Latest / Daily Happy / Daily Happy Episode 95: The Case For Cuddling

Transcript

Daily Happy Episode 95: The Case For Cuddling · Daily Happy

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, hey, Rockstars, Daily Happy here.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: Your little dose of happiness in this crazy chaotic world.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: I am so happy you're here with me.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: And before we get started, let me remind you of something very important about this podcast.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: It's perfectly imperfect.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: You may hear me mispronounce a word, stumble over a sentence, sneeze in the middle of a thought, or even have my dog decide he has something much more important to say than I do.
• 0:35
  SPEAKER_00: Go peanut.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: And you know what?
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: That's okay because this podcast isn't about being perfect.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's about being real.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's about finding those little moments of happiness that can make a big difference in our lives, even when the world around us feels overwhelming.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: I truly hope that when you listen to Daily Happy, you find something that makes you smile, gives you a little hope, will remind you that even on the hardest days, there is still joy to be found.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: And so, rock stars, we're talking about one of my absolute favorite things in the world.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: Cuddling.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, cuddling.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: Thanks to my friend Jennifer Grant Myusevich for the idea.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: That wonderful, cozy, heartwarming, sometimes squish your face into someone's shoulder, kind of happiness.
• 1:35
  SPEAKER_00: Because if you ask me what makes me happy, cuddling is right up there at the top of the list.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: There is something so comforting about wrapping your arms around someone you love, snuggling under a blanket, holding your child close, resting your head against your husband, or coddling with your cat or dog, or even stuffed animal, and there's nothing wrong with that.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes you don't need words, you don't need to solve a problem, you don't need to give advice or come up with a plan.
• 2:07
  SPEAKER_00: You just need a hug, a little closeness, a moment where you can breathe and feel, even for a few seconds, that everything is going to be a-okay.
• 2:20
  SPEAKER_00: And guess what?
• 2:22
  SPEAKER_00: There is actual science behind why cuddling can make us feel so good.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Researchers have spent years studying the benefits of affectionate touch, and the findings are pretty wonderful.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_00: A 2024 study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior reviewed 212 studies, including a meta-analysis of 137 studies involving nearly 13,000 people.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: The researchers found that touch-based interventions were associated with the benefits such as reduced anxiety, fewer depressive symptoms, and less pain in adults.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: They also found benefits for regulating cortisol, the hormone involved in our body's stress response.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER_00: Now that doesn't mean a cuddle is going to magically fix every problem.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Wouldn't that be wonderful?
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: One hug and suddenly the laundry is done, the bills are paid, and the world has stopped being crazy.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: But it does mean that affectionate touch can be a meaningful way to support our well-being.
• 3:33
  SPEAKER_00: And there's more.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: A 2023 study published in eLife titled Affectionate Touch and Dianeural Oxytocin Levels followed people as they went about their everyday lives.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: The researchers found that affectionate touch was associated with lower reported stress and anxiety, higher levels of oxytocin, and in comparison between people, lower cortisol and greater happiness.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_00: Oxytocin is often nicknamed the love hormone or feel-good hormone because it plays a role in social bonding and connection.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Isn't that lovely?
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: Something as simple as holding someone close can be part of how we experience comfort, connection, and love.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: And rock stars, this is why we need to make cuddling a much bigger part of our everyday lives.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: If you have a little child, cuddle them, hold them close, read them a story with their head resting against you.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: Let them feel safe, loved, and cherished.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: If you have older parents, hold their hands, put your arm around them, or give them a gentle hug if they welcome it.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_00: We spend so much time taking care of the practical things for our parents that sometimes we forget how meaningful it can be to simply sit beside them and hold them close.
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're lucky enough to have your husband or partner nearby, make time for a cuddle.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: Not because you need something, not because it's a special occasion, but just because you love each other.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: Put down those phones, turn off the television for a few minutes, snuggle on the couch, let the day settle around you.
• 5:14
  SPEAKER_00: And let's not forget our four-legged family members.
• 5:18
  SPEAKER_00: If your dog loves a cuddle, give them that furry baby some extra affection.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: If your cat curls up beside you, enjoy that little gift.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: Of course, our pets have their own opinions about cuddling, right, Peanuts?
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: So let them choose when and how they want that affection too.
• 5:38
  SPEAKER_00: And now I want to say something that I hope makes somebody out there feel a little less alone.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: There is absolutely nothing wrong with cuddling a stuffed animal.
• 5:49
  SPEAKER_00: Nothing.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: Maybe you're living alone, maybe you miss someone, maybe you're going through a difficult season, maybe you simply love the comfort of holding something soft when you go to sleep.
• 6:01
  SPEAKER_00: If wrapping your arms around a teddy bear, a favorite pillow, or beloved stuffed animal brings you comfort, then please give yourself permission to enjoy it.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: Research on touch-based interventions even suggests that comforting contact with objects can have some physical and psychological benefits, although the mental health benefits may be smaller than those associated with touch from another person.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: And that's okay.
• 6:28
  SPEAKER_00: Comfort doesn't have to look the same for everybody.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: The important thing is finding healthy, comforting ways to help yourself feel calm, safe, and connected.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: Because to me, cuddling is about so much more than physical touch.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_00: It's about sharing unconditional love.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, baby.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: It's about saying, I'm here, you're important to me.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: You don't have to do anything to earn this moment of affection.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes when we give that love, we feel it coming right back to us.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: And through a child's little arms around our neck, a partner's gentle squeeze, a parent's hand holding ours, or a happy dog who thinks being near us is the greatest thing in the world.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_00: That kind of connection is priceless.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_00: So here's my daily happy challenge for you.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: Find one moment to cuddle, hug your child a little longer, snuggle with your husband, give your mom or dad a gentle squeeze, curl up with your cat, give your dog some love, or grab that stuffed animal that's been waiting patiently for a little attention.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: And if cuddling isn't comfortable or possible for you today, that's okay too.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: You can find comfort in a warm blanket, a favorite song, or a kind moment with yourself.
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: There's no one size fits all formula for happiness.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: I believe that the little moments of love can help make life feel a whole lot brighter.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: And in this crazy chaotic world right now, couldn't we all use a little more love, a little more kindness, and a whole lot more cuddling and laughter?
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: So, rock stars, remember this.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_00: You don't have to change the whole world today.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: Making a difference with making one person feel loved is amazing.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes that person is you.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for spending these few minutes with me on Daily Happy.
• 8:20
  SPEAKER_00: I hope I've given you something to smile about and a reminder that happiness doesn't always come in big spectacular packages.
• 8:28
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes it comes wrapped in two arms, a furry paw, a well-loved teddy bear.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, rock stars, keep looking for happy, keep spreading kindness, keep loving one another, and remember you're never too old, too busy, or too grown up to need a cuddle.
• 8:45
  SPEAKER_00: Sending you all a virtual hug.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: And now I'm gonna give you a little song.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: My I'm gonna sing, you are my sunshine, my only sunshine.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_00: You make me happy when skies are gray.
• 9:03
  SPEAKER_00: You'll never know, dear, how much I love you.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: Please don't make my sunshine go away.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: Love you, rock stars.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: Bye for now.