Have you ever felt how good it would be if someone just hugged you for a while, or held your hand? We feel this feeling a lot, especially when we feel very heavy and lonely. This is really essential for our body and mind. But when for some reason you don't get the usual human touch, that is, when you don't have anyone to hug you or hold your hand, there is a strange pressure and lack that you feel in your mind and body. In medicine, we call this condition 'Touch Starvation' .
Simply put, what is touch starvation?
'Touch Starvation' is a condition that occurs when you don't get the amount of human touch you want or are used to. Even though you deeply desire touch, you are denied it due to social, family, or other reasons. Some people also call this 'Skin Hunger', which means "a hunger that you can feel on your skin."
A good example of this is the Covid pandemic that we all faced. Remember when we couldn't shake hands or hug a friend because of social distancing? When we went to visit an elderly family member, we were afraid to go near them. During that time, many of us had to experience what is called 'Touch Starvation'.
Similarly, this condition can also occur in young children in orphanages, and in elderly people in nursing homes or hospitals, because they receive very little loving touch.
Why is human touch so important to us?
Think about it, human touch is one of the main ways we connect with each other. We shake hands at work, hug loved ones, and high-five friends. All of these things strengthen the bonds between us.
Our skin is the largest organ in our body. It is this skin that sends information to the brain about good and bad touches.
When you receive a loving touch, like when you hug someone, your brain releases a hormone called oxytocin . Some people call it the 'love hormone'. This makes you feel happy and relaxed. It also reduces your fear and anxiety, and strengthens social and emotional bonds.
This process begins from the day we are born. When a baby is born, doctors tell mothers to hold their baby close all the time. This helps the baby develop healthily. We need this human connection for the rest of our lives. Even as adults, this loving touch helps us sleep well, digest food properly, strengthen our immune system, and fight off infections.
What happens to the brain and body when you lose touch?
When you don't get enough touch, a lot of changes start to happen inside your body. You can experience stress, anxiety, and sometimes depression.
In response to this stress, your body starts producing a hormone called cortisol . This is known as the 'stress hormone'. When it is produced in excess, it can have many negative effects on your body.
Let's look at the difference between these two hormones.
| Status | Hormone produced | What happens to the body and mind |
|---|---|---|
| When receiving a loving touch (e.g., hug, handshake) | Oxytocin - the "happiness hormone" |
|
| Touch Starvation | Cortisol - "stress hormone" |
These things can reduce the quality of your sleep and increase your risk of developing diseases. If you already have conditions like diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure, these mental stressors can make them worse.
In some cases, this prolonged isolation from contact can even lead to severe conditions like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) , so it's not a good idea to just give up on this.
How do we deal with this situation?
The best thing is, there are things we can do to combat the effects of this 'Touch Starvation', even when we can't physically connect with people.
1. Make a video call (Video Chat)
Although it doesn't feel like you're actually touching someone, seeing the faces of those we love, talking to them, and laughing with them can greatly reduce our loneliness and stress. So, connect with friends and family regularly, at least through video calls.
2. Participate in online exercises
Joining an online yoga class or other exercise program gives you the opportunity to join a social environment. It can reduce your loneliness and make you feel lighter.
3. Sing and dance
When you engage in activities like this, even if you're alone, your body's oxytocin levels can increase. Put on your favorite song and sing it out loud, dance a little. It will greatly improve your mood.
4. Spend time with pets
If you have a dog or cat at home, playing with them and petting them can bring you an incredible amount of comfort. Even though they are not human, that touch and connection can help you relax. Studies have even found that petting a pet increases the level of oxytocin in the owner's body.
If these things don't help you to reduce your stress, and you continue to feel anxious, lonely, or sad, please seek professional help . Talk to a trusted doctor about this. You may need counseling. It's nothing to be ashamed of.
Take-Home Message
- Touch is a basic need: Loving human touch is as essential to our bodies and minds as food and drink.
- Touch Starvation is Real: Lack of touch can lead to stress, anxiety, and even physical illness.
- The effect of hormones: Good touch produces the happy hormone (Oxytocin), while the loss of touch increases the stress hormone (Cortisol).
- Seek help: If loneliness and stress are becoming too much to bear, talk to your doctor about it. Never hesitate to seek professional help.
- Small things make a big difference: Even something as simple as petting a pet or making a video call can make a big difference in your well-being.
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