| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/26/2008 7:55:24 PM | Found and interesting article about human touch. Since touch, often is part of relationships, it would be interesting to hear your thoughts. True or not true?
http://health.lifestyle.yahoo.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=4220&channel_id=9&relation_id=26814 | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/26/2008 9:20:24 PM | I am a great believer in lots of touching even early in a relationship.
I believe that touching can be very theraputic and healing. Touching can bring remarkable changes in a human being and brings health also to a person's whole being. It is also a good 'test' for how affectionate a person will be in the future. If someone enjoys touching early in the dating relationship and I am speaking primarily of non sexual touching.. then it is a good bet that affection is something that comes naturally and easily to them. | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/26/2008 10:09:26 PM | | I go to these events called cuddle and snuggle parties. They have rules. You can't get sexual or naked, but you hug and snuggle with strangers. They seem like your friends and it's a blast. I feel a natural high without substances afterward. | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/26/2008 11:16:00 PM | There's fairly recent research in neural plasticity that shows that touch increases the number of neural connections in the brain. The effect was as large or larger in young mammals as being in an enriched environment or other factors that are known to have that effect. The effect was so pervasive it even worked on the fetuses of pregnant mothers who were stroked every day.
Therefore, there's a decent probability that touch can actually help make you smarter.
And sometimes, when I think about the importance of touch to human health, and also how much it has meant to me, I feel intensely sad for the elderly that are alone and that may never again feel the caress of someone that cares for them.
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/26/2008 11:23:42 PM | Human touch is something that I crave.
I suspect that is why I am a random hugger. I give hugs sincerely, but I know I get so much out of a hug that I give. The warmth and the breath of someone next to me gives me energy.
Human touch is essential for us to feel alive. Hospital maternity wards have 'Cuddlers' come in to hold, cuddle and rock the new babies.
damnit.... now I need to be held...and I am alone... | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 12:20:11 AM | I've noticed a fairly interesting (to me anyway) phenomenon ... when I was younger and had a "pickle up my butt" as an excessively independent person, I tended to avoid touch. As I matured and grew more comfortable in my own skin, and thus could drop the defenses masquerading as independence, I found myself reaching out to people more, touching more and enjoying being touched.
Now I crave skin-to-skin contact and am highly tactile. Who knew? | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 3:05:42 AM | The warmth of touch washes over me and surrounds me in a comforting joy.
Luckily I have a very cuddly son and whenever either of us feels low it's a big hug that cures the sadness.
I do miss the touch of man hands and strong arms around me. Mmmm. nice. | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 3:10:53 AM | When I divorced, I missed the human touch, even if he was a jerk. I attended a divorce care group and at the end we would all get in a circle and hold hands and have a prayer. We all commented on how much we missed the human touch. I have a male friend and we tease about people having booty calls--why not have cuddle calls! | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 3:56:26 AM | | I am sure that many of us has had a friend ask for a hug or in visible need of one...I had a friend from out of town visiting with me after a bad separation...she asked just to be held. We just embraced for an hour, her sobbing occasionally with few words spoken. This brought us very close emotionally. Later she thanked me and said that was exactly what she needed,..no conversation...no bad mouthing her ex...no solutions to the problem...just some time to be embraced and know that she was cared about. I learned alot about women from this friend and it is I who am grateful for to her. | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 3:56:29 AM | I think its incredibly important, and one of the most underrated of the human senses.
Having been a massage therapist aswell i know the effect it can have on healing and health in general.
Loving, friendly or healing touch released endorphins and boots the immune system. That's most evident in infant death when they die of 'failure to thrive' syndrome.
I don't think there is any downside to touch really (unless it comes from an old man in a trenchcoat for example.) lol
For me, one of my favourite things is hug and be hugged...its comforting, nurturing, warming, releases feel good vibes, and is just plain lush! Any touch, as long as its not unwanted, can only do you good.
If only i could get more hugs.... aaaaaahhh..... | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 4:01:49 AM |
And sometimes, when I think about the importance of touch to human health, and also how much it has meant to me, I feel intensely sad for the elderly that are alone and that may never again feel the caress of someone that cares for them.
People who crave the touch of another human are said to be suffering from "skin hunger". As noted above, this commonly happens with the elderly. It also is seen in chronic long term and terminal patients. Often, family and friends are reluctant to touch the patient for fear of possibly hurting them in their debilitated condition when in fact, a caring touch relieves stress and comforts the loved one.
Interestingly, in both nursing homes and hospitals, it is adults who are reluctant to initiate any contact. Small children lack those inhibitions and are freely generous with their physical affection.... which makes it all the more sad for those poor souls who have few, if any young visitors.
I am reminded of a patient I had many years ago who was suffering a horrible disfigurement of his face due to an infection that just went wildly out of control. He became depressed because a number of staff who came to his bedside could not disguise the revulsion in their eyes when they saw his face. This distressed him so much that he asked his attending nurse for a facecloth large enough to cover his entire face so that he would no longer have to suffer the hurt of seeing people's reaction to him. There were strict orders that the facecloth not be removed unless absolutely necessary for treatment purposes. Whenever I went into that patient's room, I took my time, lingering with small talk and using liberal doses of touch and hand holding to reassure him that someone cared.
It really is sad that something like touch which costs nothing to give is so begrudgingly given (if at all) to those whose "prettiness" faded decades ago or who, through no fault of their own, have suffered disfiguring indignities. | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 4:03:19 AM | | We have had cuddle calls. We are not sexually attracted to each other, but adore each other as friends. Just snuggled up on the sofa watching a movie and a hug when it is over can really warm you. Women crave to be held and I bet most men would be willing to hold a woman on occasion, even if it did not lead to sex. | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 4:10:21 AM | Being a very tactile person it is very important to me.A touch can speak volumes.It can say 'i,m sorry',or 'i love you' or show appreciation.The list is endless.It can also create a bond,like a mother with a newborn baby for instance.Damn!Now you made me all broody and i,m wayyyyyyyy too old for babies! Big hugs | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 4:27:06 AM | Like Misty, I am also very tactile. I love the feeling of someone's touch and I love to kiss, if only for the feeling of sharing the nice feeling that it brings to each other.
I think that communicating through touch is just as important, or even more important, than words. Touch allows us to be caring without speaking. It reinforces and helps to establish the bond we feel with each other and conveys affection, love and encouragment. I think it also speaks volumes of love without ever saying a word.
Sometimes it's simply the touch that has the magic..... | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 5:17:49 AM | I used to work in a home for Autistic Adults. The first thing we all did when we got to "work" was greet everyone and give a hug. I know this sounds funny but it taught appropriate behavior to our residents and gave them much needed human contact that the autistic resist. It also made dealing with workplace conflicts a lot easier. How do you remain angry at a co worker you hug, ask how they are doing and know right off the bat if they are having a "bad" day? Since I worked there I have realized that it was always the best part of the day when you had that moment to touch base with everyone. I think all jobs should start that way. lol ah but this is real world..
Arpeggia2 | |
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| Skin-to-skin contact and the benefit of human touch
Posted: 2/27/2008 5:21:24 AM | I am one of those people that others seem comfortable/safe enough around to confide in. In the past, I felt helpless other than to be a sympathetic ear when somebody reveals a glimpse of the darker side of life.
However, I have found the following to be comforting and, ultimately a means to help.
I'm sorry to hear that...That must be difficult. I can't change anything, but I have a spare hug to share if you would like it.
I have yet to be turned down, and while it may not solve any problems, it requires little effort, costs nothing, is readily available, is non threatening, one size fits all and leaves giver and receiver feeling better. | |
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