for giving us that feel-good feeling, and it’s also responsible for motivation!

Hugs stimulate brains to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. Dopamine sensors are the areas that many stimulating drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine target. The presence of a certain kinds of dopamine receptors are also associated with sensation-seeking 🕺💃✨

Yep, you heard it right – these sensors are like the ultimate party spots for stimulating drugs. It's like they've got a neon sign saying, "Hey, dopamine, let's get this party started!" So, when the party-crashers like cocaine and meth swing by, they're basically gatecrashers trying to pull off the ultimate dopamine heist. (And that has nothing to do with the famous series "Money Heist." 😍)

It's a brainy game of cat and mouse, and those dopamine sensors are the hottest spots in town. Who knew our brains were such happening party destinations? 🎉🧠

8. STIMULATES SEROTONIN

Reaching out and hugging releases endorphins and serotonin into the blood vessels and the released endorphins and serotonin cause pleasure and negate pain and sadness and decrease the chances of getting heart problems, helps fight excess weight and prolongs life. Even the cuddling of pets has a soothing effect that reduces the stress levels. Hugging for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.🥰🌈

9.PARASYMPATHETIC BALANCE

Hugs balance out the nervous system. The skin contains a network of tiny, egg-shaped pressure centres called Pacinian corpuscles that can sense touch and which are in contact with the brain through the vagus nerve. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system – parasympathetic.🌈💆‍♂️