### What is Touch Starvation? Touch starvation, also known as touch deprivation or skin hunger, occurs when a person doesn't receive enough physical touch. This can happen due to social distancing, living alone, or being in environments like orphanages or hospitals where physical contact is limited. ### Why is Touch Important? Human touch is crucial for emotional and social bonding. When you experience pleasant touch, like a hug, your brain releases oxytocin, a hormone that makes you feel good and reduces anxiety and fear. Touch also helps regulate sleep, digestion, and the immune system. ### Effects of Touch Starvation Lack of physical touch can lead to stress, anxiety, and depression. Your body produces cortisol in response to stress, which can increase heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension. This can negatively impact your immune and digestive systems, worsen sleep quality, and increase the risk of infections. Long-term touch starvation may even trigger PTSD. ### How to Cope with Touch Starvation - **Video Chat:** While not a replacement for physical touch, video calls allow visual interaction and can ease some symptoms of touch starvation. - **Online Exercise:** Participating in online yoga or workout classes can create a social environment, making you feel less lonely. - **Singing and Dancing:** These activities can boost oxytocin levels even without physical interaction. - **Interacting with Pets:** Playing with pets can help you relax and ease some symptoms of touch starvation, as it is a form of interaction.