Hugs have a stress relieving effect!
Explaining ways to increase happiness, tips and precautions
2024.9.26
- # communication
- # Stress relief
Do you feel like you get stressed easily?
For those people, we recommend a hug!
Work and relationships are indispensable in our lives. Aren't there many people who feel stressed because of these two things?
In particular, human relationships are strongly related to stress, and it is no exaggeration to say that if you can build comfortable relationships, you can live a stress-free life. Furthermore, if you are constantly pressed for work and are unable to secure a fulfilling private life, that will also become a source of stress.
If you are unable to relieve accumulated stress, it will just build up day by day and may cause you to lose motivation for work.
*Compared to foreigners from the United States, Korea, France, etc., Japanese people tend to have more worries and stress, with the percentage reaching over 55%.
(References:Cabinet Office | 2. Overview of Survey Results (8) Anxiety, Interest, and Satisfaction ）
It is said that hugs are an effective way to relieve such stress.
In this article, we will introduce in detail the effects you can expect from hugs, recommended ways to hug, and hugs that you should avoid.
Please take a look at this article if you want to live a stress-free life, or if you want to relax both body and mind and maintain youthful skin.
What effects can you expect from hugs?
A hug is an act of embracing or holding someone. There is no custom of hugging in Japan, but in other countries it is a common way to greet someone or show affection or friendliness.
Hugs can have the following effects:
- Stress relief
- Relaxing effect
- Skin effect
The next chapter will explain each effect in more detail.
Stress relief
According to a paper published by American psychologists and doctors, hugging can reduce stress by 32% (about one-third of your daily stress).
(reference:Gaze-Height and Speech-Timing Effects on Feeling Robot-Initiated Touches）
When humans are stressed, emotions such as anxiety and fear are generated in the limbic system of the brain, and these are transmitted to the hypothalamus, the center of the autonomic nervous system, stimulating the sympathetic nervous system and putting the body into a state of tension. Happiness hormones are effective in improving negative emotions and negative moods, including tension. When you hug someone, the following happiness hormones are secreted:
- Oxytocin
- Dopamine
- serotonin
Hugging is expected to increase the secretion of oxytocin, which provides mental comfort, dopamine, which brings joy, pleasure, and motivation, and serotonin, which controls emotions and stabilizes the mind.
Relaxing effect
When you hug someone, beta-endorphin, a type of neurotransmitter, is secreted. Beta-endorphin has such a strong sedative effect that it is also known as the "brain's opiate" or "brain's morphine," and is effective in relieving pain, as well as excitement and tension. In addition, when beta-endorphin is secreted, it is said that it makes it easier for the happiness hormone dopamine to be released, which gives you a sense of elation, satisfaction, happiness, and relaxation.
In addition, research from Toyo University has shown that hugs activate the parasympathetic nervous system, increase the heart rate interval, and induce relaxation. Although the subjects of the study were parents and infants, hugs also provide a sense of security to adults.
Skin effect
Beautiful skin is closely related to happy hormones.
Estrogen, also known as the "beauty hormone," produces collagen and keeps the skin firm and elastic. It also promotes skin metabolism and blood circulation, making it effective in preventing blemishes and wrinkles, and protecting the skin from ultraviolet rays.
In addition, oxytocin has the effect of suppressing cortisol, a substance that causes skin problems. It is expected to prevent a decrease in the skin's barrier function and collagen levels, leading to skin that is free of acne, redness, and dryness.
How to hug to relieve stress
Here are some ways to hug to relieve stress. Incorporate hugs into your daily life to live a stress-free life.
The guideline is about 30 seconds
The recommended hug time is about 30 seconds.
Because blood is constantly circulating in the human body, it takes some time for the parasympathetic nervous system to become active and for both the body and mind to become relaxed. In addition, happy hormones are not secreted immediately. To maximize the stress-relieving effects of hugging, aim for about 30 seconds.
Increase the contact area
There are many types of hugs, including hugs from the front and hugs from behind, but the key to relieving stress is to increase the amount of close contact as much as possible.
Affectionate skin contact can provide comfort and calm stress responses. Try hugging your partner, wrapping your whole body around them. If you or your partner is in pain, placing your hands on or rubbing the area can help relieve the symptoms. Stimulate the release of beta-endorphins, which have this effect.
Hugs that don't relieve stress
Some hugs do not relieve stress but instead increase it, and some hugs make you feel uncomfortable or scared.
In the next chapter, we will introduce some hugs that are not recommended. Please take a look at these types of hugs, as they can make not only you but also the other person feel uncomfortable.
Hugging someone you don't like
If you hug someone you don't like, you will feel tense both physically and mentally, and you will not get the stress relief effect.
On the contrary, hugs can cause stress and discomfort. Only hugs with people you have affection, trust, and a connection with.
Hug in public
Hugging is not a custom in Japan, so hugging in public is conspicuous. Many people are reluctant to attract attention or dislike physical contact in public. If you are one of those people, choose a place where you won't be seen.
You should also be careful of sudden back hugs that are meant as a surprise or prank. If you are suddenly hugged from behind, you will feel surprised and scared, and will not feel any joy. It may make you feel distrustful, and your relationship with the other person may be shaken.
How to make hugging a habit
Finally, here's how to make hugging a habit.
If you are feeling stressed, if you have a habit of keeping your worries to yourself, if you have trouble finding motivation or energy, try making hugging a habit and you will live a happier life every day.
Decide a day to hug
To make hugging a habit, start by deciding on the days you will hug. Set a day that works for you and your partner as a "hug day," such as only on weekends or weekdays, or every other day, and gradually increase the number of days you hug.
It is also a good idea to decide on the timing for hugging. If you hug along with greetings such as "good morning," "good night," "I'm leaving," and "I'm home," it will become a natural habit.
However, making it a complete obligation can be stressful, so if you feel like you have to hug, we recommend waiting a certain period of time.
Hugging pets/stuffed toys
The effect of hugs is not limited to humans. Hugging your beloved pet or favorite stuffed animal can also help relieve stress and relax you. Some people also feel the same effect from cushions, pillows, towels, and other soft objects. If you give them your favorite scent, you will feel the effect even more.
If you don't have anyone to hug, hug something loving or comforting and find peace of mind.
Summary
In this article, we explain the effects of hugs, how to hug to relieve stress, types of hugs that are not recommended, and how to make hugging a habit.
Hugs stimulate the secretion of happy hormones, which are effective in relieving stress, and can also have a relaxing effect and improve the skin. On the other hand, hugging someone you don't like or hugging in an inappropriate place will greatly reduce the effect. Make it a habit to hug people you have deep affection or friendship with, people you trust, your beloved pet, your favorite stuffed animal, etc. for about 1 seconds at a time to live a happy life.
Saki Sato
After graduating from university, she worked as a physical therapist at a general hospital. She then focused on mental care and obtained a counselor's license. She spent her time studying psychology and counseling. She then left the company and set up a counseling room. She wrote and published books on self-improvement and the state of the mind. She still writes alongside her counseling work.
