The Power of Touch in a Relationship.
“Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language, and the last, and it always tells the truth.”
– Margaret Atwood
One of the five love languages is Touch, which is essential in most relationships. Touch is the first sensation we learn and the ultimate weapon in many happy relationships- as said by Psychology Today. It may be a strong nonverbal means of transmitting feelings. It provides a more sophisticated and nuanced perspective to how we connect with others. Touch, whether it’s a hug or a pat on the back, may convey pleasant sentiments like love and thanks. It may also be an effective means of expressing sympathy.
Touch is essential in the formation and maintenance of love relationships. Tactile bodily affection is strongly connected to overall relationship pleasure and partner satisfaction. Furthermore, more physical affection facilitates conflict settlement. Increased quantities of embracing, cuddling/holding, and kissing on the lips facilitate conflict resolution.
Touch carries a strong romantic significance. Its many applications can trigger a wide range of emotional responses from the lover. King Midas’ touch, according to Greek legend, transformed everything he touched into gold. With a physical and mental golden touch, lovers may transform their companions into joyful individuals.
According to research, women who report receiving more hugs from their relationships in the past had much lower blood pressure readings than women who do not report receiving more hugs from their boyfriends. As a result, loving physical conduct has been shown to reduce reactivity to stressful life situations.
Touch, or the hesitancy to touch, can also indicate unpleasant feelings. Consider a parent and kid holding hands when the parent squeezes their child’s hand tightly. This incident might tell the youngster that their caregiver is afraid and serve as a warning.
More personal types of contact, such as a longer hug, need safety and connection. People can easily tell when someone is uncomfortable or not open to that type of touch. When paired with talk, eye contact, and body language, touch has the ability to deepen communication.
The power of touch has the potential of:
- Managing stress.
Even if the touch is unintentional and lasts less than a second, it can reduce the physiological response to stress by lowering blood pressure and cortisol levels (the stress hormone). Reduced stress means a happier heart.
- Bringing people closer together.
Oxytocin is often described as “the cuddle chemical.” Oxytocin is released in response to desired affection. It promotes sentiments of trust and togetherness while also lowering cortisol levels (the stress hormone). Twenty seconds of loving contact (hugging, back massages, light stroking) is adequate to cause oxytocin release. It is also produced during sexual activity.
- Communicating compassion.
There are moments when there are no words, but there is touch. Touch stimulates the vagus nerve, which is closely linked to our empathetic response. The vagus nerve is a pair of nerves that runs from the brain to the stomach, passing via the heart on the way.
- Increasing happiness and closeness of personal relationships.
Physical affection between partners is priceless in a relationship. Physical affection, in addition to heightening the love sense, relieves stress and increases relationship pleasure. In one study, when couples were asked to participate in a stressful event, those who hugged for 20 seconds after holding hands for 10 minutes and watching a romantic video had significantly lower blood pressure and heart rate than those who only rested quietly for 10 minutes and 20 seconds.
- It simply makes people kinder.
When people are touched in appropriate and safe ways, they are more ready to collaborate and share resources. The touch, as is always the case, does not have to be massive. With a short touch on the back, beautiful things may be done.
Here are a few tips to increase touch in your relationship-
- When going on a walk around the neighbourhood or watching television, hold hands.
- Hold hands while looking into your partner’s eyes.
- Put your hand on your partner’s arm or leg.
- Give your partner a soothing back massage, neck massage or simply rub their feet, when they’re tired.
- Snuggle up on the sofa together and share a blanket.
- Cuddle before bed and before getting out of bed, first thing in the morning .
Touch is a language, and listening may be very connected, therapeutic, and calming. Slow down while hugging someone near to you, for example. Feel the full impact of the contact. Feel the warmth of the skin, as well as any electricity or tenderness that may or may not come from it. Rather of passing it off as something you do, let it pass as something you feel.
