How has cuddling benefited you personally?
Not a direct benefit of cuddling per se, but a huge benefit of working with cuddle professionals has been the ability to work slowly through my fear around receiving and giving touch. There is a long story underlying that which I won't go into here, but just being able to give and receive hugs without being frozen with immediate fear opened up a world of social and human connection that I just did not know existed before. It allowed me to trust people enough to share (and hence process through) some of my deepest trauma. That has certainly made me a much more enjoyable person to be around.
Now, the main benefit I derive from cuddling itself is the human connection and the oxytocin high that it brings. Quite simply, I now enjoy hugging and holding others, and being hugged and held.
I answer this with my experience in the last paragraph of my first post, here:
https://www.cuddlecomfort.com/forum/discussion/14443/so-i-started-cuddling/p1
~ Sunset Snuggles
As a professional, I can’t tell you how many time clients actions helped me personally to see more deep into myself! Connection is vital, mutually…when we connect we are vulnerable and this is where good things happen. One client encouraged me to go out more, coz I am always home! And when I listened I enjoyed my time and my self way more…one client advised me to study specific discipline and I am in the process.
Cuddling is transforming not only physically, emotionally and socially, but rather there are other advantages and benefits from meeting Doddy people as well. I call it complimentary advantages.
I am very thankful for everyone I meet and cuddle with.
I consider myself fairly in tuned w my emotions, but I feel cuddling has definitely made more even more in touch w my emotions.
Since just started cuddling not long ago. But what I'm hoping cuddling will help with is my social anxiety. It is really hard for me to meet new people and be comfortable around them.
Someone who follows me on social media JUST sent this to me this morning!
Not sure about boosting the immune system. That's a medical claim with no credibility.
@Mike403 Carnegie Mellon researchers disagree with you. https://www.cmu.edu/news/stories/archives/2014/december/december17_hugsprotect.html Seems there just might be a tie to the immune system boosting effects of physical touch.
I know cuddling puts many people to sleep, but I could never sleep during a cuddle. I'm so excited about meeting someone new and getting the cuddle. Lol.
@justjennn This is what happens when journalists get hold of research—they either sensationalize it or do not know how to properly explain it to laymen. First of all, it was a study and is not proof. Secondly, as the article states the results “suggests” there is a link to improved immune response. Much of this was conducted by questionnaire and phone interviews so the cuddling was never observed. Secondly, it was done by the psychology department. When this is done by an immunologist I will give it far more credence. But anecdotally it rises to the level of interesting, but nothing ironclad or convincing.
@justjennn @FunCartel - I learned about the placebo effect in psychology class. People feel better just because they believe it's true. Usually by sugar pills disguised as medicine. Cuddling might be included.
Interesting takes, guys.
I think I read somewhere that it feels good, but I dunno if I believe in this theory.
@justjennn is a champ! Dropping research studies like a PhD candidate!
I dunno, I have def rode that oxytocin high for hours after. If that was a placebo, it felt amazing.
I learned in massage class that simply placing your hands on a part of another person's body for 10 minutes (no kneading, no rubbing , no massaging) can already reduce 50% of the stress in that area. Less tension will equate to better circulation at the very least- add the change in mood, the good conversation , the down time, being off technology and social media for the timebeing and being in the moment, and getting peripherary rest...all those would have positive effects on body functions imo.
On some levels, it could be a placebo, if you think how so many things are psychosomatic- the mind has effects on the body, and the reverse is true: the body has effects on the mind.
It's all good times.
I think someone placing their hand on a part of the human body and just holding it still for 5 or 10 minutes feels good. At the very least it warms it up and that alone can make an achy part feel better. I have done that to others and they said it felt good or better also. Plus the benefits @cylee1180 discussed.
I never asked anyone here to do that cause I figure it is boring and/or an uncomfortable position for some to maintain 5 or 10 minutes. I'm not much for asking for things anyway. A whole hour of someone holding their hands still on 6 different platonic parts 10 minutes apiece would be nice, I think.
Something that often is not mentioned is that many of the claims.people make.about benefits of cuddling can also be made about many other things people do in order to make themselves feel good . Such as eating a good.meal,. Music, sex, Getting a mani /pedi, hiking, art, time with family, dancing, running . The list goes on. These are all feel good things that can be shared activities , or done by yourself. There are no actual proven medical benefits, but it does help emotionally, and there is a link between mental and physical.health. it might have a side effect of this that or the other , however that is typically fleeting and barely measurable . And then there is placebo , which I can see being a case for on a site like this where so many people are looking to cuddling because they already have a preconceived notion that it will help fix them, and have heard people on here make inaccurate and irresponsible claims about things cuddling can do. Seeing people talk about cuddling like it is a sort of miracle water only makes me skeptical of them .
There are no medical benefits to cuddling as some people claim. It just feels good and people enjoy it. I love steak and crab legs, but my health is exactly the same if I eat mac and cheese instead.
Sex is necessary for the survival of the species(reproduction), but it is also not necessary for an individual.
When it comes to professional Cuddle sessions and possibly enthusiast sessions as well you get the added benefit of learning to communicate better, having better social skills, learning how to set and maintain boundaries and also being able to ask for what you want.
I respectfully disagree with some of you. I think people who don't see the unique benefits specific to therapeutic connection (facilitated with touch) must be people who have never truly been deprived of real authentic unconditional connection in their life. Count yourself blessed. 💜 I never claim cuddling to be anything close to a miracle cure for ANYthing, but for people who need it, connection has the potential to change everything. If that makes some people disrespect me, I guess so be it. 🤷♀️ At the same time, all people are unique, there is no one answer for everyone. That's why I say "potential". The healing effects people feel are real though. I don't like seeing those experiences invalidated.
@ubergigglefritz - I've never been in a relationship and never cuddled with anyone unless I paid for it. Chasing a connection has been way more damaging to my mental health. I felt much better to not think about it and focus my attention on other things. That's one of the main reasons why I went back to school.
@Mike403 absolutely. Chasing connection sucks. I guess I meant that experiencing it helps. But in the moment, I wasn't thinking about how most people, even if willing to pay a professional, there's not often any good options to really fill that need. 😔
I try to encourage guys to stop chasing women, but instead focus on their purpose and goals. The sooner they stop worrying about if people like them, the happier they will be. Live life not expecting to be in any kind of romantic or cuddling relationship, but if they happen to get one, consider it a bonus. I'm autistic and a bit socially awkward, but I'm still playing my cards the way they were dealt to me.
@Mike403 I love the idea of helping support people learning the skills to crawl out of those holes themself. From my experience, it's a lot easier to get help getting out, and in that process, learn how to do it yourself when there's no one around. But not everyone is lucky enough to have someone to help. It's definitely possible to crawl out on your own, it's just more challenging. 💜
Food is therapeutic for a starving person but not necessarily for someone who eats regular meals.
@MCcuddles2 - Well, food is kind of essential to stay alive.
@Mike403 connection is the core of what humans need. We are social beings (as a general rule). Just because it doesn't kill us to go without doesn't mean it doesn't have serious ramifications. Again, of course, my perspective, and there are always exceptions to every rule.
So is touch, I would argue. Under the larger umbrella of connection.
After the sudden loss of a best friend and my other best friend decided she didn't want to be friends anymore, I went six years without any safe connection. That's nothing compared to what some have gone through (and that is only one small piece of my isolation story), but it was absolutely transformative to have connection again. As I've said, there is no one rule or one solution that applies to everyone, but the impact connection can have is absolutely real.
@MCcuddles2 - I'm not dead yet after never getting cuddles. I must be immortal.