The Benefits of a Really Good Hug

It’s Fabulous Friday and National Hugging Day! 🤗 ❤️Humans thrive on physical connection, and hugging is one of the most powerful ways to show physical support.

Family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

🤗Hugging Reduces Stress Levels. Studies show that hugs and other physical connections reduce levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, in the body. High levels of stress hormones can cause a whole host of health issues including sleep problems, skin problems, obesity, low immunity, and more.

🤗 Hugging Improves Heart Health. Frequent hugging and hand-holding can help to lower blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease, heart attack, or stroke.

🤗 Hugging Boosts Self Esteem. Touch is a powerful language that we can use to convey feelings of safety, love, and connection to a greater community. When we are feeling down or lost, a hug can help ground us and remind us that we belong.

🤗 Hugging Improves Relationships. Hugs can benefit all types of relationships for two main reasons. They are another form of communication that conveys messages and feelings that words can’t. It’s a deeper, more intimate level of connection that you simply don’t get from talking. The second reason is that physical touch causes the release of the “love hormone” oxytocin, which improves bonding and trust and makes people feel closer to one another.

🤗​ Hugging Reduces Pain. When we hug, our bodies release “feel good” hormones called endorphins, and our circulation is improved. These two things are natural pain-relievers that can benefit people who suffer from chronic pain conditions. 

​Where are you getting your 20 second hugs today? 

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