Hugs

 

           

 

       Hugs are not always appropriate but when someone really needs a hug, you can make their day by stepping in to embrace them. To give a good hug, you will need to create a warm and welcoming space for your hugging partner. Make them feel comfortable, loved, and supported.
A hug is a wonderful thing. It's a marvelous gift to share. It's a grand way to say; "I care." A hug communicates support, security, affection, unity, and belonging. A hug shows compassion. A hug brings delight. A hug charms the senses. A hug touches the soul. Hugs are healthy. Hugs ease pain, reduce stress, cure depression, induce sleep, yet have no side effects... a true miracle medicine.  A hug can say, "I love you." A hug can say, "I hate to see you go." A hug can say, "it's good to have you back." A hug can say, "It's great to see you." A hug can say, "I feel your pain." A hug can say, "let me share your burden."

Because when someone hugs us and comforts us, it helps us to feel safe to express our true feelings and helps us feel understood in a way that not a single word could represent. To be hugged when the clouds rain over you feels like if the other person is empathizing or sympathizing with you. It feels like they understand how you feel. In addition, it clears all the doubts away, the negatives, etc. because a hug by someone tells us that we aren’t alone in feeling that way.

It’s hard to cry in public because no one understands what happens and asks you questions like, “Why are you crying?” “What’s the matter?” that makes it seem like they don’t see the pain on the face of the sorrowful person. It tells us that the person asking is completely ignoring pain that the person feels and is instead, focused on the problem and making that person feel better about themselves. It’s like trying to distract a child who is crying with a toy when the child really wants comfort and a hug. No one likes it when somebody is trying to make them feel better by ignoring the pain. When the pain is present, it’s hard to ignore it and feel positive. It’s hard to put your chin up and move on. And, it is very likely that the sorrowful person will block them out of their pain because they feel as if those people are trying to distract them instead of feeling what they are feeling.

There’ve been many more times where I’ve felt exposed and vulnerable. Usually it involved my anxiety. Sometimes it felt like it was swallowing me whole. I’d try to curl up to protect my exposed self. I knew a panic attack was coming if I didn’t do something about it. Sometimes I tried to read to distract myself; other times I walked around to get the energy out. Most of the time, I’d ask my mom to sit with me.

The warm embrace of a hug can be hugely beneficial, especially during rehab which is an emotional time of constant ups and downs. Here’s why.

A hug releases the hormone oxytocin, also known as the ‘love hormone’ which has been found to play an important role in emotional, cognitive and social behaviours. When released, it can create feelings of calm, closeness and trust. It also promotes feelings of love, bonding and wellbeing and helps to heal feelings of anger and loneliness. When you embrace in a hug with another person for a duration of time, these positive stress-reducing pay offs can be experienced as oxytocin is released. Considering addiction is a very isolating illness, the bonding effect of a hug aids the ability to feel connected with others and it’s important for our clients to feel understood, supported and not alone anymore.

Hugging has a relaxing and soothing effect on people. Hugs are actually good for your health and science shows why hugs and touch are therapeutic. hugs reduce stress and increase happiness. Learn what happens when you're hugged by strangers and loved ones. hugs increase your sense of well-being, affect conflict, and boost immunity. It concludes with the benefits of self-hugging.

Not everyone likes to be hugged or touched in the same way. But generally, positive physical contact can effectively reduce your stress level and boost your mood. Feelings of loneliness and experiencing chronic stress can ultimately be harmful.

Hugs lower cortisol, which is sometimes called the stress hormone, in your body. Hugs even lower blood pressure and heart rate. At the same time, a wonderful hug with a family member or friend will also bolster the level of neurotransmitters such as dopamine in your system. Dopamine is sometimes called the “happiness hormone.”

Hugs are one form of positive physical contact. Other forms include holding hands, being stroked, and getting therapeutic massages. Nurturing touch during the early years helps our younger selves regulate emotions. With high levels of loving hugs and physical contact, babies and toddlers develop in a healthy manner.