Being in a relationship has many benefits to your health, both mentally and physically. One simple benefit is having someone to hold your hand. It may seem simple but having someone to hold your hand can benefit you and your partner in a myriad of ways. From emotional relief to pain relief, holding the hand of a loved one has been shown to benefit us in many ways.

From earliest childhood we seek out touch, often through holding the hand of a sibling or parent. If you put our finger in the palm of a newborn baby, they instinctively clutch your finger in a tight grip. This instinctive need to touch and be touched does not fade when we leave childhood behind. The need for human contact continues our whole lives, and is a basic part of our genetic makeup. It is no wonder that when we are in relationships, we seek comfort in touch and hand holding.

Hand holding with a partner can cause your brain waves to sync up in some surprising ways. Studies have shown that our brain waves actually sync up with our partners when holding hands or touching in an affectionate way. Partners in the study were even able to guess the emotion their partner was feeling through touch. Touch, the need to touch and be touched, is hardwired in our brains. There is a condition called skin hunger which happens when we are not being touched by others for long periods of time. We are more prone to anxiety and depression when suffering from skin hunger.

Holding hands with your partner can have a powerful effect on your brain and how it perceives pain. Touching your partner can promote empathy and sync you up emotionally. Studies have shown that holding hands can even make physical or emotional pain more manageable. Although touch, or any other method, cannot stop pain, being able to manage or reduce it is important. Different parts of the brain are engaged when our partners touch us in a comforting way, such as hand holding. Feeling loved and recognized is a way to mitigate pain in a similar way as meditation can. Touch releases serotonin which helps us regulate feelings of discomfort and pain. While it will not make the pain go away, it can make it more tolerable and less acute for the partner.

When we hold hands with a partner, especially a tight hold that exerts pressure, it can lower our heart rate and blood pressure. This effect is especially felt when you link fingers together while holding hands and squeezing. This has been found to bring the most effect on brain waves and emotional synching in couples.

There is a definite reason we seek out touch from those we love. This can be a tool in your relationship toolbox to keep you in sync emotionally and physically. So couple up and hold hands for your health and wellbeing, as well as the health of your relationship.

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