Shape_Singapore_June_2017

HUG IT OUT!
Go ahead and cuddle. Science approves.
TEXT BALVINDER SANDHU FOR HERWORLDPLUS.COM PHOTO TPGIMAGES.COM
“The simplest and most powerful way to
connect with a loved one is through the
power of touch,” says Jolene Hwee, director
and counselling psychologist at Womancare
Psychological Services, who also supervised
couples in the Prudential Relationship
Reconnect social experiment.
“Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels,
which can alleviate feelings of loneliness
and anger. Holding a hug for an extended
time lifts serotonin levels, elevating overall
mood. The nurturing touch of a hug builds
trust, and this can facilitate open and honest
communication.”
Go ahead and give your loved one a big
hug today. As Virginia Satir, a respected
family therapist, says: “We need four hugs a
day for survival. We need eight hugs a day
for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for
growth.” Here are seven other ways hugs are
good for you.
1 IMPROVES BONDING
Hugging makes you bond better with your
partner. This is because when you’re hugging,
your body releases oxytocin, a hormone that
causes an increase in feelings of commitment
and intimacy. Physical touch also makes you
feel more connected. And it also encourages
empathy and understanding, and builds trust
between the two of you in a way that can’t be
done through words alone.
2 BOOSTS YOUR IMMUNITY
Studies have been done where healthy adults
were exposed to the common cold virus.
Those who said they received hugs more
often had less or no signs and symptoms of
infection. This is because hugging can lower
the stress hormone in your immune system
and increase the hormones that regulate the
functioning of immune cells. So hug often and
you can say goodbye to those pesky colds.
3 GOOD FOR YOUR HEART
Hugging decreases your heart rate, which, in
turn, lowers your blood pressure. Especially if
you’re feeling anxious, then you should get
a hug from someone. It makes your heart
rate slow down, while your blood pressure
goes south too. A lower heart rate also
reduces your risk of cardiac problems.
4 REDUCES STRESS
Hugging can make you forget about the
cares of the world, even if only for a while.
It makes your muscles relax, therefore
releasing all the tension in your body. When
you’re hugging someone, it reduces the
amount of cortisol – the stress hormone
– produced in your body. It also sends
calming messages to your brain so it’ll
make you feel better as a result. A lower
cortisol level also makes you sleep better, so
reaching out for a hug before bedtime is a
good idea.
5 A NATURAL PAIN RELIEVER
When you hug someone, endorphins are
released, which then blocks pain pathways
and relieves pain. It soothes any aches
you’re having. So even if you feel lousy and
don’t want anyone near you, get a hug from
someone. It will make you feel better.
6 PUTS YOU IN A BETTER MOOD
Your brain increases its production of
serotonin when you hug someone and this
improves your mood. When you’re feeling
lonely, hug someone, as it will make you
feel less blue and thus improve your day.
And if you’re depressed, hugging is good
for you too, as it makes your brain produce
more dopamine, which is low in people who
suffer from depression. So whether you’re
feeling low or want to make someone feel
better, a hug is a good solution.
7 IT FEELS REALLY GOOD
It really all boils down to this: Hugging just
makes us feel good – full stop. We get a
warm, fuzzy feeling because of the oxytocin
released. And, honestly, who doesn’t like
feeling like this?
SHAPE JUNE 2017 | SHAPE YOUR LIFE | 23