Loneliness can feel different for different people. For a lot of people, it feels like a deep sense of sadness or loss, especially when you see others that are close to each other.
Fortunately, stress-relieving activities like self care, yoga, and meditation can lower your stress levels and leave you feeling better overall.
Touch starvation can also exacerbate other mental illnesses, like depression.
If your loved ones live far away, you can still get some human interaction by video chatting or calling them on the phone. It won’t be quite the same as an in-person hangout, but it will be close!
If your lack of sleep is starting to affect your life, talk to your doctor about getting a sleep aid. Or, try using a weighted blanket to simulate the feeling of being cuddled at night.
You might also feel more fatigued throughout the day or need more rest times.
This is most common for people who experienced touch starvation early in their childhoods.
Fortunately, studies show that aggressive behavior decreases when you implement massage therapy.
If you think this might be the case for you, sit down with your partner and talk about it. You can both work to touch each other more on a daily basis. Things like holding hands, hugging each other, and giving each other massages can help you alleviate your skin hunger.
If you’re concerned about your loss of libido, talk to a doctor. Lowered libido can happen for many reasons, and your doctor may be able to help you figure out where it’s coming from.
There are other ways to cope with being touch starved, including hugging inanimate objects and taking warm showers, that don’t negatively impact your health.
