Reaching Out

It has been said; A human being requires at least eleven hugs a day to feel complete! I have no idea whether that figure is correct or not, but I do know that a baby can not survive with out human touch. A child that is denied this basic need, is more likely to grow up to be an ax-murder, than a well balanced member of society. Our need for the human touch, is as natural a need as air, food, and water. After all God has made us to be touchy-feely people.

Human touch has the power to heal the heart, soul and body. In fact, before aspirin, heating pads, and whirlpools, humans treated their sore bodies the old fashion way: by human touch. When a farmer twisted his knees, he would rub it with liniment. When a princess developed a headache, there was always someone available to rub her temples until the pain went away. Touching our body where it hurts is basic instinct, like running from danger, or eating when you are hungry.

If you have every treated yourself to a message, you know how relaxing it can be. A message offers many benefits , including:

* Reducing muscle tension
* Stimulates and soothes the nervous system
* Enhances skin condition
* Improves blood circulation
* Enhances digestive and intestinal function
* Increases mobility in joints
* Relief of chronic pain
* Reduces swelling and inflammation

Besides the physical aspect of the human touch can bring, it is can also help heal and harmonize the human soul. As well as calming our minds of the worries of the day. But more to the point, when you reach out and touch another person , or open yourself up to their touch by another person to give you a hug, or show you compassion, emotional healing always follows.

Struggling with a chronic illness, and pain that has been a reality all my life. Experiencing human compassion, has not been something that has been easy for me to obtain. Even my own mother was less than compassionate about my illness as a child. Her first words to be was, once she got tired of doctors and their misconception concerning what was wrong with my stomach was; “ Learn to deal with it and stop complaining.” By example I learned to deal with my pain and illness, by silently accepting it and put on the mantle of a strong and self-sufficient women. And in doing so, I failed to learn how to build lasting relationships with others. Or the blessing that would be mine if I only allowed someone to reach out to be in my darkest hour.

Learning to be more open and honest about myself and my pain is a new experience for me. But in the process of learning how to open my heart and reach out to others with my need for advice, understanding, and compassion. I have gain a lot of insight into my own heart, and with in it I found that I to had an ability to reach out an touch others with my own compassion , understanding, and wisdom obtained by dealing with a chronic illness all my life.

If during you darkest moments, you find yourself sitting in a corner feeling sorry for yourself, or feeling over whelmed by fear, and loneliness, you are only doing yourself harm, by not sharing your pain with another. You are allowing another person to help you and to learn themselves from the experience. The same experience that you will learn, when you reach out and touch another person that is in pain. In the process of receiving compassion and giving it out, you will learn to deal with the emotional aspects of your illness with far more patients and compassion for yourself.


Yes, human touch can be very healing! But only if you are willing to reach out and open your heart.

Barbara Engle member of Digestive System Disorder Support Network
http://digestivesystemdisorder.ning.com/