Human touch, in terms of physical affection, is extremely valuable when it comes to establishing genuine connections.
A warm hug from a friend you haven’t seen in a while makes you feel more connected than ever, even though you don’t spend as much time together as you once did. A forehead kiss from your mother makes you feel like the bubbly kid you once were who dreamed big and feared nothing. A gentle pat on your shoulder from your partner can lift you up in times of distress.
The power of human touch is truly incredible.
Sadly, we often forget how important it is and neglect its significance, while, in reality, we should embrace it. Because without physical affection, our interactions often become lifeless and hollow.
But what makes human touch so powerful?
There are countless benefits of human touch. For instance, it can be an effective stress-relief method and can help boost your mood.
Picture this: You have had a crazy day at work. You couldn’t even finish your morning coffee because there was already too much work to be done when you arrived at the office. Your boss yelled at you for something another employee had messed up. Your landlord called you requesting the rent earlier this month, and you haven’t even received your monthly paycheck yet. The stress you have been put through the whole day has piled up, and you feel utterly overwhelmed.
But then, you come home to your loved one. They immediately sense you have had a hard day, so they give you a big hug. Your stress levels instantly decrease, thanks to the affectionate touch of your partner. That’s how powerful human touch is.
Moreover, physical contact also benefits your overall well-being.
Tiffany Field, Ph.D., director of the Touch Research Institute at the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, told Healthline:
“If someone [you trust] holds your hand or hugs you or gives you a back massage before you have a stressful task like giving a speech, your heart rate slows, blood pressure lowers, and your stress hormones will decrease. There’s also an increase in oxytocin, which is the love hormone that contributes to relaxation in couples.”
When we are being deprived of human touch, we experience something called “skin hunger.” As explained by Lifehack, the term refers to a state of being touch-deprived and longing for physical human contact. It can lead to both physical and mental issues, especially in people living in isolation.
Also known as “touch starvation,” this condition can make you feel stressed, anxious, or even depressed. Distressingly, it can also damage your physical health. According to WebMD, being deprived of human touch can “cause your heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and breathing rate to go up, with bad effects for your immune and digestive systems.”
Therefore, the way you can fight skin hunger is by embracing physical affection.
Human touch combines emotional and physical intimacy that makes you feel connected to the person you are interacting with on a deeper level. It promotes trustworthiness while giving you a much-desired sense of security. Most importantly, it strengthens your bond and gives you the power to move forward.
Do you think physical affection is essential? Have you ever suffered from skin hunger? Leave a comment to let us know!
