Benefits of Hugging

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http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2016-02-03/the-health-benefits-of-hugging

According to this article, hugging can boost your immune system and help with depression and anxiety. This is due to a hormone called oxytocin. This hormone allows for closeness in relationships whether it is a friendship, a mother and newborn, or an intimate/dating relationship. "Oxytocin is made primarily in the hypothalamus in the brain, and some of it is released into the bloodstream through the pituitary gland. But some of it remains in the brain, where it influences mood." Hugging can allow for relaxation, to relieve some stress, to cause a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure. When it comes to mood this hormone can increase the release of serotonin and dopamine, which can allow for one to feel calm. Apparently even giving a hug before heading into a stressful situation can allow the person to stay calm.

I for one love hugs, giving and receiving. It is part of my love language which is touch. I do feel closer to a person when I give them a hug. And I know that hugs definitely can calm and relax a person. So many times when I am in a low moment, crying, or just having a break down, getting a hug lets me know that I am loved and it does calm me. The longer I hold a hug, the calmer I get. I never really thought about how it works until now. It makes sense. Hugs help you feel good.

Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 9, 2016 at 11:41 AM

    I thought this article was very interesting because it shows another important function of oxytocin in the body. I was already familiar with oxytocin as the bonding hormone between a mother and her newborn, but learning this new function makes me realize how important one hormone can be. I also thought that this article was interesting due to what we learned about addiction in class. We learned that often there is a reduction in serotonin associated with addiction, and that drugs that can potentiate, or increase the effect of serotonin have been shown to be useful in treating addiction. I wonder if having closer support from love ones who give hugs while overcoming addiction would help in the treatment of addiction.

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  2. Sam SchroederNovember 11, 2016 at 8:32 AM

    I've thought about this topic a lot ever since I read an article about how cuddling can improve moods. Similar to you, whenever I give or receive a hug my mood almost immediately gets more positive and I have increased feelings of closeness, security, and bonding. I was previously unaware that there was a hormone that allowed for closeness--this makes a lot of sense to me in terms of mothers and newborns. Often times we hear that mothers and their newborn babies need an abundance of skin to skin contact because it allows for bonding and increases trust so, I wonder if oxytocin is involved in that process as well. Also, as most of us know, our brains get "rewarded" when we do something pleasurable or that feels good. That being said, I'm wondering if pleasure hormones such as dopamine and serotonin are also in play with hugging and/or cuddling. I'd be interested to see further research on this topic--everyone needs a good hug sometimes!

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  3. Morgan ClusterNovember 18, 2016 at 8:36 AM

    After reading this entry and further comments I remember learning about physical touch being able to release oxytocin and increase mood. Hugging seems to be only one aspect to make this possible. According to comments this hormone is also released in other things such as cuddling and mother-child bonding. A unique point got brought up in discussion about this hormone possibly being connected to treatment of addiction. I believe from what we have learned about addiction if you pair the release of oxytocin with another option of treatment it will increase the chance of recovery. But this also raises the question of the effects of drugs possibly inhibiting the release of oxytocin which would decrease the chances of treatment being paired to work with recovery. I would be interested in seeing whether or not drugs would have an effect on release of oxytocin.

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  4. Franklin NunezNovember 20, 2016 at 6:48 PM

    I also enjoy hugs and really appreciate this article because it explains all the feelings I personally get when I hug someone for a long period of time. I have read that hugs that last for 20 seconds or more releases oxytocin and creates the feelings of joy and happiness. I have also read that the lack of oxytocin or reduction has been linked to depressive symptoms. It's just funny to think that little things like hugging someone creates a sense of happiness in the lives of human beings. I wonder if there is a difference in mood between those who love receiving hugs and those who don't like hugs at all.

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  5. Sara WallaceNovember 21, 2016 at 4:33 PM

    I agree that hugging can make someone feel calm and even reduce ones depressive symptoms, but I know plenty of people who find physical touch to be emotionally uncomfortable, even with their friends and family. I am curious as to why that would be? Could it possibly be because of a lack of oxytocin? When they hug someone maybe they do not release the levels of oxytocin the rest of us do, leaving them feeling a lack of calmness and maybe even distraught for being so close to another.
    I believe there is also something to be said about WHO we are hugging. For example, hugging a stranger does not make me feel calm. I highly doubt oxytocin is being released during an uncomfortably and possibly painfully awkward hugging encounter with a stranger. On the other hand, hugging my grandma makes me feel happy and calm. I don't think it is merely the act of putting your arms around a person that fills you with a calm sensation, I think it is also WHO you hug that influences that release of oxytocin. Great article!

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  6. UnknownNovember 22, 2016 at 4:56 AM

    I exactly just read about oxytocin in my nutrition class. Oxytocin is a hormone that stimulates the breast and once the breast is stimulated then milk is released. I find that this article is very interesting because I love receiving hugs, especially from people I care about. If I'm feeling down, a hug changes my mood drastically. I think they even have a national hug holiday. I was walking into a building and this girl randomly came up to me and hugged. I was initially weirded out but when she told me her purpose, my attitude changed. She told me that one hug can make in difference in ones life. Happiness is definitely important.

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  7. UnknownNovember 22, 2016 at 11:21 AM

    This was an interesting read Tina, thank you for sharing!

    This article reminds me of a video I watched a few weeks ago. There is a man who lives in New York who is a professional "cuddler". Basically, people who are depressed or isolated pay this man to cuddle them. He sets up his apartment to be a "safe place" and holds his clients or talks to them. While I find this to be odd and a little creepy, I also understand why that would be a beneficial serve to other people. As you said, there is a natural need for human touch. I think about the Harlow study that placed baby monkeys in cages with surrogate mothers. One surrogate monkey was made of wire and had food, the other did not have any food, but a warm blanket around it. The monkeys preferred the blanketed mother because of the warmth it provided. This can easily be applied to humans because of the release of oxytocin during human touch/interaction.

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  8. UnknownNovember 27, 2016 at 11:51 PM

    I found this article very interesting and relatable, When I am stressed or upset, I ask my boyfriend for a hug. I never really questioned why this works but it does. Reading this article and learning about oxytocin puts all the pieces together. Knowing that just hugging someone can increase your mood and build stronger relationships, confirms just how important relationships are to humankind. We rely on each other for so many things that it only makes sense that we rely on each other for a sense of calm and happiness.

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  9. UnknownNovember 28, 2016 at 9:36 AM

    I love this article! I think it is so important that people realize what a hug can do for someone. I have given hugs to random people that I have seen crying in the hallway because I understand the value of a hugs, but I never knew about the chemical component to a hug.

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  10. UnknownNovember 28, 2016 at 1:42 PM

    great article. There is no doubt that hugs play an important role to distress ourselves and to comfort one another. From my cross cultural psychology class we learned that hugs is also a cultural thing. There are cultures where hugs are more common and acceptable and people give hugs to each other as they say hello or goodbye. In other cultures, the distance between people and the personal space is very valuable therefore people hug less.

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