In the middle of the pandemic, one thing we’re not talking about is the lack of touching one another. I don’t mean in any kind of sexual way, but simply a handshake or more specifically, a hug.
As of last May, 30% of all adults were experiencing some kind of anxiety or depression, and that was the lowest percentage it had been since March 2020. Younger Americans between the ages of 18-29 were almost at 60%! Women, people of color, and adults who had not graduated from high school also reported a higher percentage of anxiety and depression disorders.
It is no coincidence that one of the reasons for the skyrocketing statistic is the lack of human interaction many had, particularly in the early days of lockdowns and quarantines. Healthy Human interaction is vitally important to our mental health, and we must fight for it, not only in our own lives, but also for those who can’t have it.
Enter Hugging.
Wash your hands. make sure you’re not sick. And find someone to hug. It is important. It is healthy for you, when you or the other person is not sick. And when you hug for at least 20 seconds, it releases the feel good hormone known as Oxytocin which creates a stronger bond and connection between the huggers. It has also been shown to boost the immune system and reduce stress.
I recently saw a short YouTube clip of a young baby playing on his lawn and some funny member of his family dressed up like Michael Myers, the infamous mass murderer from the Halloween Movies, knife and mask included in said costume. The intention was to scare the little toddler. Ignoring for a second the ridiculous reasons someone might have wanted to scare a child like that, the child turned around and stared at the Michael Myers wannabee. After about 10 seconds, the child opened his arms and hugged his family member, and it made for a very cute video.
This morning over breakfast, one of my sons lost his temper because he wanted something he couldn’t have. He sat next to his older brother, who after some time, offered the angry one a hug, and the child immediately calmed down.
So take a risk as soon as you can. Get out there and give someone a hug. It will make them feel better, but it will also make you feel better! Change the world, one hug at a time and let’s see if we can lower these mental health statistics by giving hugs freely and often.
