Holding hands with your significant other decreases the level of a stress hormone called cortisol. Even the touch of a friend or a teammate can make us feel more content, connected, or better about ourselves. When we are stressed out, a light touch on our hand can help ease the strain, both physically and mentally. Our skin also gets more sensitive when cortisol is rushing through our bloodstream, so the touch of a helping hand will have a significantly larger impact. The largest concentration of nerve endings is actually contained inside\u00a0the hands and fingertips.<\/p>\n
So, next time you\u2019re having a really tough day, get together\u00a0with your partner or a friend and ease the stressful day with them.<\/p>\n
2. Holding hands boosts love & bonding<\/strong><\/p>\n Oxytocin is the hormone behind this benefit. Oxytocin strengthens empathy and communication between partners in a relationship, which is proven to be a contributing factor for long-lasting, happy relationships. Holding hands with your partner will improve your relationship and create a bond that will impact the quality of your relationship significantly.<\/p>\n Couples who have happy relationships hold hands automatically, sometimes without even noticing, because of a habit developed by their nervous systems. Holding hands produces the oxytocin, which makes us feel happier and more loved.<\/p>\n 3. Holding hands is great\u00a0for your heart<\/strong><\/p>\n Besides relieving stress, holding hands with your partner lowers your blood pressure, which is one of the major contributors to heart disease. When we\u2019re clasping fingers with our loved ones, we\u2019re not just easing stress and improving our relationships \u2013 we are providing a comfortable sensation that helps our heart. The power of a\u00a0warm touch goes beyond the health benefits to the heart; a study from Behavioral Medicine\u00a0backs up this claim.<\/p>\n 4. Holding hands relieves pain<\/strong><\/p>\n While enduring pain, humans have the natural reflex to tighten their muscles. Think of childbirth \u2013 husbands are typically inside the delivery room holding their wife\u2019s hand while she\u2019s going through labor. The reflex to grasp our partner\u2019s hand comes as second nature: It\u2019s always easier to endure pain while holding hands with your soulmate. 5. Holding hands fights fear<\/strong><\/p>\n Remember that horrible scene in the last horror movie you saw that made you want to jump out of your chair? Luckily, your darling was with you to hold your hand and make you feel safe. The human brain responds to sudden stimulation using adrenaline; this stimulation gets our blood pumping and releases high levels of cortisol throughout our body.<\/p>\n During these moments, our natural reaction is to hold hands with someone we trust. It varies from person to person, but a large portion of women will instantly grab their partner\u2019s hand. That\u2019s the intuitive way to fight off nerve<\/p>\n 6. Holding hands provides a sense of security<\/strong><\/p>\n Simple hand holding is a source of safety and comfort for young children. Remember when your parents taught you to how to cross the street or walked you down a crowded sidewalk? Or when you were learning to ride a bicycle? Insecurity disappears when we have a hand to hold and allows us to more easily conquer obstacles. The security that parents provide their children by holding hands shapes their children\u2019s behavior\u00a0and their way of thinking.<\/p>\n Additionally, the sensation of safety goes both ways; parents also feel safer when their children are within their grasp.<\/p>\n 7. Holding hands is just plain comfortable<\/strong> Everybody loves comfort. The sensation of holding hands often provides a comfy feeling while talking a walk with your loved one. A great example is holding hands inside a jacket pocket to warm them up on those cold December nights when you decide to take a stroll in the snow with your partner. Even with gloves, we love to hold hands. It bonds us; it provides lovely sensations and gives us quality time with people we care about.<\/p>\n How often do you hold hands with your partner?<\/strong> Holding hands is a pain reliever, a source of security, and a cure for stress. Do you enjoy the comforting sensation of holding hands? Now you have seven reasons to do it more often.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: Life Hack<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Holding hands\u00a0is an ordinary thing that we see and do every day. It can signify friendship, love, or marriage. Yet this tiny, commonplace behavior triggers chemical reactions in our minds that make us feel loved, happy, cared for, and respected. These days, non-verbal communication is important to understanding human behavior. Holding hands is one of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[354],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"holding](\"http:\/\/cdn-media-2.lifehack.org\/wp-content\/files\/2016\/01\/15143329\/comfort-stress-relieving.jpg\")
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