Would love some thoughts and opinions on this topic.
My main motivation for cuddling is energy. For days, weeks and months after a cuddle I still feel charged. It comes back to me during the day, when I sleep or meditate. I’ve also felt increased energy after simply talking about it and not cuddling at all. And it’s different from the energy I get from eating really well, getting exercise or practicing yoga. I guess you could say I’m tactile.
Wow! We could then say: Healthy cuddling = (eat + exercise + yoga) × 2
Nope. Generally feel pretty tired after any cuddle like emotionally and physically drained. On the flip side, I feel pretty positive about the time spent.
Lots of people say cuddling helps them sleep. In fact, some people have said they can't sleep unless they cuddle beforehand. So that argues against your theory that it increases energy.
I feel a little like LeeS but add drunk in there. Lol. What it does do is calm my negative self talk, make me feel less insecure. The cuddle experience has longer lasting effects.
So over all I get sleepy if I'm the professional and doing all the work.. if there is reciprocation I get energy but it also depends on how long.. but as an enthusiast I have become full of a different kind of energy.. its the dopamine lol
Cuddling doesn't give me energy. It relaxes and settles me. I can be crazy busy at work. Anxiety at a all time high --but have a cuddle session and immediately feel settled and calm.
I definitely become relaxed and drowsy with cuddling, it's all that body heat and oxytocin ???
Oh @Sashamcgee I feel that - I had a session yesterday afternoon and the last hour before the alarm went off we were like 95% on the way to sleep. Depends on the environment too though. This person's house has a lot of greenery in the yard which you can see from the window, you've got birds chirping and there's a wind chime which sounds really gently outside. Makes for a pretty serene cuddle and you have no choice but to drift off, lol.
OP: To say that a cuddle boosts my mood would be more accurate. Definitely not my energy!
It helps calm, soothe, energize, relax, and boost your morale all in one, especially when you find someone who makes you feel safe and comfortable. It lowers your blood pressure and helps your body loosen up and in some ways helps the healing process physically and mentally.
Cuddling relaxes you and puts you in a state conducive to sleep. By extension, if you get a restful, effortless sleep you will have more energy afterward. Cuddling is multitasking for your daily Circadian rhythms.
When I cuddle, I tend to get into a sort of meditative state where I don't think about much. I'll feel sleepy too. But I get what you mean by gaining energy from it. I found a cuddle buddy. We cuddled Sunday, I felt sleepy during but three days after still, I'm on fire. I cleaned the backyard today and so on. It's nuts. I don't know if it's because I'm in a better mood overall so I'm more motivated or what. But yeah.
Energetic if it's someone I've just/recently met, sleep if I know them well