Who Gives A Hug?
It can seem extravagant to spend money on luxuries like pedicures, massages, or yoga classes. I was one of those people who had those ideas, but I now understand the importance of such expenditures. One of the occupational hazards of healthcare is the strenuous stress on the body. When caring for others, dental and medical professionals endure frequent injuries due to positioning of the body and lifting/assisting others to care for their needs. Creating a self-care plan is essential to anyone who works in these fields, however, there are benefits for everyone, regardless of occupation.
PERSONAL TOUCH
For people who are single or live alone, personal touch is often elusive. It’s an awkward thing to ask random people for a hug, yet that hug is so powerful. One thing that connects us to each other is touch. Living alone or being single can leave a void in human touch. The lack of it can have negative health implications. A Carnegie Mellon University study examined the effects of social support and hugs with those who were susceptible to developing the common cold after being exposed to the virus. Those with perceived social support were less likely to come down with a cold. It’s suspected that the stress-buffering effects of hugging were beneficial. Even those that got a cold who felt they had greater social support and frequent hugs, had less severe cold symptoms.
Hugging is a marker of intimacy and helps to create that feeling that others care in the face of adversity. People under stress are at greater risks for getting sick. There are health related benefits to hugs. It releases oxytocin, which is a bonding hormone. Oxytocin promotes attachment and is released by the hypothalamus in the brain. It influences mood, behavior and physiology. Hugging and oxytocin release have a trickle-down effect throughout the body, causing the heart rate to slow and the stress hormone, cortisol and norepinephrine to drop. In a study conducted by Ohio State University, oxytocin was found to improve immune function and pain tolerance. On the subject of mood, oxytocin has been shown to increase levels of feel-good hormones like serotonin and dopamine, both which have calming effects. It also has been linked in reducing depression and anxiety.
STAY AWAY
We are becoming a society that is fearful of connection in a real way. Our relationships are built on social media platforms and at best superficial. During the cold and flu season, we avoid people for fear of getting sick. The Me2Movement has been blown way out of proportion so that now people are afraid to even touch another, especially if it’s the opposite gender. There are a lot of people who struggle each day with mental and physical health issues. Perhaps part of that reason is due to a disconnection from society.
SELF-CARE
After my husband died, I decided I would get a massage on a regular basis for the first year so I would have that personal touch. As an added bonus those massages helped me in my dental hygiene profession. I found it to be beneficial not only in a physical way, but also soothing to my mind and spirit. Self-care practices should be utilized daily, not just monthly. It’s important to check in with yourself each day, and sometimes during the day. How are you feeling? What’s going on inside your mind/body/spirit that needs attention? I hope you will consider setting aside time and resources for self-care practices. These are not luxuries, but essentials. One cannot care for others and give of themselves if their own vessel is struggling. Stop a moment and consider what you do for self-care that keeps you well balanced and whole. Perhaps if you need a hug, then give one away. You both will reap the benefits.
Health Bite: “The Best Place in the World is Inside a Hug.” –J Quest
