Hypersensitive To Touch

[justme4]

Does anyone have this? When my PTSD is active I can't stand anything or anyone touching me because it physically hurts. I have goose bumps all the time and will startle when there is nothing there. Noises and light are also increased and I will walk around indoors with a baseball hat and sunglasses.

 

[starshine]

Yes, although for me it's more from it feeling a violation. In my case it comes from a whole bunch of cumulative traumas. It's one of the biggest triggers for a rage or panic attack for me.
I try my best to have compassion for, and hold, my sensitivity. It's an ongoing challenge.

Where does it originate for you?

 

[a3a2]

I feel like my nerves are on hyper-alert. Can't stand to be touched, and can't stand to sit or lay still, and can't fall asleep. Just started on ambien, which seems to help a lot to calm things down. If I take it just for a night or two, I am able to "come down".

 

[sigh]

I either dissociate or become hyper-aware. Either way, I need to just crawl under the covers and get some comfort and no touching. Or take a bath. Going for a walk is too invasive for me.

s.

 

[Flower]

No one can touch me for hours or days. Sometimes I would see a person coming toward me and even through I saw the hand coming to touch my shoulder, I would flinch and jump away.

I get the goosebumps too when I am freaking out. Even if I bump into something, that feeling of something touching my body... it only leaves after what seems like a long time. There is that mental impression that is hard to get rid of....

 

[a3a2]

It almost feels like there is electricity pulsing through my arms and legs. I can't sand sounds, either, but boroque (sp) music can be very soothing.

 

[PerfectEmpire]

I can't stand to be touched. It's too overwhelming.

Ever since I was a kid I couldn't stand being kissed. If someone kisses me, no matter where it is, it feels like it won't go away for days. I won't even kiss romantically. I try, for my husband, but generally all I can think about is cavity causing bacteria. People's mouths are disgusting. Interestingly, I also turn away and cover my eyes during kissing scenes in movies. It just feels gross to watch. I've felt this way since I was a little kid. I have no clue what makes me loathe kissing so much. :dontknow:

 

[Cate]

I wear a ballcap quite often as well. I usually wear it when I don't want to be noticed. I wasn't aware of wearing it all the time until people started pointing it out to me. Now they tell me that if I'm having a ballcap day they know to stay away from me. I guess I have that look on my face that says, "Stay away."

I'm okay with being touched by the people I care about but I can't be surprised by them. If they suddenly appear in front of me I jump 50 feet into the air. Everyone used to think it was funny when I did that (the jumping into the air thing) but now they know it's really, really bad for my ptsd when they sneak up on me.

I like kissing, but only with people I trust. I'll never have another kiss forced on me again as long as I live. Uuuggghh...never again!

Cate :occasion:

 

[Healing Survivor]

Perfect Empire--

I am the exact same way with kissing. I don't know what else to say except that it's almost comforting knowing someone else feels like that, too.

 

[dolphin]

Hello, I found listening to Bach very soothing. I also bought a Sound Therapy Kit which has music prepared by Tomatis [and ENT specialist] and I lsitened for 3 hours over daily over 4 months. It has helped to calm me and think clearly now - my thoughts are more organised and I hear myself laughing sometimes now. I am still working on teh sleeping patterns though. Above all I am learning slolwy to be kinder to myself. The light will shine again. I hope this is helpful and all the best.

 

[cat]

For me no touching has come from my fear of being assaulted again, its like waiting for my ex to come through every door & round every corner, even though he no longer lives in the country. I can't tolerate people touching me unless I can prepare myself for it & then its only a brief kiss & I automatically hold their arms to prevent the hugging bit! h My friends are great about it, family find it harder. A colleague grabbing my shoulder at work & causing me to have a flashback & panic attacks was what finally alerted my GP to my PTSD.

My way of dealing with it is to retreat within my clothes, I never have bare arms, shoulders, back or feet when I'm in company although I can do this when I'm alone at home now. I went on holiday recently & it was so great to have the freedom of sitting alone on the cliff tops with bare shoulders.

 

[Keenbean]

I'm not so good with touch sometimes. It depends. Sometimes I can't even deal with people being physically near me. If I am flashbacking or dissociated I can't stand to be touched and have even hit and kicked out at people who touch me. I was at a psych appointment once and I was extremely dissociated and panicky- my psych put one of his hands over my hand and his other hand on my back to try to calm me down and sort my breathing out and he came extremely close to being hit in the face. Not deliberately, obviously, it's just an instant reaction with me when I'm like that...he didn't do it again though! Nice to know it's not just me! Best wishes all, KB