How Do Hugs Make You Feel? 11 Benefits Of A Proper Deep Hug

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• Introduction
  • How do you feel when we hug?
• Psychology of Hugs
  • Why does hugging feel so good?
• Benefits of Hugging
  • What are the benefits of hugging?
• Hugs Per Day
  • How many hugs do you need a day?
• How to Hug
  • How to hug properly
• FAQs
  • Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hugs

How do you feel when we hug?

Hugs can change negative moods by helping the body and brain.

According to the research, a hug may make an individual feel happy by reducing feelings of loneliness and the harmful physical effects of stress. Hugs can change negative moods by helping the body and brain and boosting these feel-good hormones.

The anatomy of a hug includes:

• Dopamine: It is the pleasure hormone that makes an individual feel good.
• Serotonin: It is the antidepressant hormone that elevates mood, controls anxiety, and reduces feelings of loneliness.
• Oxytocin: It is the love hormone that relieves stress and boosts heart health. It also helps in losing weight, lowers blood pressure, fights diseases, increases libido, reduces stress, and gives us a feeling of comfort.
• A 10-second hug helps the body fight infections, eases depression, and lessens tiredness.
• A 20-second hug reduces the harmful effects of stress, relieves blood pressure, and ensures a healthy heart.
• Increasing the hug ratio results in reduced blood pressure, decreased cortisol, improved healing, reduced cravings, and better immunity.
• Hugging a newborn child (kangaroo mother care) increases the baby's weight and improves its overall development.

Why does hugging feel so good?

There are two main operating systems we run on a day-to-day basis (parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems). Our sympathetic nervous system gets activated when we are stressed or perceive some kind of threat in our environment. Therefore, if we want to balance our mind and body, we must rely on our parasympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for rest, recovery, and digestion.

Hugs activate parts of the brain that control the nerve of the parasympathetic system (vagus). When this system is operating, we can restore energy, repair our bodies, and shift into a more balanced state. Combine the working of the parasympathetic nervous system with elevated feelings of love, compassion, and gratitude, together with the oxytocin and serotonin released in your brain during a hug, and it's no surprise that a good hug leaves us feeling happy, relaxed, and content with the world.

What are the benefits of hugging?

Research shows that a proper comforting hug may give an individual the following benefits:

1. It builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication.
2. Because hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, they help in healing some negative feelings such as loneliness, isolation, and anger.
3. Hugs strengthen the immune system. Gentle pressure on the sternum and emotional charge stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body's production of white blood cells, which keep an individual healthy and disease-free.
4. Hugging boosts self-esteem. Physical contact during a hug not only makes us safe and loved but also boosts self-esteem. All the hugs we receive from our parents, lovers, and friends make us more self-confident and happier. They connect us to our ability to self-love.
5. Hugging relaxes the muscles by releasing tension in the body.
6. Hugs can take away pain and aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.
7. A hug lowers blood pressure. When you hug, touch, or sit close to someone you love, your body releases oxytocin, which scientists call the "cuddle hormone." This hormone can help relax and lower anxiety, which in turn can effectively lower blood pressure.
8. It boosts heart health. One study found that a hug showed greater reductions in blood pressure levels and heart rate. Findings indicate that hugs can be good for heart health.
9. According to a study, touch and hugs reduced the worry of mortality. It makes us feel safe. The study revealed that hugging alleviates the existential fear of a person.
10. A hug makes us more mindful and aware of the current situation. Being present in the moment brings us happiness. Hugging is similar to meditation (which also makes us more mindful and aware).
11. An abundance of research has shown that skin-to-skin contact such as a hug between a mother and newborn yields important physical and psychological benefits for the child, including:
    • Reduced crying
    • Improved sleep
    • Sense of body ownership
    • Reduced anxiety
    • Correct production of growth hormone, leading to correct physical development
    • Increased empathy for others as they grow up

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How many hugs do you need a day?

World-renowned author and family therapist, Virginia Satir, once famously said, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth." While Satir's quote may seem like a humorous anecdote, it is actually backed by science. For instance, a 1995 study found that "four hugs per day was an antidote for depression, eight hugs per day would achieve mental stability and twelve hugs per day would achieve real psychological growth." Essentially, the more hugs a person receives in a day, the more likely they are to reap the benefits of hugging.

How to hug properly

So, how do you hug properly to get the most benefits? In a 2021 study, researchers examined two different styles of hugs and the optimal duration for them. The first style of hugging, called the "crisscross" arm style, had participants place one arm over their partner's shoulder and the other arm under their partner's arm. The other style of hugging, called the "neck-waist" style, had participants placing both arms either above or below their partner's arms. When applied to a real-world setting, researchers found the crisscross arm hug style the most common, which accounted for 66 out of 100 hugs. In terms of duration, researchers found a hug lasting between 5 to 10 seconds scored the highest on the pleasure scale. Therefore, the results show that the safest and most comforting hug is the crisscross style for 5 to 10 seconds.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about hugs

What does a hug say about someone?

A hug is a form of physical touch that can convey multiple meanings. Depending on the type of hug and the context of the situation, a hug can be a sign of friendship, security, emotional support, romantic attraction, or love. For example, a loose, polite hug may serve as a greeting to a stranger or acquaintance, whereas a close, tight hug could indicate a romantic gesture between lovers. How you hug and how your hug is reciprocated can say a lot about your relationship with the other person.

Where to touch while hugging?

There are many types of hugs and each has its own meaning. Where you touch your partner during the hug depends entirely on your relationship with that individual. For instance, you may touch your partner's lower back or even buttocks if you are romantically involved with them. If, however, you are hugging a friend, gently patting their upper back could be comforting. If you are hugging a person for the first time, it is best to start with a more platonic form of hugging, such as the crisscross arm style on the upper back.

What does hugging do mentally?

Hugging helps improve mental health in several ways. First off, a hug can decrease the release of cortisol in your brain, which can make you feel less stressed and improve your sleep. Secondly, hugging can boost oxytocin in your body, improving your mood and making you feel happier and more self-confident. Lastly, a comforting hug can increase feelings of safety and belonging in your surroundings and relationships.

Why do I feel the urge to hug someone?

Hugging is a form of nonverbal communication we use to interact with the people around us. Whether you are feeling lonely, depressed, insecure, or just looking for a form of affection, a good hug can help pick you up when you are down. Likewise, if you are already feeling happy or content, hugging a friend or loved one can still offer plenty of benefits. If you feel the urge to hug someone, know that you are not alone, and it is a perfectly normal feeling.

How long should a hug last?

Research shows that a hug lasting between 5 to 20 seconds is the ideal duration. Hugs lasting between 5 to 10 seconds are considered the safest and most pleasant. A 10-second hug can help the body fight infection, reduce tiredness, and ease depression. A 20-second hug can reduce the effects of stress, lower blood pressure, and ensure a healthy heart.

Medically Reviewed on 11/4/2024 References The Surprising Health Benefits of a Simple Hug:https://www.pihhealth.org/wellness/blog/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-a-simple-hug/ https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/In_brief_Hugs_heartfelt_in_more_ways_than_one Mooney A. Four hugs a day using therapeutic touch. Br J Theatre Nurs. 1995 Oct;5(7):25-7. PMID: 8695945.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8695945/ Anna L. Dueren, Aikaterini Vafeiadou, Christopher Edgar, Michael J. Banissy, The influence of duration, arm crossing style, gender, and emotional closeness on hugging behaviour, Acta Psychologica, Volume 221, 2021, 103441, ISSN 0001-6918.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103441

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