STA community and professionals explain how hugs relieve pressure, lift mood, are unique to each individual

Long time no hug- Bishop Miege High School freshman Kelli Sweeney, left, and freshman Ali Lukens do not see each other often, so they give hugs tightly. Sweeney and Lukens have been friends for a short time, yet they are very close. by Gabi Lukens

By Gabi Lukens |  

Imagine walking into a funeral for someone you love.  You are overwhelmed with grief and sadness, and you need to feel that someone is there for you.  Receiving a hug is one way to relieve the stress of grieving.  Yet, you only want a hug from the person who is no longer alive.

‘Her hugs made me feel totally loved and protected,’ said Mr. Charles Lukens, father of freshmen Ali and Gabi, of his grandmother who passed away when he was only 21.

According to Lukens, losing someone is hard, but sometimes it is good to remember the positive aspects that they brought to your life.  He remembers exactly how his grandmother’s hugs made him feel, and said that nothing can replace their presence in his life.

‘I would describe the absence of her hugs as an empty space that has never and will never be filled,’ Lukens said.

STA freshman, Madi Schieber, can also relate to the pain of losing a family member.  She lost her grandmother when she was 13 and can remember exactly how her grandmother’s hugs made her feel.

‘[My grandmother's hugs] made me feel good,’ Schieber said.  ‘They made me feel very warm and comforted with her arms around me.’

Although Lukens said he could not fill the absence of the hugs, Schieber disagreed.

‘I am filling the absence of [my grandmother's] hugs with the hugs from friends and other family members, yet it doesn’t completely fill the gap,’ Schieber said.

Schieber has also lost a best friend who moved away in first grade.

‘My best friend, Angelina, moved to Oklahoma a few years ago,’ Schieber says.  ‘I miss her hugs because they always made me feel better if I was having a bad day.’

The loss of someone can take a toll on people that may lead to depression.  However, researchers have found that a hug can minimize depression and relieve stress.

‘Our bodies respond immediately to loving touch,’ said Mr. Steve Ryals, an expert author from EzineArticles.com.   ‘Our heart rate goes down, along with our blood pressure. Our breathing slows, our muscles relax, and our immune system picks up.’

STA freshman, Keara Miller, gets the same feelings that Ryals described when she is hugged.  Miller also gets more emotional than what Ryals presented because Miller feels love when she is hugged.

‘[A hug] makes me feel warm, fuzzy and good,’ Miller said.  ‘It also makes me feel like that person really loves me.’

According to Schieber, a lot of these same feelings come to her when she gets a hug from a friend.

‘[Hugs from my friends] make me feel loved and they give me that warm, tingly feeling,’ Schieber said.

Hugs from different people are very distinct.  When hugging someone, each individual has a different, lasting effect.  According to Lukens, the feelings he gets from hugging his wife and daughters are both unique and individual feelings.

‘When I hug my wife, I become overwhelmed with satisfaction, assurance and confidence,’ Lukens said.  ‘When I hug my daughters, I get the feeling of love, pride and a true sense of accomplishment for myself and my daughters.’

Ultimately, according to studies, hugs are the best all-natural therapy.

‘I could not live without hugs because I think that hugs are a very important form of human interaction and communication,’ Lukens said.