There is just no denying that a hug is one of the most common expressions of affection and intimacy that we use for those we love. We use hugs to greet other people and when we say goodbye to them. We use hugs to comfort a friend need. We seek out hugs whenever we are feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the world. There are so many different scenarios in which a hug is applicable and you might not really have given much thought to it. But the truth is that there are varying kinds and levels of hugs, and you might be interested to know the hidden meaning behind each one.
A hug is a beautiful form of communication that can really do wonders to build a sense of comfort, security, trust, and safety between two people. When you hug another person, you are essentially letting them know that you are there for them and that they can always rely on your affections. It’s also scientific – the positive effects of love. Science has actually shown that holding a hug for longer than 20 seconds can build happiness in the body by triggering certain chemicals like dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. These chemicals can significantly elevate a person’s mood to make them feel better.
There is a vast array of hugs and each one of them carries a specific meaning and purpose. If you are curious to know what a certain hug might mean, then you have definitely come to the right place. Here are a few examples of hugs and what they really mean.
1. A hug from behind.
A hug done from behind is often made to convey a feeling of protection. The hugger wants to let the other person know that they always have their back. It’s designed to make the person being hugged feel as if they don’t have to worry about any sneak attacks because there is an extra layer of protection in the form of another person’s hug. It’s a very intimate kind of hug actually. It’s the kind of hug that just screams “I got your back.”
2. A hug with a pat on the back.
A hug with a pat on the back is going to convey a feeling of reassurance and comfort. You usually try to pat a person on the back while hugging them when you are trying to console them as they are grieving about something. It is usually a very friendly hug and it can be shared between anyone. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a romantic kind of hug at all. In fact, there is a casual innocence about this kind of hug that makes it a very special one.
3. A hug at the waist.
This is a very intimate kind of hug and it isn’t typically one that is done between two people in a casual kind of relationship. When someone hugs you in this manner, your hugger is trying to cling to you. This means that they want to be spending as much time with you as possible and that they never want to let you go. There is an immense amount of trust in this kind of hug and a very blatant show of comfort with another person.
4. A hug while maintaining deep eye contact.
This is another very intimate form of hugging that isn’t fit for people with casual relationships. Only two people who have a really deep and intimate bond with one another would engage in this kind of hug. It’s the kind of hug that is most commonly used by two people in a romantic relationship that is filled with a lot of passion and intensity.
5. The famous bear hug.
This is the kind of hug that is as tight as a drum. It’s the kind of hug that has a lot of pressure on it. You’re practically trying to squeeze the life out of the person that you’re hugging. It’s the kind of hug that exudes a lot of love and adoration for another person. It’s as if you’re trying to take all of the love that you have and manifest it in the form of a powerful hug.
6. The hug that doesn’t seem to end.
This is the kind of hug that can go on for so long – as if it were endless. It’s very quiet. It’s very gentle. It might seem very boring and uneventful to those who are actually witnessing it from the outside. But for the two people who are locked in this kind of intimate embrace, it’s one of the most beautiful feelings in the world. There is a certain level of love and comfort there that you won’t really find anywhere else.
So what are you waiting for? Go to the person you love and give them a big old hug right now.
