Touch is a powerful force. It is truly fundamental for communication, bonding, and health. More simply, it is required for anyone to thrive. In today’s society, not everyone is getting the proper amount of touch they need to be the best they can be.
Our bodies are wired to connect with others on a basic physical level. To deny or have a lack of touch is depriving ourselves of life’s greatest joys and deepest comforts. Here are some tell tale signs if you are touch deprived:
● Feelings of depression
● Anxiety
● Increase in Stress Levels
● Low Relationship Satisfaction
● Difficulty Sleeping
The healing effects of touch can help with mental and physical ailments. A few of proven benefits of touch are:
● Improves Mood ● Reduces Stress ● Increase in Circulation ● Releases Endorphins ● Strengthens Immune System ● Reduces Pain ● Boosts Confidence
Sadly, our sense of touch and closeness has definitely been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Many are understandably afraid to get close to others, and this lack of human contact may have some negative effects on us. It will be interesting to see how our physical interactions will change when this is all over. Now, more than ever before, it is important to incorporate some regular ‘me time’ in your routine to get some needed touch. Some ways to simulate touch on your own would be to take long and hot showers or baths, wrapping yourself in blankets, or cuddling up with a pet. Massage therapy has typically been one of the best ways for people to get their dose of touch. Massage has been proven to help relieve pain, speed recovery from injury or surgery, and reduce stress. What many perceive to be a treat, is actually a necessity for the body. Right now, getting a massage is not accessible for health safety reasons. However, certain massages can be practiced at home with a partner. So, grab a friend, spouse, child or parent, and perform these simple and fun massage techniques on each other, with Dana Durand’s Couples Massage tutorial:
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