Anointedtoday.blogspot.com: Touch Since the Pandemic

When the Pandemic first occurred it changed some of the ways that people related to each. Touching, hugging, and kissing were limited because it was not known how deadly the virus was and there was no vaccine available at the time. Some of your valuable senses were involved with this virus. Touch was and is so important.

Did You Know?

When the COVID-19 Pandemic occurred touching others physically was limited unless you were already living in that household. Touch I believe is something that we may have taken for granted. For those that love to hug relatives or friends that changed too because you could give someone the virus and not even know it.

1. How Important is Touching?

You may ask, “ Is touching importance?” Did you know that being touched boosts your mental and physical wellness? Dignityhealth.org., talks about it. They further add that touching causes your brain to release oxytocin which is a neurochemical that makes you feel happier and lessen stressed, it can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, lessen depression and anxiety, boost your immune system, and even relieve pain.

I believe that since the Pandemic people even though vaccinated are not app to hug and touch others that are not related to them. Sometimes when meeting new people some may tend to do a “fist bump” ( a gesture in which two people tap each other’s clenched fist), as oppose to actual handshaking. I believe caution still exits and the Pandemic is not completely gone.

2. Is COVID-19 Still a Pandemic?

Presently COVID-19 cases are still happening widely, according to bu.edu. They further add that in December 2023, the WHO reported 1.2 million COVID cases and 9,575 deaths worldwide. It is great that we now have vaccines for the Pandemic, but we need to keep it mind it has been said that COVID-19 is one of the deadliest Pandemic that the world has experienced.

3. Physical Contact with Your Infant

How important is physical contact with your infant? It has been known for a long time that skin-to-skin contact with babies is important for their development according to scienticamerican.com They further add that particularly in the newborn period, it helps calm babies: they cry less and it helps them sleep better.

4. What is the strongest of Your 5 Senses?

Do you know which of your senses is the strongest? Out of the 5 senses which are hearing, touching, sight, tasting and smelling askthescientist.com suggests that sight is the strongest sense. The reasoning they give is that humans tend to rely more on sight, rather than hearing or smell, for information about their environment. Then there is the other spectrum where I have heard blind people state their reliance on sound and smell.

I can identify with the sight sense because when I had eye surgery the doctor asked me, “How long has your eye been like this?” My reply, “I do not know. I just became aware of a problem on the highway my husband asked me to help him read the signs and I had difficulty so I closed each eye and discovered one eye had a shade seemingly pulled halfway over it.” The doctor replied, “Sometimes the other eye takes over for the weak eye.” Surgery of my eye was a very humbling experience. I could not drive for a month, I could not use my computer because my eye would hurt and I would have a headache, and their was much more. I am so glad that we were given two eyes and not just one.

I do realize that touch is important because when a love one touches you it is a great feeling. Are you aware that you can touch yourself, rubbing your arms and hands together? You can hug yourself? Yes you can, but it feels so much better when someone else is touching you.

5. Healing Power of Touching

Did you know that there are healing powers in touch? According to medical.net touch may alleviate pain, sadness, and anxiety in adults and children while increasing weight gain in babies; They further add that massage and other forms of touch have similar health advantages. Touch therapies can help regulate serum cortisol, increase body weight in neonates, and reduce pain, depression, and anxiety in adults.

6. Touch Starvation

Have you ever heard of touch starvation? When touch starvation occurs you do not get as much physical touch as you are used to. You may crave contact but can’t interact with others for some reason according to webmd.com. They further suggests that you can fight touch starvation by video chatting, online exercise, singing and dancing, and interacting with pets.

7. Are You Touch Deprived?

Could it be that you are touch deprived? Have you ever really thought about this? Healthline.com talks about this. They mentioned that during the COVID-19 pandemic there were those that experienced a declined in sensual touching, such as holding hands, back scratching, and foot rubbing, too. They further added that scientists have found that a system of nerve fibers, called C-tactile afferents, exists to recognize any form of gentle touch, and according to a 2017 study the ideal touching speed is about 3 centimeters per second. I would say that is pretty fast.

Since this generation seemingly is very computer oriented, I would believe that touch is very vital to them. In older generations the children would go out to play, but in this generation they seemingly prefer to sit at the computer and play games. They can even play games live with their friends whom may be miles away or just next door.

Why not examine yourself today and answer this question, “Are you touched deprived?”

Source:

Facts About Touch: How Human Contact Affects Your Health and Relationships

Is COVID-19 Still a Pandemic?

How Important Is Physical Contact?

Making Sense of Your 5 Senses

The healing power of touch

Touch Starvation: What to Know

What Does It Mean to be Touched Starved?

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