Hugs: The Ultimate Antidepressant

Depressing news: According to Australian government statistics, “Everyone, at some point in their life, will be affected by depression, whether it be their own or someone else’s.” Depression Statistics

  • Australian depression statistics are comparable to those of the US and the UK.
  • 15% of the population in most developed countries suffer from severe depression
  • Depressive disorders affect approximately 9.5% of the population aged 18 and over in any given year. This includes major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder, and bipolar disorder.
  • Preschool-age children are the fastest growing market for antidepressants. At least 4% of preschool-age children are clinically depressed
  • The rate of increase in depression among children is a staggering 23% per year.
  • 30% of women are depressed. Men’s numbers were previously thought to be half those of women, but new estimates are higher
  • 54% of people believe that depression is a personal weakness.
  • 41% of depressed women feel too ashamed to seek help.
  • 80% of depressed people are not currently receiving any treatment
  • 15% of depressed people commit suicide
  • Depression will be the second leading cause of death after heart disease in 2020
  • Studies show depression is a contributing factor in fatal coronary heart disease

It is the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In LA, nobody touches you. We are always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, we bump into each other, just to feel something. – from the movie “Crash”

When I read the statistics on depression, I really got depressed. Realizing that one day in our lives we will be affected by depression, our own or someone else’s, is pretty shocking, wouldn’t you agree? For a while, I’ve been thinking of ways to motivate my readers to live an inspiring life that will make a difference. A lot of people think that the way we can make a difference is by doing great things, and I think we need to redefine what “great” means. I believe we can make a difference, a big difference, by changing the statistics of depression in the world. One person at a time, we can teach how to put happiness in our hearts and chase away the darkness. And you are probably wondering: “And how do we do that without a budget, without the support of the government and without organizing ourselves in a formal way?” And I say we can do this by changing our own lives and our environment and like a ripple effect spreading the word and making this world a better place for ourselves and our children.

I think the reason depression is on the rise is because tact is on the decline. Babies are touched a lot from the day they are born, but each year of their lives they are touched less and less. Some people think it’s inappropriate to hug a teenager or their parents, so they shake hands instead. Most people’s lifestyles are more stressful and include fewer opportunities for physical contact than ever before. Twenty years ago, teachers used to hug and touch their students, and that was fine with parents. Touching was a sign of affection. Today, concerns about sexual harassment and inappropriate touching make people overly cautious and reluctant to touch others. As a result, many of us find ourselves starving for a simple, informal, and warm touch from our families, friends, and colleagues.

There is now a whole new field called psychoneuroimmunology, or PNI for short. He claims that when you feel good and you love yourself and you are touched and you feel loved, your immune system gets stronger. Touching strengthens the immune system (now they call it “libidinal refueling”). When you hug someone, you literally recharge your libido and that of the other person, the powerful energy of the body.

New studies point to touch therapy as a way to overcome medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis and depression. Studies indicate that touch has a beneficial effect on our perception of pain, treatment of disease, as well as emotional and physical development. After touch therapy, such as a massage, there is a slowdown in the action of the hypothalamic area of ​​the brain, which controls the “fight or flight” response. Your body’s stress hormones drop and endorphins rise, leading to a decreased perception of pain and an increased sense of well-being. If the touch comes from someone you have positive feelings for, such as a friend, partner, or loved one, you get the added benefit of an increased sense of love and security. Sex, for that matter, is great touch therapy. Have lots of sex!

In research on the effects of touch, librarians were instructed to touch and not touch students’ hands while returning their library cards. He then interviewed the students. Those who had been touched reported much more positive feelings about themselves, the library, and librarians than those who had not been touched. This occurred despite the fact that the touch was brief and the students did not even remember it!

I have been trying this with my clients for a long time and could see the huge effect of hugging on their success. Some clients have managed, by adding more touch to their life, to stay off their antidepressants and regain control of their life, a small addition that made a big difference.

Hugs can bring a great sense of connection and belonging to your life. They are free and within reach. When you give, you also receive and you only need 12 hugs a day for good emotional health. The Be Happy in LIFE Hug coupon can help you when you need a hug, just show it to someone else and ask for a hug in exchange for the coupon. Tell them to “cash” it when they need a hug and pass it on.

People with tactile deficits behave like porcupines. They reject contact and enter a cycle of disconnection and loneliness. We can’t count virtual hugs (everyone sitting at the computer be careful) and we can’t use yesterday’s hugs to make up for today’s lack of hugs. There is no such thing as Hug Credit! But simply counting your hugs every day will help you stay aware of the importance of touch. Better yet, it’s contagious!

We, at Be Happy in LIFE, want to extend our arms to give you a big global hug (remember: when we give, we receive) and send you 12 hugs wishing you a wonderful year of staying in touch with yourself. , with nature and with the people around you.

Forward this article to as many people as you can to make our global hug as big as possible (you still need 12 real hugs).

Hugs are a simple way to make a difference and make this world a better place. If everyone gives (and simultaneously receives) 12 hugs a day and encourages everyone who hugs to do the same, all you mathematicians can calculate how quickly we can make the world a better place.

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