Link – The Psychology of a Hug

“It sounds simple; just get a hug a day and you’ll be releasing oxytocin all over the place and you’ll enjoy steady health. The catch is that the above study was done with healthy adults–presumably adults who did not suffer from a major emotional disorder. But what happens if you are unhealthy?

People who suffer from major depression, for example, eschew physical contact. They don’t want to be touched and they don’t want to touch anybody. “

As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, this was true of me as well. I didn’t like being touched. I didn’t like being hugged. And, I was dealing with depression as an adult, which added to my desire not to be touched, when I probably needed it the most.

I’m glad to say that isn’t the case any more, and I do enjoy hugging the people I am close with. So much so that I can always tell I’ve been traveling for work too much when I start to crave a warm hug from someone, anyone, because I’m not home to hug my wife, and hug any of my friends.

If you’re a survivor who recoils at the thought of hugging someone, I hope that you’ll be able to truly enjoy the good things that come from a hug someday. It helps so much.

The Psychology of a Hug