We all find comfort in our friends and family, we often lean on them during times of stress. Have you ever felt better after receiving a hug from someone you love, even when you were having a really bad day? There is something to that feeling, the power of touch can change our moods and perspectives.

The Power of Touch

A study done at the University of Virginia gathered 16 women and caused stress through electric shock. The first shock was when they were alone, the second, they were holding a stranger’s hand, and the third they were holding their husband’s hand.

The hand holding reduced the brain’s response to stress, and holding her husband’s hand reduced it even more. In fact, it calmed the brain in a similar way that pain relievers do when we’re subjected to pain.

So basically a hug, a hand to hold, or a shoulder to lean on helps regulate not only our emotions but how our brains respond to that emotion.

Read more here.