Pranatee Shah Week 11 - Power Of Hugs

I hate physical touch. It is horrible. Terrible. The WORST way for someone to bond with me. When people hug me, I tend to become stiff. Their fingers feel like claws latching to my skin, trapping me in a little cage.

But, my relationship with physical touch is actually very complex.


If there is one thing I absolutely can not live without, it's snuggling with my mom. Perhaps the reason physical touch feels so comfortable with her is because she gave birth to me, or the fact that I’ve been by her side my whole life. Interestingly enough, I never really give hugs to my dad. Don't get me wrong I have the best dad in the whole world and couldn’t ask for anything better. But, hugs just don’t feel the same with him. Even my own sister’s hugs don’t hit the same!


There are certain people, aside from my mom, I love hugging, such as individuals on my dance team. Strangely enough, I HATE hugging my best friends, people I’ve known for 5 years.

So, we can conclude that my level of comfort with physical touch in friends is not at all dependent on the amount of time I’ve known them or time spent with them. 


Another interesting fact is no matter how much I hate physical touch I’ve never declined a hug. And, I never ever will. I’m aware that people have bad days, and if a hug will make their day even 0.00000001% better, I want to make that happen. I categorize myself as a sensitive person who is very observant of emotions. If I sense something off, I’ll be the first to offer a big bear hug.


According to Healthline, hugging can reduce stress, boost heart health, improve mental health, and reduce fears. According to a study done by researchers to find the relation between touch and “lower cardiovascular reactivity,” hugs can reduce blood pressure and levels of heart rate. Levels of oxytocin, a hormone “associated with happiness and less stress,” rise as we hug, touch, or “sit close to someone else.” Touch can also reduce anxiety in individuals with low self-esteem, as well as keep people from isolating themselves.


My experiences vouch for Healthline’s statements. Hugs from my mom feel so relaxing, energizing, and stress-relieving. Hugs really do make everything better.


Illustration of the power of hugs



Comments

  1. Arushi NaiduFebruary 15, 2025 at 1:22 PM

    Hi Pranatee! I LOVE hugs! It’s one of the ways I show people that I love them. And you are completely right: hugs make everything better. On the day I submitted POAS, I was more stressed than I have ever been in my life and all I wanted was a hug. My sister usually refuses to let me hug her, but that day, she relented and let me hug only her arm. I was pretty desperate that day. But even that millisecond of joy was enough to set me back in action. I knew the deadline was approaching fast, but that hug made me feel like anything was possible. I honestly had no idea that hugs had so many physical health benefits but it’s heart warming to see that its physical effect mirrors the happiness and comfort that are mentally brought on by a hug. The best part is that hugs can be given any time, anywhere, for any reason, for no reason, I genuinely feel that hugs make life worth living. I can’t imagine what my life would be like without my mother’s cuddles of comfort, hugs of laughter with my best friend, tearful embraces; it just would not be the same. I loved that you talked about how much of an impact hugs can have on a person’s day, it is my favorite way of filling someone’s bucket. Great job!

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  2. Arnav KheniFebruary 19, 2025 at 9:07 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  3. Arnav KheniFebruary 19, 2025 at 9:11 PM

    Hi Pranatee. I can totally relate to hating being hugged. While I do find the concept behind hugs heartwarming, I have never found it to work out in practice. In the past, my parents would try to have me hug my family friends goodbye. While I am sure my parents and their parents thought that it was sweet, it was often very awkward and would make me want to go home even faster. I guess I could say that I find it weird to be hugged as I am not sure as to what to do. And also, like you mentioned, it feels weird to be touched. Also like you said, I also find it comfortable to get hugged by my family, as it just feels right. I do not have to panic or think about what to do, I just have to accept it. However, I still do not really like getting hugged even by them. But in the case that someone really needed a hug, I would do it as their emotional state would matter more than my fleeting moment of awkwardness. While it may feel slightly awkward at first, if giving a hug somehow made them feel better, the feeling of gratification over time would be worth it. After all, awkwardness wears away while the feeling of joy from helping remains much longer. Anyway, this blog was relatable…good job.

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