Papers I Wrote

Infants And Touch Deprivation

The brains of babies who are deprived of touch, experience deficits and dysfunction in the areas of cognitive, behavioral and psychological. Not only did they not receive enough touch, but they didn’t receive other stimulation, like sensory toys (lights, sounds, smells) to help with the development of their brains. Some infants died as a result of the lack of stimulation. Older children can also experience behavioral issues like ADHD, aggression, tantrums, excessive crying and on the opposite end of the spectrum, they could be too friendly, and have no fear when they were with strangers. So, the risk for abduction and wandering off was increased.

Touch deprivation also causes hormonal changes. Cortisol, the stress hormone, was elevated in touch deprived infants, compared to lowered cortisol in infants who had skin-to-skin contact with their parents. And levels of oxytocin and vasopressin, the hormones involved in love and bonding, were decreased in touch deprived infants. Because of cortisol being elevated and oxytocin and vasopressin lowered, the touch deprived infants were agitated, stressed, had interrupted sleep, lowered immune system, which is low at birth to begin with, all which affect healthy development.

Failure to thrive in infants and toddlers, is diagnosed when height and weight measurements are not in par with those of the same age. Most often it is a lack of nutrition, but lack of touch can also play a role. Babies who were touched and touched deprived were given the same amount of food to eat, but the babies who were touched deprived did not weigh as much. Shorter height, later in life, can increase the risks of heart disease and obesity. Touch deprivation can stunt physical growth, because the body goes into survival mode. Failure to thrive can also cause fatigue, excessive sleepiness, irritability, learning difficulties, behavioral issues and more.

Touch can even affect your DNA. A study showed that infants who had little contact were more distressed and had a lower epigenetic age, a measurement of DNA methylation. This is similar to failure to thrive, where their weight or height doesn’t match those of the same age. It causes poor health and development. Later in life, they may also become depressed and anxious, because of these DNA changes.

In conclusion, touch is especially important for infants, because they are just developing. They are unable to speak their needs. Lack of touch can have detrimental effects, some of which may be permanent or can cause death, in extreme cases. Skin-to-skin bonding is the best type of contact for infants. Wearing a pouch shirt can also replicate this pressure. Infant massage is another great way to implement touch.

Touch And ADHD

Touch and ADHD ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a fast growing diagnosis, especially in children, at 9.4 percent (over 6 million in the USA) compared to 2.5 percent with adults. ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder. We learned that infants who had a lack of touch, had developmental deficits and dysfunction. So, it is not hard to make a correlation between the two. But lack of touch is not the only cause or risk factor; low birth weight, premature, exposure to lead, brain injury and most commonly, because of the birth mother using alcohol and drugs while pregnant.

Symptoms of ADHD include difficulty focusing, distractibility, daydreaming, talking a lot, feeling the need to run or move body, impulse control, difficulty getting along with people, just to name a few. Right now, treatments include medication, behavioral therapy, avoiding triggers like watching too much television, playing video games that insight violence and aggression, or just playing any video games for too long a period. Food plays a big role in symptoms, as well as getting enough sleep and exercise. Being organized and setting a routine is also very helpful.

Some children and adults with ADHD have an aversion to touch, sounds, sights and smells. Like individuals with autism, anything to do with the senses, are overstimulating. And others crave the sensory stimulation. There are many different touch therapies that are showing amazing results. Touch calms down the nervous system, making them feel calm. There is also a theory that some of the acting out, ADHD or not, is from skin hunger. They often find it difficult to regular their emotions and touch, among other therapies, can help with this.

An occupational therapy research study at Temple University, showed that 95% of people with ADHD improved with their sensory intervention study. Those numbers are preliminary, but powerful! The therapist used a combination of exercises and other sensory techniques, for an hour at a time. The behavioral problems at home and in school were greatly reduced. And for those who do have sensory aversion, their avoidance and sensitivity, improved. They were able to tolerate situations that in the past would have been difficult for them.

Another small study on massage and exercise therapy, in 2003, also found decreased behaviors, such as anger and fidgeting, and improvements in sleep, mood and social functioning. The study compared the two, to see which was more beneficial. They were split up into three groups – massage therapy, exercise therapy and a control group. Exercises also included Yoga. The massage group included lymphatic drainage, Swedish massage and Craniosacral therapy. One of the benefits of this study was they were able to continue doing exercises and massage at home. The results were similar for massage and exercise, but the massage group showed better results.

If you’re looking for some alternative touch therapies, there is a trending technique, called Emotional Freedom Technique, that has also shown great results. EFT is a method of tapping the meridian points, similar to what is done in acupuncture, which has also shown positive results. Tapping helps relieve anxiety and reduces behaviors in ADHD. A child exclaimed that she did not feel the need to jump anymore! Another hands-on alternative therapy is Reiki, which is an ancient Japanese technique of relaxation and healing.

Different forms of touch have shown tremendous results in ADHD. Decide which kind of therapy is best suited for you or your child with ADHD. When used with a combination of therapies, ADHD can be improved. The power of touch can make symptoms more manageable and have long-lasting effects.

Touch Deprivation In Seniors

Seniors are the most touch deprived demographic. They often live alone, for various reasons; Spouses die or have moved to nursing homes, assisted living or memory care facilities. Children have grown and moved out, sometimes out of state. Or maybe they never had a family of their own. If they have mobility issues, whether it’s physical or lack of transportation, they may miss out on leaving their residence. All of these issues, and more, leaves them in the position of being deprived of touch.

Touch therapy for seniors can help with many things. Often times, seniors have more aches and pains as they age. Touch can relieve their pain, just as well as medication could. Touch raises oxytocin, the love hormone, and decreases cortisol, the stress hormone, which causes inflammation. Touch also lowers blood pressure, which is elevated with high levels of cortisol. Touch also boosts the immune system, which is lowered in seniors. Isolation can cause loneliness and depression, which is just as crippling as a physical affliction, and a loving touch can be a gentle reminder that they are loved.

I reached out to three seniors to get their perspectives on living alone, being elderly and whether or not they experienced touch. The first senior, 74, explained to me that she is able to get out, be social, with her church group and with her volunteering groups. Therefore, she does not feel that she is touch deprived, because of having friends in these places. That being said, it will definitely be difficult during the pandemic, because it’s instinctual for her to reach out and touch someone or hug them.

The second senior that I spoke to, 79, tearfully told me of her losing her husband to Cancer, a few years ago. And then, 6 months after, her dog and only companion after her husband’s death, passed away, also of Cancer. The eerie similarities are still difficult for her to get over. Suffering from depression and social anxiety, she does not reach out as she should. She can go for weeks on end without getting touched by anyone. Most of the touch is, like what was discussed, from her doctors. After realizing the importance of touch, as soon as the self-quarantine is over, she’ll reach out more.

Finally, the last senior I spoke to, 86, her son just died last year, so she is still grieving that loss. She received the most affection from him, as she has been divorced and living alone for so many years. Fortunately, she does have a good community that she belongs to. Immigrants who came over from Russia, years ago. They talk on the phone for hours, so despite the lack of physical touch, she still feels connected to her community. But, like everyone else, is missing receiving touch, because of the social distancing from the pandemic.

I can only imagine how seniors in nursing homes are feeling, especially since they are under lockdown and cannot see their family members and they can’t be touched. We’ve seen the photos of seniors behind windows looking out at their family members, not being able to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. And the seniors that don’t have any family members, are touch deprived to begin with. We must not forget our seniors. I hope when this is all over, we remember to reach out and touch more, especially with our seniors, being the most touch deprived demographic. Touch can help and heal so many things in their lives, in all our lives.

Illness And Disability

Touch can help with so many things when it comes to illness and disability.

My main focus is on touch and immunity. Touch boosts your immune system. I recommend people be touched daily, for the immune system. If you cannot find someone, cuddle a pillow, use a weighted blanket or give yourself a long hug, no shorter than 20 seconds! Heck! Go for 20 minutes! I suggest being held by someone or holding a pillow for 15 minutes straight, every day, or more. When you hug yourself or a pillow, think about someone you love. Your brain can’t tell the difference between that and an actual hug from a loved one. During research, the same areas of the brain lit up and released the same great feel-good chemicals; oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin.

I am speaking from experience, from my own research. I used to belong to a group of affectionate people. During the years I was with them, I only got sick twice in two years. Before I met them and after I left, I was constantly sick. It also could have been tied into loneliness and lack of social connection. So, touch and lack of social connection really impacts your immune system and health. That is why it is so important to reach out and touch/hug someone or a pillow to reap the health benefits. Especially in the times that we are living in. It is difficult not to be able to hug others, but at least we have pillows or if you are lucky, family.

In a 2002 study, 42 children with various disabilities, from asthma to Down’s syndrome, received one hour of massage, weekly, for 8 weeks. The children’s health improved, such as better sleep, bowels movements, muscle tone and joint mobility. The parents, who gave the massages, were less stressed and they were more bonded to their children. Being a parent of someone with a disability, whether physical or mental, that can be stressful, so it was beneficial to both parent and child.

A study from Virginia University, took it a step further and used brain scanning to prove how powerful touch was to married women in pain. The husbands were directed to touch the hands of their wives and there was a decrease in activity in areas of the brain that deal with danger, threat, and fear. Other research showed that touch can slow down progression of disease. Another study, at the Cleveland Clinic, is following 120 men with prostate cancer and who are receiving Reiki. But one of the most fascinating studies is at Ohio State University, where they are researching the damaging effects of stress and how they prevent cytokines, which are immune system elements, following an injury. It showed that wound healing was slowed. In a related study, if the patient had an argument with someone they love, it took the wound a day longer to heal. And it was doubled if the people were married.

These are just a few examples of countless studies on how touch impacts our health and people with disabilities.

Cultural Differences And Dysfunctions From Lack Of Touch

There is an obvious lack of touch in our society (United States and U.K.), whether it is because of inaccessibility to touch or touch aversion. As a sociologist, I understand the cultural reasons behind it. One of the big reasons for why the United States and the U.K. may have difficulty with touch, is because of a fear of being vulnerable with each other. Or perhaps it is situational, only with people we don’t have a personal bond with. If people could meet each other on the same level, that we are all human, that we are wired to connect with each other and are deserving of love, it would outweigh the awkwardness we might feel. Another reason for the touch aversion, could be negative experiences with touch.

Aside from the United States and U.K., let’s talk about other cultures and touch. Japan is the most touch averse country, when it comes to strangers. It is obvious with their way of greeting each other, with a bow. Another culture that is touch averse with strangers, for religious reasons, are Muslims. Touch between the opposite genders are not allowed, unless they are related or married. But it’s because they view touch as most sacred and necessary to preserve society! Finland, on the other hand, is the most touchable country, even with people they don’t have an emotional bond with, but if they did the touch-ability was almost off the charts! Followed closely by France.

The ramifications of not getting enough touch are numerous. Many people experience touch hunger and use food as a way to fill that emotional hunger. Others use smoking, or put their glasses stem, a pencil, pen or something else in their mouth, so they feel the pressure on their lips, like a kiss would. Sometimes there is no secondary reason for feeling irritable. How many times have you felt irritable or restless and you didn’t know why? And then when you received touch, it made those feelings go away. Some use pornography to deal with their touch hunger. A trend among teenagers is called cutting, using a sharp object to cut their skin, to escape the pain they are feeling.

There is a very disturbing and extreme movement that was formed because of the lack of touch. They’re called incels. Incels means involuntarily celibate. People who want to have a relationship, but can’t find anyone. This builds up hate and resentment in them and they end up becoming violent against the gender they wish to mate with. Some even commit murder because of it. At first I thought it was just a male movement, but there are women who are incels too. This movement is one of the most extreme dysfunctions of lack of touch.

If you are touch deprived, think about ways how this could manifest dysfunctions in your life. And then make a conscious effort to self-soothe, in healthy ways. And once the pandemic is safely over, to reach out to people and touch more. We all need healthy, safe, trusted touch to thrive in this world.

Touch And Gender

Women are definitely the more affectionate gender. Women’s sexuality is also more fluid than men. Women often reach out and touch their female friend’s shoulder or other parts of the body, give them a hug, grab or hold their hand, cuddle, etc. Women also tend to have more compassion than men do, because of being mothers, care-taking, etc. Women also smile more than men. And when it comes to oxytocin, the hormone involved in bonding, women receive higher levels of oxytocin than men. All of these variables make women more open to touch. And in several studies, when studying the frequency of touch, women were touched more often than men.

Men have more difficulty with touch. Often times, it’s harder for them to separate touch and sexuality with opposite genders. And if two men are touching each other, there’s an assumption about their sexuality. That they are homosexual. In a video, two men were talking about hugging. And the type of hugs that they give men. One of the men said, “It’s the three-pat-hug, the ‘I’m. Not. Gay.’ hug, patting once for each word.” Men can also feel like they have to be the strong, stoic ones, that they don’t touch, because touch is equated with weakness. That they don’t need comforting. The men that are aware of these assumptions and don’t agree with them, often find it difficult to find someone to give them touch, especially if they’re single.

A more serious reason why men could have trouble with touch, with the opposite gender, is the amount of sexual assaults and allegations. This is especially true in the work force. Men can be paranoid about any kind of physical contact, so as not to be falsely accused of sexual harassment. But, on the other hand, unfortunately, the more authority you have, the more you can get away with inappropriately touching female workers, which can make women less likely willing to touch another man, which leaves men, who legitimately want touch, without.

Emotions is another variable to take into consideration. A touch research study in 2010 observed several differences between touch and gender. Two strangers received touch, without being able to see each other, and they would have to interpret what emotion that person was trying to say through touch. Both genders were able to feel emotion, but when it became more specific with individual emotions, there were differences. When the touch was between two men, they couldn’t distinguish the emotion, but when one was female, they were able to recognize compassion. With anger, one of the partners had to be male and more accurately when they were both male. Shockingly, with happiness, both had to be women in order to get it right.

I have a lot of compassion for men who are touch-deprived because of gender stereotypes, especially if they believe those assumptions. Everyone is deserving of touch and deserves to reap the benefits of touch. I hope someday we can break through these barriers.

My paper was based on this video - https://youtu.be/7IIcYk6c_gE

Technology And Social Interactions

Technology is causing us to lose vital social skills. An elderly woman observed, “They don’t even say ‘Hi,’ anymore, because they’re too busy.” A lot of communication is in body language. What about the lack of eye contact, because their heads are down, looking at the phone or because they’ve become antisocial and eye contact has become something that’s awkward. The instant gratifications of technology has shortened our attention span. We’ve also lost our ability to listen, to be fully engaged and to empathize, especially if we’re constantly being interrupted my notification sounds. Technology has also taken away our courage, by means of ghosting, instead of communicating with someone that the relationship is over or they’re too scared to tell them something and too scared to reach out.

The lack of intimacy and touch is a huge implication. In countless research studies, they’ve found that people are spending more time with technology than with their partners. There’s less time talking and touching. The amount of times that partners have sex has gone down, most likely because of technology. Especially when the partner(s) bring their phones into bed or are watching television before going to sleep. And it’s not just with romantic partners, it’s also happening with family and friends. Some people have made a habit of putting phones on the restaurant table when they go out to eat. And to make it even more interesting, the first person to pick up their phone has to pay the bill!

Parents are using technology as a babysitter of sorts. Serve and return is a term for the interactions between babies and adults that build neural connections. That teaches the baby or child how to communicate, learn social skills, empathize, etc. How is this going to change the brain development, if the adult is on the phone and ignoring the baby or child? That’s a really concerning prospect to think about. Children are also staying inside more and playing on their phones, instead of going outside and getting much needed exercise, fresh air and Vitamin D with the sun.

Some people feel they don’t have the time to talk to someone, because they would rather text or email, than talk. It’s definitely quicker and easier than a phone call or face to face interaction, but misunderstandings come from the lack of tone, facial expressions, etc. Somebody makes a joke in email, but without hearing the tone of voice or seeing the laugh in someone’s eyes/face, you take what they said personally and get offended. This has especially caused many problems in the workforce. As well as many workers feeling disinterested in work on projects and work in general. What’s going to happen to teamwork at work?

And now with the pandemic, we won’t be getting back to socializing, until it’s safe, which could take a while. It could also temporarily make social interactions worse, because of fears of catching the virus from someone. We should use this time to brush up on our social skills. That being said, being in quarantine has definitely opened our eyes to how much we miss social interactions. It’s also made us more grateful for technology, so that we don’t have to be alone in all of this. We can stay connected to family, friends, co-workers and more. And technology has also given us an outlet to share our creativity with everyone. Just look at all the videos on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and more.

Communication And Touch

Thanks to technology, there are even more ways to communicate with people who have lost the ability to speak or have never been able to speak. A device, called an Augmented Alternative Communication or AAC, are boards that contain letters, words, symbols, numbers, pictures and more. I first saw it used with children with autism. More recently, I saw a television show, “Speechless,” where the lead character had cerebral palsy and was unable to speak, so he had a laser attached to his head, which he used to spell out or point at whole words. And another recent television show, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, where the lead character’s father had Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. He used a buzzer to communicate yes or no. And he also used a mouse to type out letters on a big keyboard on the computer.

But, let’s not forget about the ways to communicate without technology. As you know, we rely too much on technology. Nothing beats a pen and paper. Or a white board and marker. When I had one of my four brain surgeries, I was unable to speak, because my vocal cords had been injured during intubation. I was wheeled out of surgery and I started using sign language. I was not even aware I was doing it, because I was groggy from the anesthesia, until the nurse asked if I needed an interpreter. It was an innate response. Sign language is a beautiful, expressive language. My friends weren’t sure if I would be able to speak after surgery, so they bought me a stuffed animal with a squeaker inside, so I could squeeze once for yes, twice for no and three times for I love you. You can also communicate through blinking, once for yes and twice for no. You can communicate a lot through eye contact. The eyes can be bright for happy, tears for sadness, narrow for anger, squeezing tightly for pain and more. Or you can communicate by pointing at objects, words, people, etc.

And there are ways to communicate that involve touch. My friend who had cancer and was in hospice, squeezed her loved one’s hands, once for yes and twice for no. Another way to use touch for communication is tapping. Tapping on themselves, on parts of the body that hurt them or like squeezing, tapping once for yes and twice for no. Another way to communicate, with one sided touch, is to put your hands over your heart or in a prayer pose up, in front of your mouth or chest, for please, thank you, etc.

Speaking of touch, I read a research article about a man’s wife who had Alzheimer’s and was unable to speak. She was frustrated because she was unable to communicate. So, her husband crawled into her bed and cuddled with her for hours. Soon they noticed that she was no longer combative, because the touch had comforted her. She was calm and relaxed. The power of touch cannot be denied. This is why we are so passionate about touch therapy. It has helped so many, from infants to the elderly.

Hypersensitivity To Touch

The medical term for hypersensitivity to touch is called tactile hyperesthesia. Others call touch sensitivity, tactile defensiveness. Another touch sensitive condition is called allodynia. Even if you are touching the skin gently, it can still hurt. A lot of people who have migraines have this sensitivity. Brushing or washing their hair can be painful. So, if your clients have either of these conditions, it will important to ask what they can tolerate. Always warn them before touching them. People who experience neurological conditions can have sensitivity to touch. Children and adults with autism or ADHD often have sensitivity to touch.

Even with cases of hypersensitivity, you can use touch, not on the skin, but on clothing, sheets, head (if they can tolerate it), etc. Wearing gloves can be a way around skin sensitivity. One thing to be mindful of, is the temperature of your hands. Are they cold or warm? Often times, skin sensitivity is due to inflammation, so a cold hand can make it hurt even more. It is also similar to having a sunburn on your body and then someone slaps you on the back or wherever you have the sunburn. We have two touch systems, procritic (light touch) and epicritic (deep touch).

Some people with hypersensitivity to touch can tolerate light touch. Using your fingertips to touch is a great way to touch, because everyone has an abundance of Merkel cells in their fingertips, face and lips. It is the receptors that are involved in feeling touch, the more you have, the more you feel. You could use a feather to touch the skin, instead of skin to skin touch. Blowing on the skin can also be a source of comfort. Or gently touching a hand, shoulder, knee, thigh, etc. Rubbing may cause sensitivity due to friction.

Other people prefer more pressure, because fingertips or light touch can cause people who are sensitive to touch, to flinch, become ticklish or induce pain. Leaning up against someone can make people feel like they are supported, like leaning up against a post or wall. People with autism especially love this, because the harder the pressure is, the more comforting it is. It is called deep pressure stimulation. If you are alone, you can use weighted blankets or hug a pillow, your pet, etc.

If you are looking for ways to help reduce skin sensitivity, depending on the cause, brushing the skin with a stiff brush, which is called the Willbarger brushing protocol, can help desensitize people who are sensitive to touch. Another way is through a term called, heavy work. It involves activities where your joints and muscles, our proprioceptors, are activated. Heavy work includes pushing, pulling, carrying something, anything that creates resistance.

Touch Therapy And Terminally Ill

Touch therapy when used with the terminally ill, is probably one of the most important gifts we can give. Imagine being terminally ill, at the end of your life, and being alone. Nobody to hold your hand, give you a massage, stroke your hair, etc. Touch can ease the anxiety that is associated with dying. I can only imagine how the transition from life to death was for the Coronavirus patients in hospitals or nursing homes. Some of them were lucky enough to have nurses to comfort them, in their last minutes, but too many died alone and a lot of them tragic and fast, due to medical errors.

One research study followed touch therapy with twenty cancer patients, 10 of them who received three touch therapy and 10 that didn’t. The results showed that it improved the well-being of those who received touch therapy. Some of the symptoms that were eased were pain, anxiety, depression, nausea, etc. They experienced a feeling of deeper relaxation and peace. And their appetite and activity levels increased. But the most important find, I think, is that it also helped with shortness of breath, which can be extremely distressing, physically and emotionally, to the patient and to those witnessing it.

Another research program conducted by Allegheny Hospice, which is connected to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is focused on touch therapy and reducing the amount of drugs that is needed to be given. They are doing research in order to provide documentation to insurance companies, to cover touch therapy at their hospice. Terminally ill or not, touch therapy has been proven to reduce pain levels. When you are at the end of your life, you want the transition to be as peaceful as possible and you also want to be able to connect with your loved ones, without being asleep from the side effect of medication. Whenever someone is comforted through touch, the focus shifts from the pain to the comfort, relaxation, peace, etc.

A very touching, personal story is that of a military veteran, who was at the end of his life. He had served in two wars as a military policeman, had five children, worked as a diesel engine mechanic, and who also worked on a ranch and owned a feed store. In his later years, he suffered from Parkinson’s and dementia. The touch therapist uses gentle lymphatic massage. When she placed her hand on his head and chest, it caused him to smile, after previously looking lost and was clutching a blanket. He calls the touch therapist, ‘beautiful angel.’

As you can read, the power of touch with terminally ill patients cannot be underestimated. From symptom relief to smiles, it improves the well-being of those who are transitioning from life into death. I hope that some day all hospice facilities will have touch therapy as a required practice, instead of a luxury. And that insurance companies will cover it, so it is not just something a privileged person can afford.

Touch Therapy And Dementia

Dementia affects over 50 million people around the world and a reported 10 million cases are added to that number every year. It’s expected that number will reach 14 million by 2060. But the way things are going now, it could be significantly higher. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause. My uncle had Alzheimer’s and another uncle has dementia. Dementia symptoms include forgetfulness, attention difficulties, behavioral changes and more.

Touch therapy is extremely important, especially in the early stages of dementia. The patients are more cognizant of the confusion that they’re experiencing. Forgetting things that they once remembered. That’s an extremely scary experience. Because of these changes, the person can become depressed and anxious. Touch is comforting and can calm the person down and remind them that they’re loved. Touch therapy is also very helpful in the end stages of dementia, when they are unable to speak anymore. Not being able to communicate how you’re feeling or your needs is extremely frustrating and can bring upon a lot of anger. Some patients have PBA – PsuedoBulbar Affect, a neurological condition where you experience uncontrollable laughter or crying.

A Canadian study of 3 long term care facilities, sought touch therapy as a solution to overmedicating their dementia patients. Touch therapy was given twice a day for 5-7 minutes, between 10 and 11:30 and 3:00-4:30, which is closer to sundowning, a time when patients have an increase in symptoms. The results showed that behavioral issues were decreased with the patients who received touch therapy compared to those who received pharmacological intervention.

Another study involving 68 nursing homes, gave their dementia patients 10 minute hand massages, which also decreased their behavioral issues. As well as decreasing pain, lowered blood pressure and heart rates, reduced cortisol levels from stress relief and an improvement in overall mood. There are many ways to give touch to the elderly. As mentioned above, hand massages, rubbing lotion on their hands, feet or body, manicures and pedicures, a handshake, touching or rubbing their arm or shoulder, giving them a high five as you walk by them, hugs, massage therapy and more. Everyone has their preferred method of touching or a combination of both.

There’s a beautiful quote by Margaret Atwood that says, “Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language and the last, and it always tells the truth.” It’s the first sense to develop in the womb and at the end of life, if all the other senses fail, touch is always there. Isolation, a lack of connection, can be a factor in developing dementia. An old neighbor of mine didn’t socialize, they just stayed in the house all day long, watching television and later in life they developed dementia. Being touch deprived and lonely can make you want to isolate yourself from others, so it’s a vicious cycle.

Types Of Touch

Three Types Of Touch

Out of the seven types of touch; Positive affect, playfulness, control, ritual, hybrid (mixed), task-related, and accidental touch. The three I chose to speak about were, Positive affect – the sub-type affection, task-related – the subtype instrumental intrinsic and accidental touch.

Positive affect-Affection: I am a very affectionate person. In fact, my brand name for a lot of my artistic work is AffectionateArtist, and then add onto the end, whatever the artistic category is, like AffectionateArtistMusic, AffectionateArtistPoems, etc. Physical touch is my language of love, described by Gary Chapman in his book, “5 Languages Of Love.” Affection is how I communicate my love for others. And how I feel loved by others. I may not always have the right words come to me in a moment, but the feeling is there through the affection.

Task-related – Instrumental intrinsic: I am intrinsically motivated to touch, figuratively and physically, people’s lives. I have been using healing touch, since 2002, when I got my Masters in Reiki and animal’s lives when I got my Masters in Animal Reiki in 2008. And now I look forward to making a difference in the lives of those who are touch deprived and/or need healing through touch. Especially in memory care, nursing home, hospice, rehab, individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and more.

Accidental: Being someone who is touch deprived, before the Coronavirus and not during cold and flu season, I love accidental touch. For example, when I was sitting on the subway and someone sits next to me and touches me with their hip, shoulder, elbow, etc. as they are sitting down or when they are on their phone or reaching into their pocket. Another example is walking by someone on the street and their shoulder or hand gently touches mine. I only dislike it, if it is aggressive touch or if I feel claustrophobic with too many people around me.