Hey, I was wondering, does anyone know if there’s any correlation between cuddling and having a positive effect on your mental health?
If so, could y’all share either your personal anecdotes or any relevant information?
Thanks!
Cuddling is enjoyable and enjoyable things have positive effects on you. I say this every time this topic is brought up and some people don't agree and thats fine, but cuddling is not treatment for mental health disorders. It does not and should not ever be considered a mental health therapy modality and it is not and should not ever be substituted for mental health therapy. I love every cuddler Ive ever known on here but do not let the fact that some call it cuddle therapy and some refer to themselves as cuddle therapists confuse you into thinking that it is a form of mental health therapy or counseling.
I think cuddling helps tremendously with mental health, when I was going through a particularly hard time I had a friend who I knew was interested in me but because I was so deeply depressed I tried to self isolate, my friend was persistent though and came over to cuddle me and take care of me, we eventually started dating but honestly the cuddling helped my depression so much.
Everyone's going to perceive it differently. It's all what you make of it and how it makes you feel. But I can see how it can be beneficial to some.
Cuddling makes me happy, just like chocolate makes me happy and petting a puppy makes me happy. I have great friends who I like to share space with, hugging, laughing and relaxing. That's all, nothing super-deep for me, like trigonometry, rocket science or reading "War and Peace." Google and ChatGPT are your friend about the correlation stuff.
Holding babies & toddlers relaxes and makes me happy.
Find having bear hugs very comforting:) so I do find that cuddling has a positive impact on my mental well being.
I saw a guy who predicts when people die for insurance companies. It's very accurate. He said that isolation cuts people's life expectancy in half.
To me, cuddling is a very potent method of connection. And connection is the opposite of isolation.
So if your mental health is negatively affected by isolation, then I think a regular dose of vitamin cuddle can help your health, mental, physical, and otherwise.
Now if you have true schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder and other things of that nature, I don't know how much it's going to help you.
Yes, cuddling can have significant beneficial effects on mental health for some people. It has done my mental health an immense amount of good. Not life-changing, but only a notch or two below that.
No, cuddling is not a treatment or cure for any condition, mental health or otherwise. Run a mile from anybody who claims that it is.
It’s a boost to mental health
Hey! Yes, there is definitely a positive correlation between cuddling and mental health. When we cuddle, our bodies release oxytocin, sometimes called the “love hormone,” which reduces stress and can increase feelings of happiness and emotional connection. Many people find that cuddling helps them feel comforted, relaxed, and more connected with others. Personally, I’ve felt that even small moments of cuddling can make a big difference in my mood and help me feel more secure. It’s amazing how something so simple can have such a meaningful impact! Hope this helps, and I’d love to hear others’ thoughts too!
Cuddling is a temporary feel good but it is not a substitute for ongoing mental health treatment if that is what you need. As CuddleDuncan has said, run away if someone attempts to convince you otherwise.
any correlation between cuddling and having a positive effect on your mental health?
Most Pros will generally provide a list of such benefits on their profiles.
I want to share one way platonic cuddling unexpectedly helped my mental health. When I first started, I was emerging from a period of extreme social anxiety. Through what essentially became exposure therapy - meeting one person at a time over three years - I've experienced remarkable improvement.
In the past, meeting new people would leave me feeling anxious and activated. But here's the thing - I've found that cuddling sessions feel so much more grounding than other ways of spending time with people, like trying to connect across a restaurant table.
Each successful meeting has built upon the last, creating a kind of exposure therapy of socializing in a uniquely calming environment. Through this combination of repetition and grounding touch, it's done wonders for my specific mental health challenges.
Cuddling has certainly had a positive effect on my mental health. Depression specifically. But in order for me to keep it that way, I've had to make sure I don't depend on it for my mental health to be in a good place. Otherwise, disappointment is sure to occur, as well as unrealistic expectations.
@billiam - I have seen similar studies about the incredible negative effect of isolation. Everyone is a little bit different as some people need more / more frequent social interaction than others but everyone needs it to some degree.
What I have not seen a study about is the effectiveness of paid social interaction. Yes, cuddling feels great but I do not know in terms of meeting the basic human need for social / physical interaction if paid vs unpaid interactions are equally effective. My speculation is that paid is less effective but I have not seen any study to support or undermine that speculation.
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What I don't like and don't agree with is the theory that you need insert amount here of interacting and touch. People are immensely varied in both their desire and tolerance for this. There is no standardized metric, it's pure opinion and something to be put on a dish towel ala eat pray love. I would be happy to live in a cave in Mexico with a volleyball named Wilson for a while over being around crowds of people.
@pmvines
Exactly . My spirit ball
I am a believer (without reading studies) to know that cuddling is very mentally therapeutic. For me, it's like a reset button. That , first long exhale of breathing out the bad energy and releasing it, and inhaling the good..is so calming. The magic of matching energy is unbelievable.. satisfying lol. I need to find it again.. Sadly the one I felt most like this ghosted!
What about long term effects of platonic cuddling with a stranger? As in see a provider once or regurally. But then nothing.
If you meet some one its great when together but can feel extra lonely after. Is there long term gain, or short term satisfaction - both?
Top 20 benefits of cuddling based on a study of 40,000 people in 112 countries (BBC & Wellcome Research):
1. Eases stress (lower cortisol) 2. Greater resilience 3. Clears mind of distractions 4. Better digestion 5. Relieves pain 6. Lowers blood pressure 7. Releases oxytocin 8. Boosts mood 9. Creates connectedness 10. Helps reduce sadness 11. Reduces anxiety 12. More in touch with emotions 13. More open to discuss feelings 14. Fall asleep faster 15. Longer sleep 16. More restorative sleep 17. Enhanced immunity 18. Improved self confidence 19. More likely focus on health goals 20. Greater sense of love and security
🙂
@TD1964RGK any dis advantages
I believe those are real benefits that have been discussed on many forums on this site. They remain short term and not a cure for anything IMO.
@CuddleClimb
Well.... As a woman, in particular, being alone with a stranger (on here, that's usually going to be men) comes with inherent risks, which means the initial meeting, and sometimes every meeting, can be fraught with anxiety about safety and whether you can truly relax with this person or if they're going to push boundaries at best, completely harm you at worst. Which is the antonym of any potential benefits. So yeah, there are disadvantages one typically has to work through to get to the beneficial effects. And we basically have to be our own SVU detective at each initial encounter to get there. But, once we do get the benefits, it's worth it.
Though to go back to the OP - nothing can replace therapy with a licensed mental health provider if you have mental health struggles, but cuddles with safe people with whom you feel relaxed can be a great adjunct practice, as well.
@TD1964RGK can you link that study? I'm not finding via Google. I'm interested in seeing when it was done and if it was an actual scientific study or a survey/questionnaire.
With the right "vibe", I feel safe enough to shut my head off and just rest, which helps A TON with my anxiety. It doesn't solve what's causing it, but it gives me relief from it and that does WONDERS for my emotional well being as well. Just make sure neither of you become dependent on the other because that's completely unhealthy and counter-productive!!
My training with Cuddlist went over all the benefits and we have ongoing education! This is a big part of why we do this work.
@stsarrynitecuds I’m away from home right now, so best I can do is this … report on a meta-study as reported by BBC.
Wellcome-funded research on the mental health benefits of touch has shown significant effects on stress, anxiety, and general well-being. A major systematic review, conducted by Christian Keysers and colleagues and published in Nature Human Behavior, analyzed 137 studies with almost 13,000 participants. This review highlights how touch reduces mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and pain in adults, while also aiding physical well-being through stress hormone regulation and improved heart rate and blood pressure.
I've heard people say that massage therapy has some of the most understudied claims: it's nearly universal that people enjoy massages, so no one will fund a study about something where there's no controversy. But it means we don't really have scientific data on what's happening and if anecdotal claims on blood flow and toxins and whatever else are true. I feel like cuddling probably falls under the same category. I don't know how much scientific data we have, but I think we all can be convinced of positive effects individually.
There's a reason babies are placed on their mother's chest when they are born - it releases immense oxytocin and creates bonds. When you cuddle and skin touches (arms, hands, shoulders, chest, anything) it has the same effect. Every living thing gives off electrical energy as well. The warmth and security of an embrace will release other "feel good" chemicals. So is it beneficial for mental health? Absolutely. Is it a cure-all for a true disorder like anxiety, depression, etc? Absolutely not. My meds keep me functioning but a good mid-week cuddle session makes my attitude at work a whole lot better.
