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Tuesday 19 January 2016

In your arms ....




On a cold day, when am down, when my confidence is low,  all I crave for is a hug. A warm, sweet, reassuring hug. Whether it is from my bestie, my mom, my darling son or my sweetheart hubby. Its awesome because it feels good and makes me smile.


Am sure even you crave for a hug. That one small gesture can make us feel warm, loved and secure. 

And this is not just what we feel, because of the person we are hugging. It is awesome because it actually does something to our body. Its a scientifically proven fact that hugs have healing capacity. 

Its much more than that warm feeling. It affects the entire body to such an extent that many scientists claim it is equal to the effect of many different drugs operating on the body at a time. Sometimes just a pat will also help people to move back from the emotional tipping point.

It is known to Reduce worry of mortality - As unbelievable as it sounds but it is proven that hugging, even a teddy bear helps soothe a person's existential fears. 

Hugging stimulates oxytocin, Dopamine and Serotonin - Oxytocin A neurotransmitter that acts on brain's emotional center, promoting feelings of contentment, reducing anxiety and stress. Actually another interesting fact about this is, oxytocin is released during childbirth, making our mothers forget all about the pain of labour and still love us whole heartedly without hating us for putting her into so much pain. 

Dopamine keeps you from being depressed, it is responsible for feel-good feeling and motivation.. 

While Serotonin makes you feeling significant and important.  In short hugging makes you feel happy, smiling, bearable and important. 

Hugging lowers your heart rate - Means there is less chance of you getting High BP if you have somebody to hug.

Other than all this hugging enhances your immune system and balances your nervous system

Who thought there is so much science behind a simple hug. But wait - don't think this means you can just walk outside and start hugging everyone. Hugging doesn't work like that. All this positive effects will only happen if you are hugging people who trust and love you. 

It seems so easy to hug our loved ones but there are people who find it difficult to relate and connect with another human being. People who are Autistic have difficulties in social interactions and are sensitive to sensory stimulation of human touch. Temple Grandin invented a therapeutic, stress relieving device called "Hug machine" to provide sensory relief to them. It helps to calm them down without overwhelming their senses. It is also known that this machine works as a therapy for autistic kids to interact with humans without anxiety. 



So whether you are embracing your partner or getting a warm hello hug from a dear friend or even from a hug machine, hugs have a way of making us feel warm and fuzzy inside. So whether it is a simple squeeze, a big bear hug or some cute cuddling - there are plenty of reasons why we should embrace the act of embracing someone. Whatever it does to our mind and body, you can't refute that hugging makes you feel good. So go on be generous in giving hugs to your loved ones. 


P.S. : Did you know that well hugged children are less stressed as adults. So no matter how angry you are with your kiddo, never stop hugging them. Children need minimum 8 hugs a day :)







1 comment:

  1. A seed growing into a tree first needs to hold and hug the mother earth...

    Seeds are happy that it is growing.. Mother earth is happy that it is allowing the seed to grow.


    One small act of gesture brings so much change..like this writeup.

    A small but but a decisive hug can do wonder....i knew the effect of this several times but as recenly a fortnight back..

    Nivi you have not left one stone unturned to explain the magical moment..

    You are always special especially explaining and analysing the situations... You are a great master in that..in the otherway around you have mastered the art..

    Super nivi

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