A hug is about as basic as it gets—two people, a pause, and a little warmth - but it’s quietly powerful. When we hug, our bodies release oxytocin, the bonding hormone that tells our nervous system, “You’re safe for a moment.” Cortisol, the stress hormone, drops. Heart rate and blood pressure can ease down. Shoulders relax. For a few seconds, the body steps out of “fight or flight” and back into “you’re okay.”