Touch enriches our lives.

A caress from a loved one.

The feeling of a worn cotton tee shirt.

Atickly kiss from a child.

The spring ofdough being kneaded.

The soft petal of a rose.

But some people have aversions to one or more types of normally enjoyed or tolerated touch. If youfind your aversion totouch interferes with your personal life, relationships, happiness, it’s not too late to seek answers.

Tactile sensitivity isfound in both children and adults. A sensitivity to touch can be due tosensory processing disorders, emotional and mental health issues, and physical conditions.

Symptoms may include, but are not limited, to the following:

Being overlysensitive to touch and sometimes movement

Avoiding hugs and other affectionate touch–finding this kind of touch unpleasant, may even find it painful

Dislike and avoidance oftastes, smells, sounds, sights, or textures that are normally tolerated by most people within age-group and culture

May be “hyper-active” or “hypo-active”

Finds it hardto relax, calm down, de-stress

Physical awkwardness or clumsiness

Dislikes some types ofmovement such as roller-coasters

May dislike climbing stairs, hills, rises

Can find it hard to transition, especially waking up and starting the day

Poorendurance

Relationship problems

Anxiety, depression, anger management issues

Withdrawn

May use substances to relax in intimate moments or to be comfortable in groups

Whether you are an adult, adolescent or parent of a child with tactile sensitivity, getting an evaluation and exploring possible reasons for the issue is the first step towards healing.While today sensitivities are more likely to be addressed in children, if you are an adult don’t hesitateto explore your treatment options. Begin by finding the primary cause.

Is It A Sensory Processing Disorder?

If your dislike of touch is due to a sensory processing order (see the symptoms for various age groups, at the SPD Foundation) occupational therapists are trained tohelp.

If you are dealing with a child who has an aversion to touch that’s due to a sensory processing disorder, you can learn more fromoccupational therapist Miriam Manela.

Is It Due To Trauma or Abuse?

If your aversion to touch is due to an emotional issue, such as trauma, such as abuse, I recommend that you get trauma counseling with a therapist who has experience in this area. I also recommend spiritual counseling if possible. Working with an occupational therapist who has experience working with abused or traumatized clients can be an essential part of your treatment plan.

Is It Due To Mental Illness?

If you have been diagnosed with a mental illness, such as depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety, you might find some kinds of touch intolerable. I recommend working with your therapist on this issue, preferably having one or more sessions with spouse, family or friends so they can gain an understanding of what you are experiencing, and you can work together on this and other issues. Occupational therapy may also be helpful.

Is It Due To An Ongoing Physical Condition?

Some conditions, such as neuropathy, meralgia parasthetica, old injuries that appear to be healed, and other physical illnesses can also lead to an ongoing aversion to touch. Some of these conditions have to be managed (neuropathy and other nerve issues); others may be treated and “cured.”