![\"\"](\"https:\/\/central.digitalschools.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/2000-Thin-Grey-Divider-1024x36.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA hug is such a simple remedy to handling the complex and sensitive emotions we have as human beings, and its intrinsic value to our health and happiness is overlooked.<\/p>\n
\u00a0If you have experienced a lockdown in the era of COVID-19 for two weeks or more, you might have an insight into what it feels like to be deprived of human interaction, meaningful touch and companionship?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Last year for so many of us in Melbourne and around the world, we were alone for prolonged periods of time. It was a huge test of our resilience\u00a0to cope with sudden change, intense grief, impeding financial ruin and social isolation.<\/p>\n
Like myself, many endured a prolonged lockdown alone.\u00a0My family and friends well and truly out of reach I struggled at times to feel ok. I\u00a0was lucky enough to have my little dog Neumann as a solid and noble companion and it made a world of difference.<\/p>\n
But some people had no one, and unlike the lucky folks with backyards, terraces, families, pets and sunlight, they were locked up in small apartments that closed them off from the world entirely.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The implications of these ongoing lockdowns can not really be quantified socially, emotionally or economically. Nevertheless, the effects of loneliness, hopelessness and future uncertainty on our way of life continue.<\/p>\n
We know there are harrowing statistics regarding mental health and suicide rates due to the pandemic, and it continues to rise. And there is not a single person I know that hasn\u2019t been emotionally and psychologically affected by the pandemic we are still in.\u00a0And the solution to the mounting health crisis that impacts all of us is totally insufficient, and we know it.<\/p>\n
The COVID_19 lockdowns have highlighted the realisation of how unwell we can become when we don\u2019t have enough interaction with other living beings. Depression, anxiety and the feelings of grief and hopelessness among the many is expediential.<\/p>\n
How long might it take for us to recover \u2013 unknown?\u2026<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After my experience of prolonged isolation, \u00a0loneliness and grief, I learned what it was like to be touch-deprived and how serious its effect was on my health. I had depression for quite some time last year, and the lockdown we just had triggered feelings of doubt, angst and irritability in me and many others.<\/p>\n
When I \u00a0finally had the opportunity to properly and consistently interact with friends again, I recognised immediately how impactful being physically close to another being was for me and how quickly bad vibes and anxious feelings were subdued when hugged.<\/p>\n
\u00a0My experience\u00a0got me thinking \u2013 how many of us could have our lives transformed by regular touch and meaningful hugs? \u00a0How many of us are unaware that our society\u2019s lack of human contact might be why we are unwell and critically imbalanced?.<\/p>\n
We have a mental health crisis at our door, and accompanying this is the loneliness epidemic, and the two go hand in hand \u2013 could hugs help?.<\/p>\n
It is factual that regular social contact, physical touch and big warm hugs help us handle the difficult emotions, grief and pain we all experience. Science says it\u2019s so \u2013 and there is plenty of good evidence that proves that hugging heals.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
I am interested to see if you, too, can benefit from a good old fashioned dose of hugs?<\/p>\n
I am prescribing 1 month of hugs and love to be taken daily.<\/em><\/p>\n In the videos above there are some good guidelines and ideas for building up to a good long\u00a0cuddle and how to provide and experience maximum benefits to your health and heart.<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n – Goodluck Fellow Huggers xxx<\/p>\n Guest Contributor:\u00a0Emily Rack<\/em>\n
\n
\nBusiness Name:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>Horatio\u2019s Jar<\/a><\/strong>
\nPublisher:\u00a0Digital Schools<\/em><\/p>\n