Senior to Senior: Power of the Hug

Not everyone is a hugger. Some people don’t like to be touched, or they find it really difficult to express their feelings, but by-in-large, humans crave personal contact. The cultural acceptance of the “hug” was under contention even before the pandemic occurred, but you may have noticed that people are saying that they missed “hugging” their loved ones more than anything else during all this. Despite warnings that the hug, for some, is thought of as an invasion of space or as being sexually inappropriate, it remains a cultural norm. The hug being a non-verbal way of saying, “I care about you,” “I’ve missed you,” or “I’m happy to see you.” Humans are wired to enjoy the comfort that a hug brings, whether it be from a family member, a friend, or even a stranger. A hug is more than a physical embrace; it offers a sense of safety, security, happiness, love, and so much more. Studies show that touch deprivation in children has alarming consequences. It decreases their ability to trust and affects interpersonal relations with others. Scary though isn’t it. What is it about hugs that make them so important? A hug can boost a person’s confidence, cheer a depressed soul, and strengthen an emotional bond. Powerful stuff huh, but that’s not all; hugging has proven to make us healthier and happier. Studies show that a 20 second hug releases the feel-good hormones (oxytocin and dopamine) into the system; both hormones associated with wellness and happiness. What could be more important than that? Hugs are essential. I’ve read somewhere that 4 hugs a day are needed for survival, 8 hugs for maintenance, and 12 for growth and development. That’s a lot of hugs; fortunate for us hugging our pets counts. So, let’s recap the power of the hug: • Hugs build trust and make you happier • Hugs may protect you against illness, relieve pain, reduce stress and even lower blood pressure • Hugs are good for a child’s development • Hugs are needed for survival On that note, I have to go…my dog is telling me that she needs a hug.