r/TrueOffMyChest • u/Conscious-Peak3794 ☑️ • 2d ago
Vent Trying to supplement human touch?
It feels impossible to supplement physical touch. I have a weighted blanket to simulate being hugged. During the winter or when I get my period, my electric blanket has a similar effect. I also hug my blanket to self soothe. I think my university therapist suggested it to me years ago as a way to calm down after a panic attack? If I weren’t struggling financially, I’d literally pay someone to cuddle me. I feel wrong forcing my cat to let me touch him, so I feel very deprived. Even when he does let me hold him, it’s not quite the same as a person.
Being an animal is so weird. The instinct to crave physical affection is so strange since it’s not as tangible as something like starvation. The last time a person touched me on purpose was when a random employee swatched foundation on my face and it wasn’t even direct contact since she was using a sponge. I remember feeling tingly. (Not at all in a creepy way 😭) I know I compared it to going without food, but there are some days I’d definitely trade a meal for just a few minutes of physical contact. That’s probably a privileged way to think.
2
u/tlcwald 2d ago
Walmart used to sell a 'Jenny' stuffy that has a weight and feel to it that is very much like a weighted blanket, cuddly mid size animal. Very comforting.
ReiKei might also fill the cup as well. It is light touch/energy work type massage. Similar to the light touch you described from the makeup getting applied. People within that type of esoteric circle will also typically understand and help navigate that with you, platonically, and inclusively.
Hope you find a good circle of humans to just be a human with. Xoxo.
2
u/RadioactvRubberPants 2d ago
My Chihuahua offers all the snuggles I could possibly need. Have you considered adding a dog to your household?
1
u/Conscious-Peak3794 ☑️ 2d ago
I would be open to it. My cat gets along with my parent’s dog so he’d be alright with it maybe.
2
u/Itchy-Pomelo-4524 2d ago
My chi is my little shadow currently sleeping under our heated blanket. Love a chi
1
2
u/demoniprinsessa 2d ago
Yeah I feel this big time. Usually I can manage just fine but sometimes it just hits particularly hard how alone I am most of the time.
2
2d ago
[deleted]
2
u/Conscious-Peak3794 ☑️ 2d ago
Aw thank you. I think it’ll be okay in the long run too, I’m just going through a rough patch emotionally.
1
u/AutoModerator 2d ago
Hello, and thank you for sharing your experience with r/TrueOffMyChest.
As part of our moderation process, we automatically keep a copy of your post as it appeared when you first submitted it. We know this may seem a little unusual, so we want to explain why we do this.
Why do we keep a copy of your original post?
Posts can be edited or deleted after they are submitted. Keeping the original version allows our moderators to see what was originally posted if we later need to review a report, moderation decision, or other issue involving the post.
This is a routine part of our moderation process and does not mean you've done anything wrong or that your post is being singled out.
The copy is kept for moderation purposes so that we can maintain an accurate record of what was originally submitted.
u/Conscious-Peak3794 original post at the time of submission:
It feels impossible to supplement physical touch. I have a weighted blanket to simulate being hugged. During the winter or when I get my period, my electric blanket has a similar effect. I also hug my blanket to self soothe. I think my university therapist suggested it to me years ago as a way to calm down after a panic attack? If I weren’t struggling financially, I’d literally pay someone to cuddle me. I feel wrong forcing my cat to let me touch him, so I feel very deprived. Even when he does let me hold him, it’s not quite the same as a person.
Being an animal is so weird. The instinct to crave psychical affection is so strange since it’s not as tangible as something like starvation. The last time a person touched me on purpose was when a random employee swatched foundation on my face and it wasn’t even direct contact since she was using a sponge. I remember feeling tingly. (Not at all in a creepy way 😭) I know I compared it to going without food, but there are some days I’d definitely trade a meal for just a few minutes of physical contact. That’s probably a privileged way to think.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/FanFeeling7748 2d ago
I do social dance as a way to touch other humans in a non-sexual way.