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Touch, Pain, Anxiety, and Depression. What Do They Have in Common?
Evidence from new research
Human beings have always known that touch makes us feel better.
The sense of touch is the first of our senses to develop and it’s how we first come in contact with our environment.
Yet, what many don’t realize is that a hug, a gentle touch, or a soothing massage can do wonders for our minds and spirits.
In our technology-driven lives, we often overlook the power of the human touch and cling instead to our devices.
But imagine a mother gently holding her baby, a friend giving a reassuring pat on the back, or a loved one offering a comforting embrace.
These ordinary moments of touch can have surprising effects in reducing pain, alleviating anxiety, and combating depression.
Recent research confirms this.
In a meta-study of 137 studies with nearly 13,000 participants, researchers examined how different kinds of touch make people feel better.
They compared situations where people were touched to those where they weren’t to ascertain their impact on both physical and mental health.
They also looked at what makes a touch beneficial, like who is doing the touching…
