[glok]

“What I like more than anything is the touch of a warm hand.” ― Marty Rubin

Touching, so important to the newborn, has ramifications throughout our lives.

How Important Is Physical Contact with Your Infant? - Scientific American
The Effect of Human Contact on Newborn Babies | LIVESTRONG.COM
The Surprising Psychological Value of Human Touch | World of Psychology
The Power of Touch | Psychology Today

Growing up, the touching I received mostly was disciplinary. I learned to fear being touched. At various times during adulthood, I appreciated a loving touch. Now, touching is an inadvertence -- while getting change, for example.

Same here, aside from other things I'd rather not mention.

Yes. I am a great believer in Attachment Parenting. I "wore" my children, family bed, lots of hugs and kisses. Both kids grew up to be loving, nurturing people. Touch is SO important.

[brainhi]

I heard this story not sure where it came from...
There was experimenting going on with rabbits...what they were doing would
cause the rabbits to die eventurally. With time the scientist found that one of the rabbits was not dying like the others. Come to find out at night the janitor was holding and petting that rabbit and the rabbit was thriving....
I'm not even sure this event is based on truth - but it did stir a lot of emotions in me

[birdpumpkin]

I definitely believe in the power of touch. I've discovered lately I have some abandonment issues going on, and although my family was loving and all my physical needs were met, one thing that bothers me is that I can't recall my mom ever hugging me until after I got married and left home. I don't remember any affection from my mom at all. Or my sister. My sister was 10 years older than I was, so she was gone working, dating, out with friends... When she was home, she would be in her room with the door closed. In fact, when she left home for college the few times she tried college, I didn't feel anything. Didn't miss her at all. It was the same with her away as it was with her home. Also when she got married, though I started seeing more of her then, but there just wasn't much attachment. My dad was affectionate. He would want "big bear hugs" and squeeze me and bounce me on his knee. But I feel if the rest of my family had been affectionate to me, I'd be maybe a whole different person today. I've always had a sense of sadness in the background. People ask me why I look so sad, and I don't realize it. I've always felt different or rejected, have been shy, a loner, and just awkward around people and not good at making friends, and I think the lack of affection from my sister and mom are at the root of it.

[Lady Courtesan]

I find the touch of animals to be equally theraputic as the touch of a human. I was at the hospital today and I met the most amazing dog and his owner. He is a service dog, for PTSD, and since I foound out about them a couple of weeks ago, I really, really want one. He was a beautiful chocolate lab and the lady said she had to wait two years for him and that he cost thirty thousand dollars. Since the dogs are sponsered, it doesn't cost the person anything. I am going to sign up right away.

Animals love unconditionally and they are said to be specially good for people who have MH issues. They don't care what you look like, what your problem is, if you are too short or too tall, too thin or too fat. All they see is your heart and the love you show them.

And getting a dog is an investment in time I'm willing to make. I go for a week or even two without going out of the house. But dogs need walked and they need play and to go to the park. The need grooming and brushing, feeding and making sure they are always healthy and don't need a trip to the vet. And it doesn't make and difference if you are depressed-you still have this wonderful creature, always there to help you hand onto the world, and it's your job to take care of them.

And glok, I am very sorry you didn't get any love as a child. It does, indeed, set patterns that mark you for life. So, do you have any animals or have you thought about getting one? If you don't want to wait for a service dog, I'm sure there are many fine dogs at the pound that would be overjoyed to give you love and affection all day long.