Sharing a bed is the ultimate intimacy and research suggests that sleeping close and cuddling increases oxytocin (the 'love' hormone) which helps to lower stress hormones, making you feel calmer and encourages feelings of safety and security – leading to less interrupted sleep.
You sleep better.
Cuddling releases oxytocin—the chemical responsible for making us feel all warm, fuzzy, and relaxed. This might seem obvious, but the more relaxed you find yourself, the easier it is to get the high-quality sleep that we need to lead healthy lives.
In the few reported studies on cuddling in committed romantic relationships, the average amount of time spent cuddling is about 30-40 minutes and occurs 3 to 5 times a week. Couples will typically cuddle in bed pre- and post-sex, as well as in the mornings.
Cuddling and getting cozy typically indicates that a partner feels more comfortable being intimate and close with you. Some couples enjoy cuddling at night before they sleep or after they make love. Cuddling could also indicate they have deep feelings for you and want to be near you.
Do guys or girls get attached after cuddling? Whether they want to, the body usually triggers an emotional response to physical touch. Physical affection, such as hugging or cuddling, has been strongly related to partner satisfaction and heightened emotional intimacy.
In a study that refutes gender stereotypes, researchers looking at couples in long-term relationships have found that men value cuddling and caressing as important for their relationship happiness more than women do.
One study of 90 couples found that people mostly reported falling asleep while physically touching their partner, most commonly in a spooning position.
A "steady diet" of oxytocin helps trigger the release of dopamine, which means we're almost literally addicted to the person we're in love with. Cuddling is a drug, so to speak.
"Although oxytocin levels fall after orgasm, cuddling and other contact behaviors help sustain the level of oxytocin in the system." So if you're looking to stay connected with someone after playtime is over, another benefit of cuddling is that it can help you retain intimacy.
When we touch – cuddle, hug, or holding hands – our bodies release “feel good” hormones. These hormones include oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin. Once the hormones are released into our bodies we experience feelings of happiness, relaxation, improve mood, and lower levels of depression.
Sexsomnia, also known as sleep sex, is a type of sleep disorder known as a parasomnia. Parasomnias refer to unusual sensations and behaviors, such as sleepwalking, that people may experience or exhibit while asleep, falling asleep, or waking up. In the case of sexsomnia, people engage in sexual behaviors.
Nearly Half Of All Couples Don't Cuddle When They Sleep.
Spooning is the ultimate cuddling position. And let's be real: It can be sexual, too. Anyone can be the “big spoon” when cuddling, but it's often the larger or more dominant partner.
According to a research conducted by the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender and reproduction, “Among middle-aged couples in committed relationships, tenderness is often more important to the man than the woman; regular kisses and cuddling lead to greater relationship satisfaction in men than in their partners ...
A great cuddling position is spooning — and you can switch up who gets to be the little spoon. You can also try hugging and wrapping your legs around your partner's body for maximum closeness. Cuddling releases oxytocin, which can help you feel more relaxed and bonded with your partner.
“When we hug someone, that physical contact releases a hormone in the body called oxytocin,” she told the ABC. “Oxytocin makes us feel warm and nice. It makes us feel relaxed, feel positive. So psychologically we feel like we can trust a person, we feel warm towards a person and we can feel that love effect.
Cuddling releases oxytocin and promotes positive emotions. It's no surprise that affectionate touch behaviors release oxytocin, fondly known as the “cuddle hormone.” Oxytocin is a natural love hormone that helps us feel closer to our partners.
Experts also say dopamine is one of the chemicals that rises in your body when cuddling, snuggling, or hugging. Dopamine is commonly known as the “feel-good” hormone and can make people feel as though they're on a natural high.
Just lie on your side, facing away from your boyfriend, so that his chest is up against your back. Your bodies should both be in the "C" position, facing the same direction, as your boyfriend puts his arms around you. He can even rest his chin on your shoulders, bringing your faces closer together.
For girls, cuddling means reassurance from their boyfriend that they are safe and can let their guard down. Cuddling also provides happiness due to the release of the hormone oxytocin. When the girl cuddles up, there is a release of a chemical called oxytocin in the brain.
"Cuddling, especially with someone you like, gives you a sense of closeness and relaxed intimacy that's difficult to find in other activities. If you feel comfortable with the other person, it kind of just let's you relax and not have to do much physically.
There are plenty of things you can try to make it comfortable and enjoyable for you both. Put your arm around her, hold her hand, or let her lay her head on your chest. You can also caress her or give her some gentle kisses. Snuggling is a way to feel closer to the person you're with and to show affection.