That is a really good analogy. Seems to make sense to me. I have attachment/touch issues. My mom didn't allow it growing up (giving or receiving). So when people did touch me when I was older I would have this extreme reaction like my skin was burning. So I think people read that as "don't touch her, that makes her uncomfortable". Now I have come a long way. I am happily married. The touch with my wife (I am also female) and my children is normal. However, now I desperately crave motherly touch. I have opened up to some older women in my life (including my t) and I crave nurturing touch so bad. I do reiki and that fills some I those "touch needs". But it has also caused some big time maternal transference towards my reiki therapist. So far she has connected with me like I have her. But like you, if my t or my reiki t took touch away from me I would have a breakdown. I don't know how to get these needs met without being needy or I also don't want to make the person I care about uncomfortable.