Support for Touch Hunger

The last year has been one hell of a ride, and everyone has endured a unique experience of challenge and suffering. 

As we emerge out of what (I hope and pray!) is the last lockdown, I want to speak into how massage therapy might be able to support you through this time, and first up is for anyone who suffers from touch hunger. 

So, what is touch hunger?

I imagine that if you like to receive touch and have spent much of the last year living alone - these words might be a no-brainer for you. 

That longing for some grounding, reassuring touch from another living, breathing human being. Someone present, to attend to an achy, over-Zoomed back. Or something soft and soothing for a frazzled nervous system - there is no truly fulfilling substitute. 

But for some, it might be a need we’re not even aware of. As our society becomes more deeply entrenched behind screens and socially distanced, we just slowly adjust to going without. It becomes *ugh* ‘the new normal’. It’s easy to forget how good touch can feel. Even in pre-pandemic times inviting casual, daily contact into our lives was wrought with issues - now it’s considered outright dangerous. Safer to just go without - perhaps a brief elbow bump at most.

But it’s a universal need we have from birth. Born into mammalian bodies, our naked skin is covered with millions of sensory receptors. Each one is connected to our central nervous system and feeding information back to our brain. Always asking; am I safe? is there a threat? And the rocking, stroking and close contact that babies find so reassuring - that never ends. 

It can be so easy to turn to numbing addictions in an attempt to soothe ourselves from the endless micro-stressors that flood our nervous system every day. As we navigate this strange time, a trusted therapist can provide you with a safe(r) environment to receive lasting support without the side effects of alcohol, junk food, losing your temper - or whatever your vice is.

It is my intention here at Brighter Day Massage to offer not just offer generic, routine massages - but to integrate a variety of approaches that are proven to support your nervous system back to a balanced, peaceful state. If this sounds like it could be of use to you - you can find more about what I do here. 

I wish you all the best as we emerge out of this latest lockdown. I hope you’re able to remember how fun life can be! 

And don’t be afraid to take it slow - I’m here if you need help with that!