Wellbeing #4 | Power of hugging

Power of a hugging

I was getting ready to meet my brother Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri after a year. Like many brothers in the current situation our views on various topics are different and opposite in some cases but the love between us has been growing from my vantage point. Yet there was some tension in the air since I have heard from other family members that somehow my brother felt otherwise. Most of us have experienced the power of hug at some point in our life. So I just hugged my brother for a longer time and said that to pretend that brothers were lost and are meeting after a long time. Other family members begin to laugh and took this video.

Here are some of the other benefits of a hug according to the greatergood.berkeley.edu

Enhanced well-being: Overall, hugging promotes a sense of well-being and happiness. It can uplift your spirits, increase feelings of positivity, and improve your overall quality of life. Even stroking your pet can have benefits for health and well-being—with oxytocin levels increasing in both the?pet and the owner.

It improves our sleep.?Gentle touch is known to regulate our sleep, as it lowers levels of the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a key regulator of our sleep-wake cycle but also increases when we’re stressed. So it’s no wonder high levels of stress can delay sleep and cause fragmented?sleep patterns or insomnia.

It reduces reactivity to stress.?Beyond the immediate soothing and pleasurable feelings provided by a hug, social touch also has longer-term benefits to our health, making us?less reactive to stress?and building resilience.

It increases well-being and pleasure.?Across our lifespan, social touch bonds us together and helps?maintain our relationships. As noted, this is because it releases endorphins, which make us see hugs and touch as rewarding. Touch provides the “glue” that holds us together, underpinning our physical and emotional well-being. In fact, even stroking your pet can have benefits for health and well-being—with oxytocin levels increasing in both the?pet and the owner.

It could help us fight off infections.?Through regulation of our hormones—including oxytocin and cortisol—touching and hugging can also affect our body’s immune response. Whereas high levels of stress and anxiety can suppress our ability to?fight infections, close, supportive?relationships benefit health and well-being.

According to mindbodygreen Hugs may boost your heart health.?Regular hugging—or warm contact in general—might be good for your heart, particularly when it comes to keeping your blood pressure under control in stressful situations.

Improved social connections: Hugs are a nonverbal way to communicate care, empathy, and support. They can help build trust, strengthen social bonds, and promote a sense of belonging.

Remember, the benefits of a hug may vary from person to person, and some individuals may have personal preferences or sensitivities to physical contact. It's important to respect individual boundaries and consent when offering or receiving hugs.