Cuddling is good for your nervous system and your immune system. It helps you bond better with your partner. (Pic source: Pixabay)
We all love a good cuddle; it makes us feel good, loved, and secure. But did you know that cuddling is also beneficial for health — both physical and mental. Highlighting the same, Dr Nicole LePera, a psychologist and a social media influencer, took to Instagram and wrote: “Touch is one of our core basic needs. We’re wired to touch, hug, and cuddle each other,” adding that “cuddling soothes the nervous system and improves immune system function”.
Agreed Tanni Choudhury, a faculty member at Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, who has conceptualised and created courses on “Intimacy in Digital Age”, and “Psychology of Modern Love: Making Good Decisions for Better Relationships” and told indianexpress.com, “When it comes to love and intimacy, the importance of prolonged physical contact has been highly underemphasised. Being emotionally available and physically present signifies crucial cornerstones for fostering long-term intimacy and love”.
Health benefits of cuddling
In her post, Dr Nicole shared some health benefits of cuddling. They are:
It feels good. Biologically, it balances our body and helps us feel safe.
It reduces cortisol levels: Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps us function in fight of flight. Chronic stress creates high cortisol levels.
It releases oxytocin: Oxytocin is known as the “love hormone”. It’s a neurotransmitter that impacts the limbic system of the brain (the emotional center), which reduces anxiety and gives us feelings of belonging or peacefulness.
It calms the nervous system: Touch activates the parasympathetic nervous system and sends signals of safety to the body.
It brings us back together after conflict: Research shows people experiencing conflict would have greater positive feelings when they got a hug on a day of conflict.
Concurring, Tanni added that cuddling is supported by our neurobiological system that promotes nurturance. “Close physical contact in intimate relationships has been positively associated with relationship satisfaction and better psychological intimacy. In evolutionary terms, both parent-child and pair bonds have similar foundations of intimacy and attachment supported by a neurobiological system that promotes nurturance, i.e. warm, loving, supportive contact,” she added.
Cuddling also improves emotional bond with your partner. “Affectional ways of connecting with partners provide couples with enhanced feelings and perceptions of love and intimacy. For example, hugging for a sustained period with your partner shows a feeling of wanting to be with the other person,” explained Tanni.
The expert further said that, “Cuddling may potentially require more emotional vulnerability and intimacy than hugging and holding hands. Research has found that such forms of affection increase feelings of trust, reliance, commitment, and confidence, strengthening the couple’s bond along with helping crucially to recover from any kind of trauma”.
But what if you don’t have anyone to cuddle?
Quoting research, Dr Nicole claimed that a soothing self touch can also have similar effects to cuddling. “Hence, don’t shy away from showering yourself with some physical affection as it has proven health benefits,” she said.
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FAQs
Health benefits of cuddling
What are the medical benefits of cuddling? ›
Cuddling can improve sleep and support overall health by releasing oxytocin, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, easing pain, boosting mood, boosting immunity, and increasing relationship satisfaction. Couples can benefit from different cuddling positions, such as spooning or face-to-face cuddling.
Why do we crave cuddling? ›
“When we cuddle, our bodies release serotonin, dopamine, and oxytocin,” explains Stefani Goerlich, certified sex therapist and licensed social worker. These hormones make us feel good, happy, and bonded.
Why does cuddling make me feel better? ›
When we touch – cuddle, hug, or holding hands – our bodies release “feel good” hormones. These hormones include oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Once the hormones are released into our bodies we experience feelings of happiness, relaxation, improve mood, and lower levels of depression.
Does cuddling reduce inflammation? ›
Cuddling lowers inflammation
Besides just boosting inflammation-fighting T-regulatory cells, oxytocin also works to lower inflammation by reducing pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-6.
Why is cuddling so addictive? ›
According to a new study, the culprit is our old friend oxytocin, a.k.a. the "love hormone." Its levels shoot up whenever we make physical contact with someone important to us. It's widely understood that its reward system plays a crucial role in deepening the bond between two lovers.
What hormone do you get from cuddling? ›
“Sometimes called the “cuddle hormone” or “feel-good hormone,” oxytocin is produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland when we're physically affectionate, producing what some describe as warm fuzzies – feelings of connection, bonding, and trust,” said Paula S.
What's the difference between snuggle and cuddle? ›
To snuggle is to cuddle with someone. Snuggling is a little like hugging, and it often takes place in bed. This is a cutesy word for cute behavior: nestling or nuzzling someone. People snuggle to warm each other up or to be affectionate.
What is the psychology behind cuddling? ›
When you cuddle with someone you care about, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin that calms you and makes you more likely to deal better with stress. For example, you might laugh, distract yourself, or try to solve a problem.
What usually happens after cuddling? ›
When the girl cuddles up, there is a release of a chemical called oxytocin in the brain. The release of oxytocin makes you feel good because it is the love hormone. A touch or skin to skin contact slows down our heart rate and relaxes our muscles. This action is mostly due to the hormone oxytocin.
A 20-second hug reduces the harmful effects of stress, relieves blood pressure, and ensures a healthy heart. Increasing the hug ratio results in reduced blood pressure, decreased cortisol, improved healing, reduced cravings, and better immunity.
Does cuddling cure anxiety? ›
Even just a few minutes of couple cuddling time supports oxytocin production, lifting your mood, lowering your stress levels, and promoting a sense of calm and contentment. This hormone can also reduce feelings of anxiety and depression, increasing feelings of happiness and well-being.
What are the benefits of a 30 second hug? ›
For example, when individuals hug someone, their body produces endorphins. Endorphins can better be described as chemicals in the body that relieve feelings of pain and stress. Endorphins are also known to produce feelings of euphoria, happiness and calmness. So the more hugs you complete, the more endorphins released.
What does cuddling do for the heart? ›
Some of the neurochemicals include the hormone oxytocin, which plays an important role in social bonding, slows down heart rate, and reduces stress and anxiety levels. The release of endorphins in the brain's reward pathways supports the immediate feelings of pleasure and well-being derived from a hug or caress.
How often do healthy couples cuddle? ›
In the few reported studies on cuddling in committed romantic relationships, the average amount of time spent cuddling is about 30-40 minutes and occurs 3 to 5 times a week. Couples will typically cuddle in bed pre- and post-sex, as well as in the mornings.
Do guys release oxytocin when cuddling? ›
Men don't produce the same high levels of oxytocin as women do. But men tend to “mood match” their partners, so if their lady is feeling a rush of that good good, their oxytocin will spike. Hold a man close to you, and he will take in some of your hormonal happy rush.
Cuddling is good for your nervous system and your immune system. It helps you bond better with your partner. (Pic source: Pixabay)
