I could not resist blogging on this subject!
I must warn you that I have no scientific background and that this post was done based on Internet research that fascinated me but the scientific accuracy of which I cannot be held responsible.
But then, what the heck?
I’m not advising anyone to take pills or go bunji-jumping, just to SNUGGLE.
Why?
Because it has a positive effect on our physical and mental health!
Psychologist Virginia Satir widely regarded as the “Mother” of Family Therapy once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”
When we touch someone else (let’s keep it non sexual – anything in this department will come as a plus…) our brains produce more serotonin and oxytocin.
Serotonin is known to regulate aging, learning and memory plus it may help protect against the onset of various mental and physical disorders.
Oxytocin evokes feelings of contentment and reduces anxiety plus studies have shown that oxytocin released with human bonding causes increases in trust and decreases in fear.
Engaging in touch also reduces the amount of cortisol we produce.
Cortisol is released in response to stress, diverting energy away from ‘low-priority activities’ such as the immune system in order to survive immediate threats.
Several therapies have been developed around the healing properties of touch and embrace. Healing Touch International, Inc. (www.healingtouchinternational.org) is a non-profit that claims to treat maladies like stress, depression and physical pain, through practitioners placing their hands above or lightly on patients as they lie on a
table.
Jacqueline Samuel has taken her belief in the healing power of touch a step further by opening The Snuggery (www.thesnuggery.org), a place to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life and focus on the simple restorative pleasure of touch. At The Snuggery, Jacqueline provides individuals with private snuggling sessions. She aims to make the world a gentler place, one snuggle at a time.
Although being a very selective snuggler and hugger (just my husband and daughter) I have to agree that some days I would not survive without a massive dose of hugs. Others, just ‘lots’ is enough.
So my call to action is: GIVE MORE HUGS!
Hug your loved ones and I’m sure you will live healthier and happier lives!
