Christopher Lee wrote an article for December 28, 2006 issue of the San Francisco Chronicle titled Holding Husband’s Hand Can Relieve Stress. Here are some excerpt’s from that article:
Research published in this month’s edition of the journal Psychological Science found that women facing a stressful event experienced less anxiety when they held their husbands’ hands.
I quit navigating when I’m holding my hubby’s hand and walking. I just mosey along and look all over while he is pulling me out of harm’s way. “Didn’t you see that car!?” Maybe they should have checked if the husband’s stress level goes up while he’s holding the woman’s hand.
The article goes on to explain how they used a MRI to scan the woman’s brains [sounds stressful to me already] while they experienced mild electric shocks.
“Holding any hand at all calms regions of the brain that are responsible for the body’s physical stress response,” said neuroscientist James A. Coan of the University of Virginia, the study’s lead author. “But only the spousal hand affected regions of the brain that are responsible for worrying.
That could partly explain why I had to hold my husband’s hand during each Labor & Delivery. Sometimes both hands!
Check out this next quote. Do you think it’s true even with kids that bring all their sick germs home?
Married people are, on average, healthier and happier than unmarried people, researchers have found. And those in the happiest marriages tend to have lower risks of infection and faster recovery from injury than people in less blissful unions.
On the serious side, God knows what he is doing. His way is always best. Physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Those of you reading this that aren’t married yet… Cheer up! It does say that holding any hand is calming. God’s will is best in His time.
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That’s so cool! I agree with your assessment that the husband’s stress level probably rises when holding hands. I totally leave everything to him when I’m holding Joseph’s hand. Great post.
I have been married for almost 23 years (April 2008 will be 23 years) and after all of these years… My darling husband still holds my hand! He opens all the doors for me, carries my bags etc. He is a true gentlemen! Thanks for an excellent blog!