Need A Hug? You Bet You Do!

Hugs release stress fast.  If no one is around to give you a hug and self hugging is not working, grab a stuffed animal. Hugging something soft and cuddly resembles a person or an animal and has the same stress busting effect as the real deal.  When a family member was in the hospital and things were not looking good, I pulled out my old soft cuddly teddy bear and cuddled.  It did not cure the patient at the hospital but it certainly calmed me down enough to sleep peacefully.