DISCUSSION: why lack of human touch is driving us all barmy

During the first 11 weeks of lockdown, the thing I craved was hugging my friends and family that didn’t live with me. Holding them tight, going round for a long overdue movie night and pizza. But this is still not a luxury that we can afford to have, and it is truly driving me; quote on quote; MAD. 

You ever sit down with your parents and think about the differences they had growing up? Do they ever talk to you about preferring things the way they used to be- handwritten love letters and silly polaroids, LPs/records as oppose to Spotify and Bluetooth? And why they preferred this is because of the physicality of the object. Even if this is a sub-conscious reasoning, the tangible action of holding an object gives it true purpose and provides better memory, allowing us to give more attention and structure. This is the same for human touch, although this is something that is scientifically proven to matter to all aspects of our being. 

From early development, we can see what the meaning of touch is in both our emotional and physical development. As time progresses, babies and toddlers tend to learn more about the world but giving it a full investigation; usually putting it in their mouths, and therefore covering it in slobber. Sorry to the parents out there. Later on the hands take over and children are seen to hug and touch, and mimic the social constructs and behaviours seen in adult behaviour. Yet of course, we haven’t known this forever. Psychology and brain development didn’t become a known source of education until the last 200 years, and the importance of physical touch- even later. 

But as for physical health; investigations surrounding the importance of human touch have only really happened in the last 20-30 years. Neurobiologist David Linden has a book which embodies all these ideas that we have already discussed, and also begins to focus on the physical health side also. He highlights that touch is never optional when growing up, and a child is not able to grow and develop to their full potential without; being able to touch and to be touched. As a result, unfortunate case studies have revealed significant irreversible mental and physical disorders such as;

The immune system. Fails to develop and therefore impacts heavily on the digestive system.

As children grow even more, deprivation from touch will show issues within their motor skills as well as their cognitive and emotional comprehension. 

To be stripped of our social nature has been gruelling for many of us. Humans are naturally social creatures, and even if you think you would prefer to be on your own- you will always have to rely on another human at some point in your life. 

With this in mind, I want you to take a big breath. Fill your lungs deep with oxygen and breathe out gently to the count of five. And then remember the simplicity of a human. You are one. You must be as you are reading it. And to be one with all of these complex body systems is truly beautiful. Hold onto each other a little tighter. 

Harri xx

*I do not own the rights to this image