Why Do We Need Hugs?

 Have you ever had a time when you just felt like you needed a hug?

Or a time when someone gave you a hug and it changed how you were feeling - for the better?

I know I can easily answer both of those questions with yes.

I didn't know the science behind it all, but I've known hugs were important to our health.

Now, I know we're all different. For some of us, the more hugs the better. Other don't feel the need for many at all. Wherever you fall on this, I hop you'll read on.

One of the first things I searched was how many hugs you needed in a days. That resulted in an answer that surprised me:

"Family therapist Virginia Satir once said, 'We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.' While that may sound like a lot of hugs, it seems that many hugs are better than not enough." (https://www.healthline.com/health/hugging-benefits#How-many-hugs-do-we-need?, accessed Dec 11, 2020)

Whether you feel you need this many hugs a day or not, I think it reminds us that hugs are incredibly important.

My next question was about why hugs are so important. There were many sites that offered lists and articles on the benefits of hugging (I'll include some further links at the end of this post for those who want to read more). While the lists were slightly different, all came back to similar lists of benefits:

1) Hugs reduce stress by showing support

2) Hugs protect you against illness

3) Hugs may boost your hearth health

4) Hugs can make you happier

5) Hugs help reduce your fears

6) Hugs many help you reduce your pain

7) Hugs help you communicate with others

(https://www.healthline.com/health/hugging-benefits, accessed Dec 11, 2020)

One of the reasons why these benefits exist with hugging is because of what it triggers inside our bodies.

"Oxytocin is a chemical in our bodies that scientists sometimes call the 'cuddle hormone.' This is because its levels rise when we hug, touch, or sit close to someone else. Oxytocin is associated with happiness and less stress." (https://www.healthline.com/health/hugging-benefits, accessed Dec 11, 2020)

I think, if anything, my study of the science behind physical touch reinforces what I already knew about the good a hug or someone putting a hand on your shoulder does. It is a vital part of our lives. And that's whether you're a hugger or not. We all need people physically close to us.

Now, we move into what would be more what usually gets posted on this blog.

How does this need for physical touch play out in every day life?

How does it look in the church?

What do our current thoughts, opinions, attitudes, and actions in the church say about how we view this topic?

What does it look like for singles in the church?

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Links to some of the other reading I did as I was preparing for this post and last week's post:

All links were correct and led to articles as of the writing of the post, Dec 11, 2020.

1) Why Physical Touch Matters for Your Wellbeing 

 https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_physical_touch_matters_for_your_well_being

2) The Power of Touch

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/201303/the-power-touch

3) The Science of Touch

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research#:~:text=There%20are%20studies%20showing%20that,aka%20%E2%80%9Cthe%20love%20hormone.%E2%80%9D

4) What are the Health Benefits of Affective Touch?

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323143