Hugs Reduce our Stress and Lift our Moods
Photo by Clayton Cardinalli on Unsplash
“Sometimes when you don’t know what to say, a hug says enough.”
~ PictureQuotes.com
I just had my first real hug from a non-family member in a year, and I can hardly contain myself.
I received my J&J vaccine on April 12th, so I’m beyond even the four-week waiting period for full effectiveness. Most of my friends are now fully vaccinated as well.
Throughout the year, my close friends and I have talked wistfully about how much we miss hugs. The frustration and downright awkwardness of having to keep six feet apart, and the joy and relief of finally being able to embrace, are captured beautifully on this video, created from individual viewer submissions.
“First routine, then forbidden and now precious, hugs have come to symbolize the next phase of the pandemic, our emergence from the isolation of the past year,” says the author of this recent article from the Los Angeles Times.
During this quarantine year, I was okay with skipping parties and in-restaurant dining, but not being able to hold my friends close has really been challenging. I’ve already set up two more “girl dates” for this week so I can get more hugs.
Physical touch is definitely my love language. It always has been. I’m aware that some people are neutral about hugs, and some are even uncomfortable with too much physical touch, but I’m at the opposite end of the spectrum.
There are so many situations where being enfolded into someone’s arms can make us feel better, no matter our age.
As expressed in the lyrics in this cute music video, it’s wonderful to receive hugs when we’re a little sad, totally scared, or stomping mad. It’s fun to give them when we’re super happy, feeling incredible, or when we see someone we love.
It turns out that hugs are actually good for us, too!
A survey of articles on well-being like this one and this one shows that more frequent hugs can improve our:
Health. They strengthen our immune systems and release our bodies’ natural opioids which may reduce pain.
Stress level. By lowering our level of cortisol, they reduce stress and promote relaxation, lowering both our heart rate and blood pressure.
Mood. They act as anti-depressants, increase our self-esteem, and make us feel safe.
Resilience. They soothe us and cushion us against exposure to conflict.
Relationships. By increasing our level of oxytocin, the “cuddle hormone,” they promote intimacy and attachment to others.
In addition to just feeling good, hugs provide a tangible sign of someone’s affection for us.
When we receive a warm embrace, we don’t have to wonder about how someone feels about us. Touch has the power to communicate so much more than words, especially when it comes to forgiveness and reconciliation, when the mere sight of someone reaching for us can cause us to melt.
Even watching videos of other people giving and receiving hugs can touch our hearts, which is why the opening scene from the film Love Actually was so impactful. I don’t know about you, but on this past Sunday, seeing news stories about adult children who made surprise visits to their mothers for Mother’s Day really got to me.
Have you seen these “blind trust experiment” videos? Somehow I missed them when the global experiment first started in 2014. I’ve watched several from different parts of the world, and they’re all heartwarming:
Barcelona
London
London (Trafalgar Square)
With so many families fractured simply because of their political beliefs, it’s beautiful to see complete strangers embracing each other. Notice the big smiles on the people who decide to participate! The images tap into our common humanity and make us feel more loving.
If you haven’t already, I hope you get to experience your first embrace very soon. I pray that we will never take them for granted again.
And if you live in close proximity to me, get ready, and make sure your feet are firmly planted, because I’m liable to knock you over with our first hug!
Affectionately,
Elaine