From infants to the elderly, all humans have a biological need for physical contact.
These physical connections can range from a short handshake to a long embrace. No matter what, they are important. Physical touch releases the chemical oxytocin, which is known as the bonding hormone. This can stimulate positive emotions and result in the release of other hormones such as serotonin and dopamine. Not only does physical touch stimulate the release of these positive hormones, but it can also suppress hormones like norepinephrine and cortisol, which are responsible for stress.
Physical touch releases good chemicals while subduing the bad.
What does the lack of physical touch do to someone? It can result in a multitude of things. Increased levels of stress, risk of depression, and loneliness are potential outcomes. Without physical touch, many feel disconnected from loved ones and society itself. For me personally, being touch starved means experiencing an overwhelming sense of loneliness. No matter where I am, I feel a constant sense of discomfort. I have experienced this ever since I was young, but for many, this is just another dilemma that 2020 has presented.
With a pandemic that requires social distancing, being touch starved is one of the hidden side affects.
Quarantine has unfortunately ripped away physical contact from people worldwide. Greeting friends with hugs, embracing family, and laying with your significant other are all things that people are lacking. Even the absence of a handshake with co-workers can add to this feeling of touch starvation. I know the one thing that I miss the most is being able to hug my friends without worrying about social distancing.
Social distancing creates a new public stress that I never imagined.
Especially living and working around an elderly community, I find myself constantly worried about being too close to people, for the sake of their own health and safety. This is a sort of ironic feeling, seeing that I am often craving a hug. These are all things so many of us are experiencing and, most definitely, were not anticipating at the beginning of the year. As if being touch starved wasn't hard enough, COVID has added a level of guilt to these feelings. In this pandemic it is vital that we social distance and wear masks, even around loved ones. That being said, our loved ones are the people we want that connection of physical closeness the most.
However, there are ways to battle these lonely feelings.
Practice communication during these times. Video calls with family and friends that you can't see in person can stimulate the social aspects of meeting in person. For personal coping, taking a long, hot bath or wrapping yourself up in clean blankets can mimic the comfort a hug may provide. Of course, these aren't the same as physical contact, but they are ways to help mange those touched starved feelings throughout this pandemic. These are difficult times, but even holding our own hands can make the difference between living through this and simply surviving it.
Stay safe and focus on self care when you need it.
