I crave physical touch- there I've said it! It's not weird...

For a long time, I have felt this. I am convinced I am not alone. More than once I have had someone utter the words- "GOD! I just want to be held...LOL!" The 'LOL' that can be used as an escape route at the end of that remark just breaks my heart! Honestly, it particularly saddens me that society has confined us in these, so called decorated barricades of 'propriety/ appropriateness!' Isn't it ridiculous that we conform to these norms so easily just to fit in?

 

Let's face it! Most of the people we label as weirdos, a tiny part of us also envies. The free spirits are frowned upon publicly for most part (until they find their own place to belong- something I hope to find someday soon!)! However, if we are straight up real to ourselves, we would have to admit that if not envy, one would at least try and imagine what it would be like to lead a life like that. Anyway, not one proper paragraph into the post and I seem to be digressing already! GAH!

 

So! Back to topic at hand...

 

I hope I am not the only ignorant person who has just found out that this is a justified feeling- commonly addressed under the umbrella of terms: Skin hunger/ Touch starvation/ Hug deprivation. Yes! It's a legitimate thing. Although one must be aware that not everyone responds positively to being touched, it is a longing we mustn't be ashamed to talk about. The thing worse than feeling a deprivation of touch is probably feeling ashamed or fearing being judged and keeping it locked in. 

 

Should it really come to us as a surprise that touch is associated with the chemical secretion of the hormones associated with bonding and happiness? We as humans have been championing 'physical touch'- albeit without the whole scientific understanding behind it since ancient times when humans huddled together to share body warmth as they slept through the night. This definitely begs the question of why we do not want to talk about it? Why is this question taboo? I have a few theories of my own about it- probably because in our fast-track mode of life the idea of physical (platonic) touch is often confused with the need for casual sex or being an easy lay or a flirt? There may be other reasons, but these are the ones I have seen around me. As wrong as it may be to hide your need for touch, one can't deny that it may be equally contributed to the possibility of being misunderstood/ or being labelled a freak. 

 

In the world that we live in where most of us thrive on external validation and with unresolved traumas from the past, living with feelings that are considered taboo sure doesn't make life easier. They say each human has different thresholds for needs of physical touch and I am going to naively assume that people with physical touch as their love language (an issue for a possible rant in the future haha) suffer more from touch deprivation than the rest. The tough times that we live in, mental health is obviously at its adverse peak for many reasons. However, I genuinely felt that this was something that I wanted to talk about and get out of my head. 

 

As someone who goes through a feeling of touch starvation + hug deprivation every now and then. I feel that people ought to understand this topic better. I am no expert, but I hope people can understand that feeling this way can really bring you down and not being able to talk about it without feeling ashamed only makes it that much worse! Craving physical touch means simple things ranging from being patted on the arm or held hands with to being hugged by a friend. It doesn't necessarily involve sex, it’s the simple things, the little things that soothe the soul. IF you are someone that already knew this- thank you for existing and making this world a better place! IF this is something you can relate with- I want you to know you are not alone in feeling the way you do, and it is nothing to be ashamed of! IF this post is the first time you have become aware of the phenomena of touch deprivation- I hope you can be more empathetic to those around you- loved ones and all and make it easy for people to express how they feel and add light to their lives! 

 

Until next time peeps... :)

Take care and be kind!