Am I Touch Starved?

Do you feel overwhelmingly lonely or deprived of affection?

Do you feel depressed?

Do you experience low relationship satisfaction?

Are you anxious?

Do you have difficulty sleeping?

Are you stressed?

Do you have a tendency to avoid secure attachments?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you are touch starved. Humans are wired to be touched. Our need for physical contact remains present during the course of our lives. Being touch starved, also called being ‘skin hunger’ or ‘touch deprived’, happens when someone experiences little or no touch from other living things. The condition occurs more in countries that are becoming more and more touch averse. It may be caused by a rise in technology use, the fear that touching may be viewed as inappropriate, or cultural factors. Studies have found that missing out on regular human touch can cause some serious problems.

Based on your answers, you are displaying some signs of being touch starved. Being touch starved, also called being ‘skin hunger’ or ‘touch deprived’, happens when someone experiences little or no touch from other living things. Skin-to-skin contact is crucial for mental, emotional, and physical health. When you feel pressured or stressed, the body releases cortisol. Touch can release such stress. Besides, touch can also calm certain bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure. There are several things you can do to relieve the touch-starved feeling, such as getting yourself a massage, getting a pet or visit a cat café, visit the hairdresser, and learn to dance!

Unfortunately, you are displaying symptoms typically seen among individuals who are touch starved. Being touch starved happens when someone experiences little or no touch from other living things. There are some simple things to allow more affection into your life: go for a massage, get yourself a pet or visit a cat café, visit the hairdresser, learn to dance (for the tango for example, you need skin-to-skin contact). By learning how to dance, you will not only treat your condition, you will also learn a new skill! Relieving the touch-starved feeling in the long term is pretty easy too. For example: sit close to loved ones and greet people with a handshake or hug.