Sixty-two-year-old Michael Stern of New York City has struggled with anxiety and depression for most of his life, but he didn’t seek help for the mental illness until 16 years ago when, after getting divorced for the second time, he saw a therapist. “I was always judging myself and judging others. I was going from highs to lows,” Stern told Fox News.

Stern felt unable to face his feelings and deal with life’s challenges, so he sought comfort in alcohol, marijuana, and multiple sexual partners to help ease the pain — all of which only left him feeling emptier inside.

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Therapy, antidepressants, Kabbalah and yoga all helped, but it wasn’t until eight months ago that he learned about Cuddlist, a professional cuddling service, that everything changed.

“You learn the freedom of the expression of this tenderness and kindness and communication and love because there are boundaries,” he explained. “I feel paradisiacal and endorphins get released and it’s healing.”

How physical touch affects our happiness. Research clearly shows that holding hands, hugging and sexual intimacy make us feel happy thanks to the feel-good hormones oxytocin and serotonin that are released. When we’re close to others, the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol also decrease, an effect that promotes feelings of calmness and safety.

“We’re wired to be gregarious, bonded creatures. So the more tactile sensation there is in our world, the better we feel,” Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist in Santa Rosa, California, told Fox News.

Related: Most Surprising Ways to Heal from Illness

Co-founder of Cuddlist Adam Lippin told Fox News that the idea for the company sprang from conversations with professionals in the wellness industry, who said that sometimes their clients need a hug.

“If we could create a space for platonic, intimate, non-sexual, therapeutic touch to happen, there are a lot of people who could benefit from it,” Lippin said.

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Studies suggest our hormones encourage human connection. According to a 2013 study in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, oxytocin may promote the “tend and befriend” response to help people reach out to others for support after a stressful event and, in turn, help people with depression cope more effectively.

“I believe that through cuddling, through this interaction — this experience of two people connecting on a very real level — that takes you to a different level of consciousness where if there are any issues in your life, you have an option to begin the process of working them out,” Lippin said. (go to page 2 to continue reading)[lz_pagination]