The hug has a therapeutic and healing power that we should not do without. According to various studies published in the journal «Psychological Science«, Couples who hug each other regularly strengthen the bond and their commitment. In addition, their relationship is much more lasting and satisfying.
We cannot forget that we are, above all else, emotional beings. Therefore we need not only affection and positive words to be united, to strengthen ties, but also, spontaneous and sincere physical contact produces a wonderful biochemical change in our brains capable of alleviating fears, anxieties and all those doubts that usually appear in couple relationships. We talk to you about it in «Bezzia»
The power of the hug
And you ... how many hugs do you give a day? It never hurts to remember that something as simple as catching a loved one in our arms and sticking heart to heart, is a type of language that goes beyond words and that sometimes has much more power,
We explain it to you below.
Your brain likes hugs
We pointed this out to you at the beginning, our brain likes hugs. In fact, its evolution has made those structures dominated by the hypothalamus, the amygdala or the neocortex interpret this gesture as enormously positive and necessary, therefore, It gratifies us with a series of neurotransmitters and hormones.
Oxytocin, for example, is that hormone capable of strengthening the bond between loved ones, offers us the feeling of being loved, the need to care, to attend, strengthens us emotionally and in turn, makes us feel protected.
Those days of doubts, those days of fear and anguish ...
We have all been through those moments. There are times when we fall into a routine with our partners. We start to take things for granted, we lose the magic and spontaneity.
It is then when doubts appear. Will I still like it? Will he love me the same as before?
This feeling is very common in any relationship. Sometimes, due to the stress of work, or those problems that almost without knowing how they settle in our mindBy moving our partner into the involuntary background, it can undoubtedly make fears appear.
When it comes to talking about fears in a relationship, the most common are usually the following:
- Fears of being abandoned.
- Fear of being betrayed.
- Fear that things begin to slip out of our hands, that fights are more common and that we no longer have the patience of before.
- Fear of ceasing to be attractive to our partner.
- Fear of stopping making them laugh, of being interesting to them.
- Fear that even ourselves, "the flame" will go out ...
The doubts that are threaded by each of these dimensions can sometimes be alleviated with a simple hug. The reason for this is simple: sometimes, even if they tell us that "they love us like the first day" is not entirely credible. Only when we receive that sincere, eternal and warm hug, our fears are extinguished almost instantly.
We feel more motivated to face the world
Let's go back one more time to the wonderful world of neurotransmitters. We cannot forget that love is basically an incredible chemical shipwreck where endless small substances guide us towards some needs or others.
If before we talked about the power of oxytocin, now it is necessary to know dopamine. A caress, a long and unexpected hug, causes our brain to secrete dopamine. And what does this neurotransmitter achieve?
- It motivates us, dopamine injects us with an extra dose of energy where everything suddenly seems simpler as well as motivating.
- We feel loved, and that is a torrent of strengths, lights and hopes capable of alleviating any anxiety and counteracting the high doses of cortisol in the blood, that is, that hormone associated with stress that causes us so many problems from time to time.
More hugs, less illness
Does it seem exaggerated? Not at all, and it also has a very simple logic. Couples who hug often strengthen their self-esteem, feel more secure, and all this offers an internal well-being that also affects our immune system.
- As you know, the immune system is very sensitive to any decompensation, factors such as stress, anxiety or worries, they tend to lower their defenses, and therefore make us much more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria.
- It is worth remembering then how positive it is to practice the healing art of big hugs. Those that take away the cold, those that leave you without air and that unite souls, hearts and that unite faces while gazes close.
- It is synonymous with emotional health, and when emotions are good, when we feel cared for, when we feel useful and valued, nothing can stop us. Neither can we forget the importance of hugs for the development of children. The little ones also need caresses to grow, to develop. They are neurons that connect each other and it is, above all, a love that transcends beyond our skin.
Do not economize on hugs, and if your partner is one of those who do not usually give them so easily, do not limit yourself. Offer them yourself, the feeling is the same and you will both enjoy them. It's worth it! So tell us… How many hugs did you give today?