Overcome Overwhelm: Biohack (3 of 3) to Break the Cycle of Stress

You know how middle school kids pretend to be making out with someone by wrapping their arms around themselves so from the back all you see are hands? Do that!

Wrap your arms around yourself.

Close your eyes.

Imagine that you are hugging, and being hugged, by someone you love.

As you inhale, allow the feelings of connectedness, love, and safety to fill your heart.

Allow that feeling to permeate throughout your entire being.

Allow it to radiate out from you. Feel yourself giving, receiving, and merging with that love.

And now, let go of any sense of separateness.

Allow any feelings of disconnect to vanish and let yourself dissolve into a sense of wholeness, expansiveness, and utter contentment.

Enjoy being here for a few more cycles of breath.

When you’re ready, slowly and gently open your eyes.

Lovely.

Hugging releases oxytocin. Oxytocin is the “bonding hormone”. It helps us feel connected. It also inhibits the production of cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone in your body.

Hugging stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and helps us feel relaxed. It increases dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with pleasure and mood elevation.

And hugging has been proven to help with fatigue, immunity, depression, and decreasing blood pressure.

So, the next time you are feeling stress, take a deep breath and change your chemistry through hugging…hug another person, hug a pet, or hug yourself, but give & receive a hug.

In Support of Your Healing, -Michel