Have you ever feel so relieve when there is someone hugging you? Well, it is actually well known as the power of a hug. There are a lot of types of hugs popularly well known today from bear hugs, bear hugs and now is long hugs. According to some scientific studies, there are actually some health benefits of long hugs but not so many people are familiar with them but most of them have claimed to prove them true.
The Power of Long Hugs
A hug is an act holding someone, mostly to express affection. Hug could be done by two or more people by putting their arms around the neck, back or waist and hold each other closely. The origin of the word of hug itself is closely related to the word ‘to comfort’ from the Old Norse’s word hugga. Depending on culture, hug though very simple is not as easy as you think to interpret it because while in some countries hug is a normal thing to express affection, in other countries hug is not as normal as you think even among friends because it involves physical closeness which is considered taboo in some cultures. However, in most culture hugs are considered normal among friends and family both to express emotional warmth and to give comfort. To find out more about the health benefits of long hugs, the list below will open your mind how amazing the power of long hugs are.
- Relaxes Muscles
One of the external benefits of hug you could get from a long hug is relaxed muscles. The positive effect from relaxed muscles is the release of tension. It means you are not only able deal with whatever tension in your muscle but also in your soul.
- Reduces Stress
Whenever you feel stressful why don’t you ask someone you love to give you a long hug? Believe it or not but a long hug is an effective solution to reduce stress level. However, it applies only when you trust the person.
- May Boost the Immunity System
Some of you might be wondering the connection between a long hug and immunity system. Well, the fact is the connection is super close. From the point mentioned above, a long hug could help reducing stress and scientific fact stated that the lack of stress could boost immunity system effectively.
- Good for Heart
There are some studies have been conducted to some participants who conduct long hugs in more regular basis. It was stated that they have lower heart rate and low stress hormone well known as cortisol that could affect cardiovascular health and reduce the symptoms of high blood pressure.
- Reduces Anxiety
Anxiety is one of the mood disorders that are not easy to deal with. However, by doing a long hug regularly you could have enough stock of dopamine, a certain hormone that could help reducing anxiety and some degenerative disorders.
- Provides Comfort
As mentioned above the word ‘hug’ comes from the words ‘hugga’ which means ‘to comfort’. The fact that a long hug could provide comfort is no longer debatable because if you are wondering about it just do it yourself and prove it.
- May Help to Fight Fear
It is not easy to define fear because for some people, fear could be something that will motivate them but for most people fear is something they want to avoid. Whatever the fear is, it is something you should fight yourself and a long hug from someone you trust could give you strength and power to fight fear.
- Great Pain Reliever
Pain could occur when the circulation in soft tissue is disturbed. As mentioned in some points above, a long hug could produce endorphin; a specific hormones that may unblock the path away and improve the circulation to reduce the pain. That is why a long hug could be considered as a great pain reliever as well.
- Builds the Sense of Safety
If you want to prove that hugging could build the sense of safety there is an easy way. The easy way to calm down a crying baby is by giving a hug; it is because the sense of safety in baby is the most sensitive one. Just whenever you feel unsafe, asking someone you trust the most for a hug and you will be fine in no time.
- Heals the Feeling of Loneliness
Believe it or not but a long hug from someone you love or someone you trust could heals the feeling of loneliness, anger or isolation. It is because during a long hug, your body is producing specific hormone well known as oxytocin that could provide calmness.
- Creates Happiness
Besides oxytocin, during a long hub your body is also producing serotonin. This hormone is among the essential one because serotonin could help improving mood and creating happiness. That is why the best and the most natural way to heal sadness is by asking for a long hug from someone you trust and love the most.
- Boosts Self-Esteem
If you have someone you love is struggling with their self-esteem. Don’t tell them to relax or ask them to calm down, instead offer them a long hug because according to some expert, a long hug is a natural self-esteem booster that have been proven to be super effective.
- Balances the Nervous System
The closeness during a long hug forces your body to have skin responses. Well, during skin in skin relationship there is an effect similar to electricity that could help balancing the nervous system.
- Provides A Good Night Sleep
If you are not accustomed to sleep alone it is because there is positive effect from a cuddle hug during sleeping. The serotonin and endorphin levels during this time are giving you a very good night sleeping especially when you are sleeping and cuddling at the same time. There are a lot of health benefits of sleeping only if you have a good one.
- A good Investment in A Relationship
The more you express your affection with a long hug with your loved ones, the better the relationship will be. It is a very good investment in a relationship, so don’t hesitate to hug your loved ones whenever you have the chances.
Long hugs have been well known as one of the acts with powerful healing properties just like the benefits of laughter that could heal even the symptoms of depressions. The simple hugging activities are actually bringing a lot of health benefits and the points mentioned above are just some of them. The fact is there are a lot of people out there have been proven how amazing the power of hug is and since they found out, they will do it every day and every time they have the chance.