TENDER LOVING CARE

No medicine for most kinds of emotional distress is as effective and potent as tender loving care - whatever that may be.

Apparently there are thousands of external causes of stress. Some are reported to be positive and others are negative.

Negative stresses are calculated as percentages of difficulty managing different situations - relative to - the death of a spouse. So the death of a spouse has a value of (100%). We get divorced (73%). Have a serious illness (53%) Lose a job (47%) Change occupation (36%) Argue with a spouse (35%) and so on.

Positive stresses are calculated upon falling in love and getting married. Which is calculated as only (50%) Reconcile after a separation (45%) Retire (45%) Have a baby (39%) Buy a house (31%) Get promoted (29%) Have an unusual success (28%) Graduate (26%) Make new friends (18%) Take a vacation (13%) etc.

The more of these major life changing situations during the last 2 years the greater the chances of physical and/or emotional illness (Holmes & Rahe, 1967)

Other researchers have found that having just one close, confiding relationship protects us from many of these stresses. However, I would love to know the positive stress value of a bloody good cuddle.

CUDDLES

Few things can equal the magical healing quality of a good cuddle. It would indeed be a most wonderful day for the entire human race if one could get free cuddles from our health service providers.

The list of emotional problems whose worse symptoms could be at least alleviated by regular cuddles would be seemingly endless. Indeed, if cuddles were made compulsory, I believe that the emotional health of our entire species would improve overnight. Stress, anxiety and depression would virtually disappear and suicide rates would plummet.

Cuddles are the cornerstone of emotional first aid.

Use them not only when they are needed by someone dear to you, but also when they are not. In terms of mental wellbeing - there really is no such thing as too many cuddles.

Having said that cuddles MUST BE mutually consented and must not be randomly inflicted on passing strangers or law enforcement officers.