How the power of consensual touch can ease anxiety, pain and more
Thanks to technology we can be in touch with whoever we want, whenever we want, wherever we are. But virtual hugs don’t make up for the real thing.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, many people – particularly those living alone – went for weeks on end without any human touch at all. As they followed the strict guidelines to keep 2m apart from others, the lack of physical contact has reportedly had a serious, long-lasting effect on individuals’ mental and physical health.
Psychologists and social scientists describe it as ‘affection deprivation’ – when people want or need more affection than they actually receive. It’s also referred to as ‘skin hunger’ and ‘touch starvation’.
Physical contact is a basic human need with emotional, mental and physical benefits. After all, touch is the first sense that babies develop – starting in the womb, just eight weeks into pregnancy. The importance of skin to skin contact with baby and parent to create a bond after birth is widely recognised in cultures across the world.
The Touch Test
- 72% had a positive attitude towards touch
- 43% felt that society doesn’t allow us to touch enough
- The three most common words used to describe touch were: comforting, warm and love
How touch can heal us
A recent study led by Julian Packheiser from the Social Neuroscience lab at Ruhr University Bochum in Germany found that touch through hugging or massage significantly reduces feelings of depression and anxiety.
It can improve sleep, quicken the healing of wounds and contribute to better overall mental health outcomes, too.
The study also found that touch in one direction is better than more haphazard touch.
It’s no wonder then that massage provides so many benefits – both physical and emotional.
“We’re big believers in the power of touch – and all that it can deliver for the body and mind,” says Scarlet Amies, co-founder of London-based bodywork studio masaj.me
The science behind touch
The skin is the biggest and most sensitive organ of the body. It has millions of tiny sense receptors underneath it – the somatic sensory system. When we feel the sensation of touch on our skin, a signal is sent via these receptors through the nervous system to our brain. If the touch feels good, oxytocin – the ‘love drug’ – is released.
There is also a surge in two other ‘happy’ hormones, serotonin and dopamine. Your brain needs serotonin to make melatonin, the hormone that regulates your sleep-wake cycle.
At the same time, consensual, positive touch lowers the levels of cortisol in the body, a hormone which is released when we experience stress.
Pleasant touch prevents pain from reaching neural pathways which then blocks the process of cortical, reducing our perception of pain.
And it stimulates the vagus nerve, which is the main parasympathetic nerve. This helps the body rest and digest.
The secret behind its power to boost the body’s natural immunity is reportedly due to the fact that touch – massage, in particular – can increase the production of white blood cells, which promote growth and repair.
Of course, different parts of the body are more sensitive than others. The feet are a good example of this, which is why a foot massage can feel so satisfying!
What other impact can consensual touch have?
Massage can offer reassurance and comfort. It’s one of the reasons that we hug ourselves when we’re upset and why the sensation of a weighted blanket is recommended by many people.
Simply taking a moment to focus on the positive feelings experienced through consensual, therapeutic touch can also be wonderfully healing. How? As an act of self-care it promotes a sense of wellbeing.
Traditionally linked to more ancient healing methods, it’s no wonder that the benefits of touch are increasingly being studied in mainstream medicine. From migraine and asthma to high blood pressure, the potential for adopting touch therapy more widely to combat a number of chronic ailments is promising.
“We passionately believe that self-care is a fundamental right, not a luxury,” says MASAJ co-founder Scarlet. “Regardless of shape, size, background or identity, everybody deserves nurturing touch and compassionate care. Our doors are open to all, offering a judgement-free space where you can shed the heaviness of the world and reconnect with your truest self.”
Discover for yourself the healing power of touch
MASAJ offers the antidote to urban stress. There are currently three studios in London – Shoreditch, Marylebone and Soho – each one a sanctuary for seriously good massage. Your experience will be totally tailored to your needs. And you’ll feel held by your therapist from the moment you enter the bodywork studios.
The team at MASAJ are happy to answer any questions you might have before you book.
Email [email protected] or call 020 4511 3384.
Find out more about the various massage therapies available at masaj.me
