Now more than ever we must remember how vital it is for us to focus on our intimate relationships. By intimate I mean soul nurturing, energising, uplifting, connected relationships – the ones that leave you re-vitalised, envigorated and able to be fully You. The ones that enable you to laugh, cry, rant, share weaknessess & successes, debate & grow. Whilst the Internet has been & continues to be for some, an absolute Gift for us to conduct relationships during this period of unprecedented disonnection from others, it must not become The Norm. Yes it’s a wonderful alternative & better than nothing, and there’s one vital componant that it can never give us. That componant is Touch, physical prescence, hugging, kissing, feeling – all essential parts of us fully processing & integrating another sentient being. This processing & integation that takes place through touch & physical proximity contributes to us being fully healthy.
Being deprived of Touch has been shown to induce:-
- increased stress, depression and anxiety,
- triggers a variety of negative physiological effects by the body from releasing the hormone cortisol as a response to stress, activating the body’s primal ‘Fight, flight, freeze or appease’ response.
- Increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration and muscle tension.
- Suppression of the digestive system and immune system = an increased risk of infection.
- Sleep issues.
- Every single disease including heart attack, diabetes, hypertension, asthma & pretty much any other pathology is altered if you are more anxious, more depressed or if you have more mental health issues.
- Long term, going an extended period without positive physical touch can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. Babies have been shown to go into a rapid decline when deprived of touch.