[Standup2me]

I don't like to be touched by strangers.
What I mean is I don't like getting my hair cut because someone touches me, or the dentist, etc.

Am I alone in this??

[BeyondtheRainbow]

Not at all. I hate being touched although mine is because of PTSD. I avoid it as much as possible. I have the best dentist ever; I gag when they work on me very easily so they have all these things they do to help me not gag; I see the same people every time in the same rooms so everyone who works with me is very used to my gagging and issues. They do everything possible to keep me calm throughout and are really good about not making a big deal if I do stop everything for gagging. I had a long period I didn't do the dentist because it was too hard but my teeth have suffered from my meds so it's really important now that I do it so I make myself.

I also had to find a dr. I really trust and who is very good about minimizing touching me, etc. He wonders why I'm willing to drive an hour to see him and I keep telling him feeling safe with him is worth every minute of the drive.

My therapist has gotten so good at not bumping into me or touching me in any way that we can hand things off without touching at all. This takes some concentration on his part I think.

And I have long hair for various reasons, one of which is I hate getting it cut.

[Ocean Swimmer]

I used to have it worse when I was younger.
But I had a Real Estate office and had to force myself to shake hands with clients.
I had hairdresser problems too. Then I had a long term love affair with a hairdresser. He made me have my hair cut almost every night after work. He used tiny manicure scissors.
I've only had one massage in Laughlin. I hated it.

Stand up to me, I think a lot of us do not like strangers touching us. We have a bubble or comfort zone around each of us and normally we do not let others into that circle but intimate people. You are not alone in this. You can never be too careful now a days. tc

[B2008]

I actually have to tell people! They come within my space and my facial expressions get all wierd so I just put it out there. Especially men. Zero tolerance. I made myself hugged my best friends fiancé to show how much gratitude I have towards him for making her happy after all the abuse she has been through. She looked at me like I was off my rocker and asked if I felt OK!
At least we stay aware of who is in our space. In a lot of situations it can keep us safer.

No matter how small, a positive change deserves to be celebrated!

[BlackSheep79]

I deal with this as well. I have bad discs in my neck and back, and I will avoid my chiropractor until the pain is unbearable. It's just too much for me.

I don't have this problem. I crave human touch since I have been single for a few years.

[jacky8807]

Originally Posted by ValentinaVVV

I don't have this problem. I crave human touch since I have been single for a few years.

Me either. I love massages getting hair washed at salon pedicures... Ahhh feels good

[Lazarus16]

Originally Posted by jacky8807

Me either. I love massages getting hair washed at salon pedicures... Ahhh feels good

I know the feeling, I go see a chiropratist and when she massages me behind the neck or the back, it's just so relaxing.

[MiddayNap]

Oddly enough, I find people standing near me more aggravating than people touching me. If anyone does cause me to become irritated from a mere touch, it is because that person, specifically, is "dirty". Please don't misunderstand "dirty" to mean I despise the person; that is not the case. My own father and, to a lesser extent, my grandmother fall into this category of people.
Are you aware of the reasoning behind why you don't like to be touched? Is it that the sensation bothers you? Do you fear they may harm you? Is it more to do with contamination?

[gina_re]

I'm very picky who I let into my personal space. I have to know you for you to hug me and whatnot. I hate random hugs and handshakes from people I don't know. So awkward.

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by MiddayNap

Oddly enough, I find people standing near me more aggravating than people touching me. If anyone does cause me to become irritated from a mere touch, it is because that person, specifically, is "dirty". Please don't misunderstand "dirty" to mean I despise the person; that is not the case. My own father and, to a lesser extent, my grandmother fall into this category of people.
Are you aware of the reasoning behind why you don't like to be touched? Is it that the sensation bothers you? Do you fear they may harm you? Is it more to do with contamination?

I sometimes think that it is because , somehow I feel that I must protect my space. If that makes sense. I did not have a lot of privacy growing up. I wonder if that is why?

[ablankscript]

I am not a touchy feely guy normally, not for family or strangers. Like relatives go in for a kiss and I just them the cheek. I don't know the last time I hugged my dad, even when my mom was dying of cancer I had a hard time showing my emotions through physical contact and even verbally, it really made me feel like I was a spectator of the event I couldn't show or do anything that may have been comforting. I am cuddly with my son but he is only a year old so hopefully we have a good bond later. I hate going places like funerals where I am expected to shake a lot of hands, I don't know where their hand has been or of the other hands they have shaken. When I am off my meds I can have some really fun ruminating worries about what I may have contracted.

[marmaduke]

I never liked touch.
For me I think it was the lack of it as a child. I don't remember ever being hugged, cuddled or kissed by parents. Mother was cold.
I got the occasional slap.

At the same time I longed for love from mother.

I would flinch if touched. Freeze if hugged.

Not so bad now, got used to huggy stuff.
Still a little uncomfortable with it.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

[scatterbrained04]

I'm ok with touch except I hate hugged and kissed by most people. My boyfriend, son, and parents are the only ones that don't bother me. Well, it does bother me a little when my parents do.

[bbTofu]

I hate to be tickled more than a few seconds, it becomes unbearable but I cannot stop laughing so I can't say...
Accidently, I once hit a girl because she tickled me and I couldn't say anything - was a reflexive kind of thing.

Generally, I love touch.

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by bbTofu

I hate to be tickled more than a few seconds, it becomes unbearable but I cannot stop laughing so I can't say...
Accidently, I once hit a girl because she tickled me and I couldn't say anything - was a reflexive kind of thing.

Generally, I love touch.

There is a school of thought that people who tickle to that point are being socially acceptable abusive. I had a bf (professional weightlifter) who would hold me up in the air with one hand and tickle me with the other...until the day I punched him right in the nose...gosh I did not know I was that strong

[marmaduke]

Touch from my mother, father or ex husband revoltes me.
I can feel the insincerity in them. I feel their lies. Ugh.

[scatterbrained04]

Originally Posted by bbTofu

I hate to be tickled more than a few seconds, it becomes unbearable but I cannot stop laughing so I can't say...
Accidently, I once hit a girl because she tickled me and I couldn't say anything - was a reflexive kind of thing.

Generally, I love touch.

I become a b**** when tickled. I hate it.

[Lazarus16]

Originally Posted by bbTofu

I hate to be tickled more than a few seconds, it becomes unbearable but I cannot stop laughing so I can't say...
Accidently, I once hit a girl because she tickled me and I couldn't say anything - was a reflexive kind of thing.

Generally, I love touch.

You hit her?? XDD I once tickled my mother so much, she started crying and ever since, I have trouble tickling people because I get really uncomfortable.

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by Standup2me

I sometimes think that it is because , somehow I feel that I must protect my space. If that makes sense. I did not have a lot of privacy growing up. I wonder if that is why?

Hmmm....Perhaps. You, of course, would know better than anyone the cause of your emotions. Even if it takes a bit of time to find it, yourself.
Do you feel that your desire for physical distance is a desire for emotional distance as well?

Being touch is a trigger for an other to present....usually a sexual other presents. So to avoid this....no touchy.

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by MiddayNap

Hmmm....Perhaps. You, of course, would know better than anyone the cause of your emotions. Even if it takes a bit of time to find it, yourself.
Do you feel that your desire for physical distance is a desire for emotional distance as well?

I think that they manifest into each other. Almost as if together they are
circular

[Takeshi]

Originally Posted by marmaduke

I never liked touch.
For me I think it was the lack of it as a child. I don't remember ever being hugged, cuddled or kissed by parents. Mother was cold.
I got the occasional slap.

At the same time I longed for love from mother.

I would flinch if touched. Freeze if hugged.

Not so bad now, got used to huggy stuff.
Still a little uncomfortable with it.

Sent from my SM-N910F using Tapatalk

For me, this is about sums it up. Culturally speaking, we don't shake hands either. Yet, I guess I have problem with being touched by strangers than most, mostly for women but we do have massaging places, I can't imagine myself ,,,eww. Shiatu, that's another thing ppl touching..

[Standup2me]

Originally Posted by Takeshi

For me, this is about sums it up. Culturally speaking, we don't shake hands either. Yet, I guess I have problem with being touched by strangers than most, mostly for women but we do have massaging places, I can't imagine myself ,,,eww. Shiatu, that's another thing ppl touching..

Takeshi, that is really interesting. Being North American, I take having to shake hands for granted, and it dates back to time when shaking hands was done to show that you had no weapon(s) in your dominant hand (usually people are right hand dominant). So, a handshake is sort of an act of aggression.

Your culture bows. A sign of peace and respect.
I like that.