What About a Hug?
By celticeagle
@celticeagle (168256)
Boise, Idaho
December 13, 2023 12:41pm CST
I'm not a hugger. I come from a long line of non-huggers. I was really surprised to hear what power a hug has. Studies show that people who received more hugs would generally get sick less often. In the moment of a hug, a participant's blood pressure can be lowered. This could translate into better stress management. Just a 20-second hug can release the hormone oxytocin known as "the love hormone". This is the same hormone that has a key role in the female reproductive system, childbirth, breastfeeding, and bonding with your child. A mere hug can help reduce pain symptoms, depression, sleep quality, and feelings of loneliness.
The good news is that hugging and petting your furry friends can release this same hormone.
21 people like this
23 responses
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@septabchips ........Many. Social anxiety begins it all.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71772)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Dec 23
I love getting hugs from my husband and people in general.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Dec 23
That's a good thing. I'm going to try to be more huggy.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Dec 23
@kaylachan ........It's more of a shyness thing.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (71772)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
13 Dec 23
@celticeagle You might grow to like it.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
13 Dec 23
Yeah some people cringe about hugs. I dont mind but these days..got to be careful with germs sadly.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90474)
• Arvada, Colorado
13 Dec 23
@dya80dya Oh yeah I remember that..you told us..how weird is right.
2 people like this
@aninditasen (16503)
• Raurkela, India
14 Dec 23
I do hug my dog and used to hug my children when they were young and often was hugged by my husband.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
You should start the cycle up again.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@aninditasen .......At least one remains.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16503)
• Raurkela, India
15 Dec 23
@celticeagle My husband has expired, children have grown up and its only the dog that remains.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
14 Dec 23
@celticeagle
I did not know that hugging was so good. I should hug my cat more.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@Hannihar .......There you go, already something to look forward to.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
Hug all those you love both human and kenine.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
15 Dec 23
@celticeagle
Thank you and if I see my friend that is in the reserves in Gaza I want to thank him and give him a big hug and my cat deserves a big one too.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
14 Dec 23
I'm a big hugger. My husband is not; and I no longer have dogs to hug. Sigh. Have a good day.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181717)
• United States
15 Dec 23
@celticeagle I usually do. I certainly can't wait around for him to do it! lololol
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@LindaOHio .......You could drop off the face of the earth in that time. 
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
There needs to be more hugging and less listening to lying.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@TheHorse ........That is such a great feeling.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220245)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Dec 23
@celticeagle I feel a sense of "bonding" when I play music with others.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317241)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
13 Dec 23
I'm a hugger. I would agree with everything you said about hugging. Though, I didn't know about the oxytocin hormone. Interesting. All I know is that I feel so good when I hug someone, or someone comes up to me and hugs me. It's wonderful!
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Dec 23
It is wonderful. I like my grandson's hugs.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317241)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
15 Dec 23
@celticeagle I'm sure he loves them too.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@just4him ........It is a nice experience for both of us I think.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104150)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
13 Dec 23
It does work when I hug my cat when he wants to be hugged inside my home since I do feel better mentally.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@Deepizzaguy .......That is great.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (104150)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
14 Dec 23
@celticeagle We both feel better since the cat likes to visit me in my room from time to time.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
14 Dec 23
I think that is a good thing to be.
1 person likes this
@2ndchances24 (9290)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
13 Dec 23
That's pretty interesting, me & hubby has been
married 37 yrs this past Sept, & we have 13 yrs
between us, if we've huged a 100 times awesome.
We don't do a lot of touchy feeling thing like back
in our earlier yrs, every now & then we'll squezze
a little love hug on each other & blow a kiss.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
13 Dec 23
Hugs can be very nice indeed. Affectionate stuff is always nice.
1 person likes this
@2ndchances24 (9290)
• Cloverdale, Indiana
14 Dec 23
@celticeagle I'm not much of a huggy person.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
@2ndchances24 .......I haven't been but I am going to try to hug my family more.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
14 Dec 23
I am a hugger and I do not get enough of them.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (108166)
• Marion, Ohio
13 Dec 23
For me it depends on who is giving the hug.
1 person likes this
@lazydaizee (6735)
• United Kingdom
14 Dec 23
I do not like hugging especially with people I do not know well. This habit has become popular over the last few years , we never used to hug at all in the past. They say that hugging makes people healthier , and that would be a good thing but what about all the germs that are being spread by people hugging each other? People have not learned anything since Covid about how germs are passed by close contact.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Dec 23
I will push forward to try to hug my loved ones more. You do what makes you comfortable.
