Take my hand
Razi Berry In any stressed or painful situation – a visit to the hospital, a presentation at work, or a funeral for a loved one – it helps to have someone holding your hand. We all know this to be true. Recent experiments have validated our intuitive knowledge and provided explanations as to why having […]
Hugs are Good for You
Razi Berry Are you a hugger? If you are, you may have noticed that receiving hugs help guard against negative changes in mood arising from conflict with others. A recent study from Carnegie Mellon University validates this experience. Individuals who engage in more frequent interpersonal touch experience improved health According to the study, individuals who […]
Touch Your Fears
Razi Berry My practice of embodiment Part of my practice of embodiment is to bring more touch into my daily experience. I used to live so much in my head, which is where anxiety and worry live. Fear is different from anxiety in that fear protects you when processed in healthy ways. Anxiety is fear […]
The Power of Touch
A new study, looking at “interpersonal synchronization,” shows that when male partners touch their female partner’s hands during a painful experience, the pain is diminished.1 This could be an important role of fathers-to-be in the labor and delivery room (which was the motivation of the study), but also is insightful to how pain may be […]
Cuddle Up With Your Partner
Dr. Sarah King, ND @sarahhealthyfox How human touch, trust, and emotions are linked with oxytocin Everyone needs hugs! Think about it: Describe that feeling you get when cuddling up with your partner or getting a well-needed hug from someone you love. That feeling is likely being enhanced via increased oxytocin levels. Midwives, doulas and childbirth […]