Aversion To Intimate Touch

[Angel_090]

I don't think I've ever really thought about it, but recently I've realized that I can't stand to be touched. Now, I can do the customary hug and professional handshake. I can more easily touch people, like I can give someone a big bear hug and everything is fine. But it is when someone touches me for a longer period of time or in certain places that I get uneasy.

I first realized when I would keep getting away from some of the hugs my mom would give me. If I get uncomfortable by something my mom does then it's a no go with everyone else. She would give me a big hug and put her face on my neck and I'd pull away. Another instance was when my uncle gave my a hug for Christmas (everyone was hugging everyone) and he left his hand on my side for too long because he was distracted and I pulled away. I think the more intimate the touch is, the more uncomfortable I get.

I've never been in a romantic relationship, granted I'm not that old (still in college). Also, I'm not used to interacting with people. I'm not sure if one has caused the other or they are two completely different thing. I haven't brought any of this up with my therapist (the aversion to intimate touch thing). I think it would just be an awkward conversation and I don't think I can talk to him about sexual things.

 

[mrsps]

Hi Angel

How you feel about touch is not uncommon!
Therapists are used to hearing this sort of stuff so I hope one day you will feel comfortable bringing it up with your T as I think it will help you to be able to talk about it with him.

 

[Beachlife09]

Ha, if this is an "odd thing" for PTSD sufferers, then flashbacks and nightmares must be too! :hilarious: You're most definitely not alone in not liking to be touched (especially intimately).

 

[ihateusernames]

<-- Hates being touched by most people. I do fine within a romantic sort of relationship, but everybody else needs to keep their hands off. I bear through hugging family members and stuff, but I would prefer not to and when there's an opportunity to be skipped when they're going around I always take it. I also have a larger than normal area of personal space and find myself backing and scooting away from people a lot. I'm not entirely sure what the source of this is or when it started.

Don't worry, there's no way your therapist is going to find this strange. If they've been seeing clients any amount of time they've heard far stranger.

 

[anonymous]

Many people of all walks of life hate to be touched.

 

[PlainJane]

I don't do well with it either. I do the exact same thing. I also have never been in a romantic relationship, I know this will be a problem. So I don't even bother. I'm anti social. I can be friendly, but I don't allow any closeness, at all. I plan on telling my therapist about it at our next session, I'm not looking forward to it. I have talked myself out of it and back into it several times. I hope you talk to your therapist about it.

 

[jaccat]

I don't even let people get close to me let alone touch me. Just yesterday someone got too close while talking to me and I found myself leaning backwards as if I couldn't see them well. Hugs freak me out.