The Power and Joy of Hugging
– Musings of Dr. Jamie C. Hsu, 04.25.2021
Last week, after 400 days of pandemic travel restrictions, my wife and I finally got to hug our grandkids again. Those tight hugs made the 1500-mile round trip drive and the carefully planned hotel stays all worthwhile.
The real in-person hugs were far more gratifying than the numerous FaceTime chats and Zoom meetings we had this past year. The simple gesture of touching and hugging our dear ones is such a powerful and joyful experience, which we may have taken for granted in the pre-pandemic days.
To satisfy the need to be loved and hugged, we have seen many efforts by senior homes and families to safely hug each other. Plastic shields, glass partitions, and special gloves have been used to let people “touch” and “hug” each other. The joy and smiles on their faces are so touching and heartwarming.
On the other hand, there have been stories and images of lonely, dying seniors begging nurses and doctors to hug and comfort them. They do not want to leave this world alone. A human embrace is their last wish. It is gut-wrenching to see people suffer like that.
We may not fully understand and appreciate the physical and psychological reasons behind the power and joy of hugging, but some scientists have given credit to the chemical oxytocin in our body. It is released and becomes the source of happiness during touching and hugging. Other research has shown that hugs can reduce the level of cortisol, a stress hormone, and lower our blood pressure and heart rate.
The therapeutic effect of touching and hugging is overwhelming. We even see this phenomenon in animals. The need to be touched and connected is universal.
When the pandemic is under control and life returns to normalcy, let’s not forgot how we longed for hugs during these tough times. Let’s hug our family, friends, teachers, and frontline workers and utter the words “thank you, miss you, and love you.”
Let’s again enjoy the power and joy of hugging
擁抱的力量與喜悅
-作者 許俊宸博士
-中譯 薛乃綺
在疫情限制旅遊管制400個日子後，上周我跟我的太太，終於又能夠再次擁抱我們的孫兒孫女了。那些個緊緊的擁抱，使得1500英里的來回路程、以及精心規劃的飯店住宿，都顯得特別值得！
真正實在的擁抱，比起去年彼此之間進行過無數次的Face Time聊天、和Zoom視訊，都來得令人滿足。跟親人間一個簡單的觸摸與擁抱，是如此強大而愉悅的感受；這些事，卻是我們在發生疫情之前認為是理所當然的。
為了滿足被愛及相擁的需求，我們看到許多敬老院及家庭們正努力能夠安全地彼此擁抱。像是用上塑膠隔板、玻璃隔板和專用手套，讓人們能彼此”觸摸”及”擁抱”；他們臉上真心的喜悅與笑容，是如此令人動容。
另一方面，我們也看到了一些故事和圖片，有些孤獨、垂死的老人，懇求護士和醫生能夠擁抱並且安慰他們。他們不想孤單離開世間，最後一個願望，就是能夠與別人擁抱。看到別人受到這樣的苦痛，實在令人難過。
我們也許沒能完全理解，來自擁抱的力量與喜悅，那種生理與心理的原理。但一些科學家認為，這是我們體內的催產素發揮很棒的作用。當它被釋放時，成為讓人在觸摸及擁抱時，感受到的幸福泉源。其他研究顯示，擁抱可以減少皮脂醇這壓力賀爾蒙的釋放，並且降低我們的血壓和心律。
觸摸和擁抱的療效是相當驚人的。我們甚至也可以在動物身上看到這種現象。這說明世間萬物都需要被接觸與交流。
當疫情受到控制、生活逐漸恢復正常時，我們不能忘記在之前那個艱困的當下，我們曾經如此渴望擁抱。讓我們来擁抱我們的家人、朋友、老師；甚至是前線的工作人員，告訴他們：”謝謝你”、”想你”、”愛你”。 讓我們再一次享受擁抱的力量與喜悅吧！
