[ReptileInYourHead]

Do any of you guys have a body part that does not like to be touched?

Mine is the neck, I cringe when others touch it. I still don't know why.
I'm hoping you guys can shed some light on this phenomenon.

[QueenCopper]

Not exactly touch but I absolutely hate when people whisper in my ear. I cannot stand it.

[TrailRunner14]

Touch is very personal and sensitive for me.

A nice friendly light hug is ok. Anything I don't have control of or I feel "pushed" in any way is disturbing to me.

Massages, pedicures, hugs that are too tight or prolonged is disturbing. If I initiate a prolonged hug it's ok. The only people that have that privilege are my two boys. I know there is no threat there.

My feet are off limits to anyone. I cannot stand even the thought of being tickled. That makes me violently angry. Like, it feels like I could hurt the person wanting to tickle me. That even goes for my boys.

[MtnTime2896]

Possible Trigger Warning

If my wrists are grabbed it's not just unpleasant, it sends a wave of panic and fear through my body. Then, like you, I have a sort of thing with my neck but it's not as bad as my wrists. Inner thighs are never allowed to be touched, at all, by anyone including my fiance and doctors; not even I touch that area. Certain locations on my ribs too but that's more pain induced due to old injuries.

[childofchaos831]

Pretty much touch in general is not ok for me... was just coming up the elevator to my hotel room, and there were 3 (extremely) drunk kids (I'm 33, but still, behaving like kids, get called kids)... one of them touched me at least 3 separate times in the span of get to elevator, get on elevator, get off at my floor... just wow.

[Luminar12010]

its often just one of those things, many people have similar things they do or dont like - just personal preference really

[LittleMouse78]

Even though my traumas happened quite some time ago, I jump when someone touches me, anywhere.

[ReptileInYourHead]

Are all these issues related to abuse? And can they be body part specific?

I feel uncomfortable with people touching me or even getting in my face unless I know the person and feel comfortable around them.

If I don't know or like the person and if they touch me without my consent, I typically enter survival mode and am ready to fight or run.

[Unrigged64072835]

I feel uncomfortable being touched, even by my husband.

[MtnTime2896]

Originally Posted by ReptileInYourHead

Are all these issues related to abuse? And can they be body part specific?

In my case, yes.

[ACrystalGem]

Originally Posted by ReptileInYourHead

Do any of you guys have a body part that does not like to be touched?

Mine is the neck, I cringe when others touch it. I still don't know why.
I'm hoping you guys can shed some light on this phenomenon.

I've been thinking about your question for a few days. I've never really liked my breasts. I've had them since I was 9. When my hand brushed against them in bed, they felt so soft - I got angry - "They're too easy to hurt!" I started thinking. I don't want to have to be amour plated to survive, but this really got me upset. I don't identify as a woman, despite having G-cup boobs: I identify as non-binary, but this wasn't about that.

[justxholdon]

I'm in the same boat of don't touch me at all please, or even stand too close. I physically recoil, try to make myself as small as I can, and like freeze waiting for something to happen until they back off. Even with my girlfriend.

I don't know if anyone can know for sure what these preferences are linked too. There could be a scientific reason as to why your neck is more sensitive than someone else's - something with nerves or blood flow or something - or it could be psychological.

For me, I think it relates to my current mental state. I've "learned" that I cannot successfully fight back and so the 'fight' option gets taken away automatically and I'm left with running away or freezing.

I hate it when people touch my face… makes me feel vulnerable.

[PumpkinPieHead]

I don't like it when people touch my hair.

[ReptileInYourHead]

Thanks for all your responses.
Seems like the source(s) of our touch issues are quite mysterious.
A discomfort with (fear of) intimacy, a remnant of past physical abuse, disconnection from sexual identity, feeling of vulnerability and the fear of physical harm.

Do any of you guys remember when these touch issues began?

[nicoleflynn]

i JUMP at loud noises...that is called hypervigilance.....comes from abuse.

[PumpkinPieHead]

I have hypervigilance too, nicoleflynn. I'm paranoid about quite of few silly things.

I suppose it's because whenever I let someone get to close to me they let me down… So touching me draws the line there I suppose…

[justxholdon]

I think for me it has to do a lot with boundary issues. There were a lot of people in my life who waved off 'no' and thought my retreating was 'cute'. So now all touch is suspicious and not to be trusted because I know my wants will be dismissed for someone else's. There's an illusion of safety if I'm not being touched.