What is the importance of being held.…

The average length of a hug between two people is 3 seconds. However researchers have discovered something really amazing.

Whenever a hug lasts for 20 seconds or more, there is a therapeutic effect on both the body and mind.

The reason for this is that a sincere embrace produces a hormone called “oxytocin”.

This is also known as the love hormone.

Oxytocin is a natural bodily chemical which has many benefits to our physical and mental health. Among other things it helps us to relax, to feel safe and helps to calm our fear and anxiety levels.

This wonderful tranquilliser is offered free of charge every time we have a person in our arms, who cradled a child, who cherish a dog or a cat, that we are dancing with our partner, the closer we get to someone or simply hold the shoulders of a friend.

The famous psychotherapist Virginia Satir once noted,

“We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

Those exact numbers have yet to be scientifically proven, however there is a great deal of scientific evidence related to the importance of hugs and physical contact.

Below are some reasons why hugs are so important for people:

HUGS STIMULATE OXYTOCIN

Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter which acts on the limbic system, which is in the brain’s emotional centre. Ultimately this neurotransmitter promotes feelings of contentment. It also helps to reduce anxiety and stress.

Oxytocin is the hormone released during childbirth, helping birthing mothers forget about all of the excruciating pain they endured when expelling babies from their bodies and making them want to still love and spend time with us.

New research from the University of California suggests that it has a similarly civilising effect on human males, making them more affectionate and better at forming relationships and social bonding.

Oxytocin also dramatically increases libido and sexual performance. When we hug someone, oxytocin is released into our bodies via our pituitary gland, thus lowering both our heart rates and our cortisol levels.

It should be noted that cortisol is the hormone which is responsible for stress, high blood pressure and heart disease.

HUGGING CULTIVATES PATIENCE

Connections are fostered between people when they take the time to appreciate and acknowledge one another. Hugging is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation and acknowledgement of another person.

In this busy, hustle-bustle world we have a tendency to constantly rush toward our next task. If we slow things down and take a moment to offer sincere hugs to people throughout our day, we’re benefiting ourselves, others and cultivating better patience levels within ourselves.

PREVENTS DISEASE

Affection also has a direct response in the reduction of stress. Reducing stress in both our minds and bodies can prevent many diseases.

The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine has carried out more than 100 studies into human touch and found significant evidence as to the effects of hugging.

These effects included 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.

HUGGING STIMULATES THYMUS GLAND

Hugging can also 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 ultimately regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which helps to keep people healthy and free of disease.

HUGGING IS BODY LANGUAGE – COMMUNICATION WITHOUT WORDS

It is said that almost 70 percent of human communication is nonverbal. The interpretation of body language can be based on a single gesture and hugging is an excellent method of expressing feelings nonverbally to another human being.

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.

HUGGING HELPS 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.

HUGGING 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.

The presence of a certain kinds of dopamine receptors are also associated with sensation-seeking.

HUGGING 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.

Serotonin also helps to fight excess weight and prolong life.

Even the cuddling of pets has a soothing effect that reduces stress levels.

Hugging for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, this helps to elevate mood and create happiness.

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.

Embrace, embrace with your heart.

AND FINALLY……

The number of hugs I’ve had since March last year – well it’s not been great. Of course, hugs are a form of touch that share elements with other types of touch, such as massage, as well as gentle, light touch.

For example massage is also a great way to release tension … hmmm must book myself in somewhere.

I guess it’s a natural human thing, hugging, it happens everywhere on Earth. All over the world, people are more likely to touch, hold, dance, sing together, reminisce, do all of the things that they do in order to bond together especially when they’re under stress.

I leave you now with a tune from the Righteous Brothers – Unchained Melody.