The Power of Human Connection: How Face-to-Face Conversation and Human Touch Can Help You Feel Happier and Healthier
Humans are social beings. We live together, we work together and we play together. In recent times though, working from home is more and more common and people are missing the pleasure of human connection without even realizing what is missing.
The 5 Senses Including Touch
Skin is the largest organ in our bodies. It is one of our five senses and just as we would struggle to thrive without one of our other senses, we are at a deficit when we do not use this sense. Our sense of touch helps us to experience the world around us to it’s fullest. There are many ways we may not even realize that we are using our sense of touch, such as eating food or drying off after a shower. When we take efforts to maximize our sense of touch, we live live that much more fully.
The Chemicals Connected to Touch
Touch also has a chemical reaction in the brain that changes our emotional state. Hugging and other forms on non-sexual touch causes the brain to release the hormones, oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. It also releases stress hormones, such as cortisol and norepinephrine. So what do these mean?
Oxytocin
The bonding hormone that helps to regulate emotional responses and pro-social behaviors, including trust, empathy, positive memories and positive communication.
Dopamine
The feel good hormone that plays a role in many body functions such as memory, movement, motivation, mood and attention.
Serotonin
The hormone that controls mood and is responsible for happiness. It helps to regulate the sleep/ wake cycle, it helps to think more clearly, balances mood, and controls sexual desire.
Cortisol
The primary stress hormone that during times of stress, is released so you continue to stay on high alert.
Norepinephrine
The get up and go hormone that increases alertness, arousal and attention. It can also affect the sleep-wake cycle, mood and memory.
Touch Starvation
We need human touch but when we do not get this need met, we can experience touch starvation. When we don’t get enough human touch we begin to feel stressed, anxious, or depressed. Those hormones of Cortisol and Norepinephrine are released and our bodies suffer. Touch starvation can increase heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension and reduce the effectiveness of the immune and digestive systems. In the long run this can lead to medical conditions such as diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure.
How to Increase Physical Touch
Everyone can increase their levels of physical touch, even when you do not have family close by or an intimate partner. Of course, having someone in your life you are close to makes it easier because you can hold hands, cuddle, hug and be intimate but there are other ways too that I will share below that don’t depend on someone else.
Wrap yourself in a blanket.
Wrapping yourself in a blanket gives you a warm, comforting sensation. You can even try a weighted blanket that feels like a hug.
Give yourself a massage.
Giving yourself a massage stimulates the vagus nerve and mimic human contact.
Go dancing.
There are different places you can go dancing. If you are not interested in going to a club, you can take dancing classes or join dance meet up groups.
Use a pillow.
Pillows can help feel secure and comfortable. They can mimic cuddling with another person and release oxytocin.
Play or Cuddle with Your Pet.
Cuddling or playing with a pet can help increase relaxation and reduce stress. It increases oxytocin levels and can help you feel less alone.
Physical touch is so important to us and is inherent in our human nature. Ideally we can surround ourselves with supportive friends, family and a close partner but that doesn’t always happen or isn’t there at every phase of our lives. There are things we can do though to pick ourselves back up and make sure our needs our met. I hope you can give some of these tips a try, feel more self-love and feel more connected to yourself and the world around you.
-Brittany