[ Photo by Freepik.com] Here are 5 powerful reasons to give someone a squeeze today Hugging is very comforting. In addition, there is no substitution for that warm feeling of holding someone in your arms (or being held). The coronavirus pandemic evidenced it well when hugs were probably at the top of the list of things you missed the most. The isolation and lack of human connection made quarantining very difficult. We hug when we’re excited, happy, sad, or seeking comfort. Hugging makes us feel good. And it turns out that it makes us healthier too. There’s strong evidence that giving your loved ones an affectionate squeeze can actually be good for your health. So check out 5 health benefits of hugs! Hugs boost your immune system Hugs can make you feel good – and stronger too. Hugging can boost levels of natural killer cells, lymphocytes, immunoglobulins, and other immune-boosting cells. Touching and hugging can also affect our body’s immune response through hormone regulation, includi...
Check out the different ways your pet can help your mental health.
Having a pet is a joy. It doesn’t matter if you have a cat, dog, hamster, rabbit, iguana, or parrot… The affective bonds we share with them are powerful – and very beneficial for our health! More and more studies are proving that pets help to manage depression, anxiety and stress. So, check out the different ways your pet can help your mental health.
Decreased stress
Petting and playing with pets reduces levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone. And these benefits can occur after just five minutes of interacting with a pet! Also, playing with your pet (especially a dog or cat) increases serotonin and dopamine levels, hormones that calm and relax the nervous system. Laughing at our pets’ cute or funny behavior stimulates the release of these hormones, considered the “happiness hormones”.
Increased self-esteem and well-being
Pets are directly related to increased self-esteem and well-being. This is because they provide company (reducing the feeling of loneliness) and unconditional love. Also, the act of caring brings a sense of purpose and meaning. All of this makes us feel good about ourselves and our lives.
Developed socialization
When it comes to developing relationship skills, pets are true masters. That’s because they provide support, help relieve anxiety, and are an excellent topic of conversation! For children with socialization difficulties, they are a valuable help. Many therapies use animals (dolphins, horses, dogs) to facilitate children’s socialization with autism or Down syndrome. For teenagers and adults, pets can also provide support for social connection. They alleviate social anxiety by providing a common topic to talk about. For example, walking a dog usually leads to conversations with other dog owners. As a result, dog owners tend to be more socially connected and less isolated.
Healthy habits
Pets need to be taken care of every day. And to take care of them, we need to create habits – a lot of them healthy. Dog owners need to walk them, which encourages physical activity. These hikes are often done in parks and squares, which also contributes to increasing the time spent in the middle of nature, bringing numerous benefits to mental health. But merely playing with your cat, hamster, turtle, or guinea pig in your garden or backyard also has the benefits of being outdoors. Also, pets need to be fed and treated regularly, encouraging to create a routine (in addition to a sense of responsibility) and self-care habits, which is another positive point for general health.
by Chris Bueno
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