While we were dating, my ex introduced me to the term skin hunger, also referred to as touch starvation. Skin hunger is that desperate feeling for human contact and touch.
Humans are wired for physical connection; new parents, for example, are advised to have a lot of skin-to-skin contact with their babies to help them regulate their temperature, among other things. As adults, we still benefit from touch — it can help us reduce stress, regulate our sleep, and boost our immune systems.
Though the term was new to me, I was very familiar with the experience of skin hunger. There have been many times in my life when I've gone to a massage appointment and almost cried, realizing how long it'd been since I experienced prolonged touch. Other times, when I'm missing friends, the desire for a hug from them has been almost painful.
When my ex and I broke up and I was living on my own again, I realized just how much I missed the everyday touch that came with being in a long-term live-in relationship. I became quite skin-hungry and realized that platonic intimacy was something I desperately needed.
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Humans are wired for physical connection; new parents, for example, are advised to have a lot of skin-to-skin contact with their babies to help them regulate their temperature, among other things. As adults, we still benefit from touch — it can help us reduce stress, regulate our sleep, and boost our immune systems.
Though the term was new to me, I was very familiar with the experience of skin hunger. There have been many times in my life when I've gone to a massage appointment and almost cried, realizing how long it'd been since I experienced prolonged touch. Other times, when I'm missing friends, the desire for a hug from them has been almost painful.
When my ex and I broke up and I was living on my own again, I realized just how much I missed the everyday touch that came with being in a long-term live-in relationship. I became quite skin-hungry and realized that platonic intimacy was something I desperately needed.
My ex and I have snuggle sleepovers. They aren't sexual, and they fulfill my need for touch.
The couple broke up over a year ago but still meet up regularly to snuggle. Their relationship is platonic and not sexual.
