The pillow hugger sleeping position actually has many benefits, most of which are psychological. Pillow hugging has a similar effect on the body as hugging a significant other. It triggers the release of oxytocin in the brain, which in turn can relieve pain, boost your immune system and alleviate stress.
Conclusion. A body pillow like the Cuddler can provide a variety of benefits to anyone, from side sleepers to pregnant people to people dealing with pain. The support they give prevents issues with the hips, back, and shoulders, and in turn facilitates higher quality sleep.
Calms Anxiety
Oxytocin acts as a stress-reliever and is known to improve memory, lower anxiety, and reduce blood pressure. This means that hugging a body pillow as you sleep can help decrease your anxiety levels since you'll feel a sense of safety, comfort, and relief from any worrying or stressful thoughts.
This is a self soothing move. He's cuddling it like he would you, suggesting he craves comfort and reassurance. He is stressed and keeps his emotions bottled up. The grip on the pillow is his body's way of releasing tension.
Is it normal to hug a pillow while sleeping? Sleeping with a hug pillow is not really about lacking a significant other, but it's about feeling comfortable and secure. Sometimes, we need to hug something in order to fall asleep, cuddling a pillow is completely normal and does not need any reading into.
The pillow hugger sleeping position actually has many benefits, most of which are psychological. Pillow hugging has a similar effect on the body as hugging a significant other. It triggers the release of oxytocin in the brain, which in turn can relieve pain, boost your immune system and alleviate stress.
It's a dependent and healthy relationship, experts say, that stretches beyond the human world. A beloved pillow can stand in for, or even come to represent, the feeling of connectedness that all primates require, says Craig Stanford, a professor of anthropology at the University of Southern California.
The pillow huggers are the ones who love to snuggle up and get cozy in bed. Their personalities are similar to the stargazers in that they hold personal friendships in high regard. Whether it's family, co-workers, or significant others, pillow huggers cherish relationships over anything else in their life.
Some people can't sleep without hugging a pillow because it helps them deal with stress, anxiety, or fear. A pillow offers them the emotional and physical comfort of not being alone. However, pillow hugging isn't as simple as it may appear, as it's something that roots from infancy.
It is normal to hug a pillow while sleeping. In fact, doing so may release oxytocin, which is sometimes called the “cuddle hormone.” Oxytocin has a variety of benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety levels, calming the mind, and helping you sleep better, and helping people in the spectrum.
In the United States, body pillows resemble bolsters and are designed to be hugged when sleeping. In Denmark and Norway, it is called a pølle. In France, it is called a traversin or polochon and is mostly used as a pillow, especially by the elderly in rural areas but also for summer camps.
Cuddling= less stress
As an added bonus, affection not only increases oxytocin production; it also reduces secretion of cortisol, the stress hormone.
A leg pillow can keep your hips from twisting in the night. It can keep your knees neatly stacked on top of each other, preventing awkward spine curvature. This supports the natural alignment of your spine and reduces strain on your hips as you move in your sleep.
Sleeping while hugging a pillow is not so much about lacking a significant other, but it's about feeling comforted and secure. Whether we do it subconsciously, or realize we need to hug something in order to fall asleep, cuddling a pillow is completely normal and may not need any reading into.
This position can also signal emotional and physical dependence on your partner. Holding hands while sleeping is common for couples with strong relationships. They hold their sweetheart's hand to show their partner that they will always be by their side. The relationship is so strong that their trust is unbreakable.
The Stomach Sleeper
Stomach sleepers are far-and-away the rarest type of sleeper – and according to medical experts, that's a good thing. This is the least recommended of the sleeping positions because the cons of stomach-sleeping usually outweigh the pros.
Specifically, sleeping on the side or back is considered more beneficial than sleeping on the stomach. In either of these sleep positions, it's easier to keep your spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure on the spinal tissues and enables your muscles to relax and recover.
They pretended the pillows to be their girlfriend or boyfriend whom they really miss in life. This gives them lots of comfort when they sleep. So, don't worry, it's absolutely fine to do that.
This article references oxytocin as the “trust hormone,” and points out that it's known to “lower anxiety, improve memory and act as a stress-reliever.” Therefore, the act of hugging your body pillow can improve both your mental and physical health, because it calms the mind and eases physical aches and pains ...
But What About Adults? It may seem like sleeping with a stuffed animal or baby blanket is embarrassing after childhood, but it's not: "It's completely normal," says Bash.
Prototype pillow contains an inflatable chamber that connects to an external pump and motor, enabling it to expand and deflate like human lungs.
This is called proprioception. Sensory-seeking kids will try to get more proprioceptive input. They might give people tight hugs or crash into things to feel the physical contact and pressure. Sensory avoiders will try to get away from those sensations.
Hugs release oxytocin
Oxytocin is often called the “love hormone,” and it's released when we cuddle or bond. It's the reason why being hugged feels so good. So when you're feeling down, give someone a squeeze and feel your mood lift.
Situating a pillow between your lower half helps keep the knees aligned on top of one another, which in turn keeps your hip and pelvic area aligned. It can also reduce stress on the hips: A firm pillow between the knees can prevent the upper leg from pulling the spine out of alignment.