Skin Hunger
Skin hunger? I promise, this has nothing to do with cannibals! When we discuss health and wellness, it’s safe to say that touch probably isn’t the first thing to come to mind. We might think of getting enough exercise, eating healthy, or working to create positive self talk about ourselves but hugs?
Well it turns out that hugs matter. A lot.
Hugs as a form of touch have been found to single handedly help the human body produce more of that “feel good” hormone, oxytocin. This in turn leads to more positive thinking and feelings of compassion (Menges, 2021). Hugs also have the power to raise your levels of dopamine and serotonin (the two neurotransmitters that help regulate both your moods and your stress levels). As if that weren’t enough, giving and receiving hugs has the added benefit of boosting your immune system and reducing your risk of developing diseases that involve the heart or blood (Menges, 2021).
A study recently conducted in the UK from January to March of 2020 revealed that about 54% of people polled felt that they had too little touch in their lives. And that was BEFORE most of the COVID-19 lockdown measures took place (Halton, 2021). Many of us are now coping with something called touch deprivation, or skin hunger, a very real condition that comes from not having enough physical contact with others. The pandemic isn’t the only thing to blame for the rise in this issue though. One article references that the increase in the use of technology, as well as fears of lawsuits involving harassment have curbed our desire and ability to make contact with others the way we used to. Despite it all, touch remains a vital part of our path to wellbeing.
Some signs that you might be suffering from touch deprivation are aggressive behavior, body image issues, high stress levels, loneliness, and fear of attachment. These can all be warning signs that we aren’t getting the safe, loving amounts of touch that we need (Mikkola, 2021).
If you think that you might be experiencing touch deprivation, there are a few things you can do to try to help until greater amounts of touch are possible. Take hot baths or showers whenever you can. The sensation of the warm water on your skin isn’t the same as a hug from another person but it does relax your muscles. Massages have a similar effect so schedule one if you can. If you have a dog or a cat, spend extra time interacting with them and cuddling together (Halton, M). Or, if you don’t have access to your own furry friend, see if a neighbor or friend will let you play with and walk their dog occasionally. Interaction with animals is known to have a calming effect on us. Lastly, plan times to call or meet up with friends or family and pour all of your attention into the interaction. It won’t make up for the lack of touch but it will leave you feeling more connected than you did before (Halton, 2021).
References:
Menges, S. (2021). The 3 biggest advantages of human touch may surprise you. PlushCare. Retrieved from https://plushcare.com/blog/advantages-of-human-touch-hugs/.
Halton, M. (2021). Humans are made to be touched - So what happens when we aren’t? TED. Retrieved from https://ideas.ted.com/we-are-made-to-be-touched-so-what-happens-when-we-arent/.
Mikkola, R. (2021). 7 signs you might be suffering from touch deprivation. Retrieved from https://www.rebekkamikkola.com/post/7-signs-you-might-be-suffering-from-touch-deprivation.
Challenges/Points:
We all need to be touched in safe, positive ways in order to maintain our sense of well being. Not being touched enough causes a condition called touch deprivation or skin hunger.
Signs of skin hunger can include aggressive behavior, struggling with body image, high stress levels, loneliness, and fear of attachment.
If you think you might be dealing with skin hunger, take hot baths or showers as often as you can, cuddle with a pet, schedule a massage for yourself, and try to bring your full awareness to any conversations or meetings with others that you have.
Questions:
How much safe, healthy touch is currently a part of your daily life?
Do you think you might be dealing with skin hunger?
What are some of the ways you can help yourself cope with skin hunger this week?
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