Hugging is not only a way of greeting your beloved or expressing yourself, be it when you are sad or happy. Recent studies reveal that hugging can help one de-stress.
Infact, Adhuna, Farhan Akhtar’s ex, who is now dating Nicolo Morea, posted a picture on Instagram with Nicolo Morea with a strong caption that read, (“#hugging has been proven to have health benefits. One study has shown that hugs increase levels of oxytocin and reduce blood pressure.”)
She had added “Leo Buscaglia encourages people to hug for 21 days consecutively and to have each day a hug that lasts for a minimum of 21 seconds.” It apparently builds feelings of happiness and contentedness. We asked young Bengalureans about this and they are in total agreement.
“Hugging is closely related to comforting someone. It is a gesture that says you care, in the smallest way. By hugging someone you feel relaxed and comfortable which does, definitely helps you feel relaxed. To forget one’s worries and problems for a fraction of a second,” says Sukrutha Sai, a visual merchandiser.
Nishitha Rachel, a young Bengalurean explains, “Hugs can work like magic for me. I might not say it but when I am worried or anxious about something I always crave a hug, and a genuine hug helps me calm down and stay gripped.”
While youngsters today treat hugging as a tradition to greet someone and let them know how they feel, there are those regressive many that still consider it a taboo.
“I completely agree that hugging someone can help de-stress but in a society like ours, this gesture is often misread. While now, as an employee, I don’t face this, when I was in college, there was a rule that prohibited hugging in campus. If you were seen hugging, disciplinary action would be taken against you and this can extended into a suspension. My relatives still frown at me when they see me hugging someone of the opposite sex,” says Akshay Suresh, an employee from Zyme Solutions.
Neeta Pereira, a psychology professor from St Josephs College, feels that hugging is a good way to bond and to build trust.
She says, “Hugging is very important. From the time a child is born, one of the most important ways through which they deal with understanding and trusting their environment is through warmth, through hugging; and a mother’s touch. It becomes a part of the wiring in the brain, and then a hug or a touch becomes a reinforcement for the child. It becomes a part of the brain and development. It is also true that Oxytocin is released when you hug someone. This helps you feel warm and good, and acts as a stress buster.”
