self-isolation is depriving us of touch

if you’re quarantining by yourself, it’s likely been some time since you’ve had physical contact with anyone. and from what governments all over the world are saying, it may be several weeks before you can be close to another person, not to mention share a hug or a kiss.considering the evidence that physical human touch is vital to our health, the thought of literally being physically distant from others for such a long period, is almost unfathomable. the research on the benefits of touch is endless — skin-to-skin contact between parent and child is essential for growth and development in newborn infants, while for adults, touch can help you empathize with others’ emotions, even if they’re a stranger.massage therapy has also been shown to have health benefits, helping people with depression as well as those with chronic pain, while a gentle touch encourages elderly adults to eat more. and, asanyone who has ever been hugged after a stressful event can tell you, there is important emotional comfort, warmth, and strength that comes from being physically connected to another person, if only for a few seconds.but in a world where an extremely contagious virus can be spread through proximity, when hugs, handshakes and other forms of physical contact are forbidden, how can one conquer feelings of touch deprivation?

connect with loved ones online

whether it’s a facetime or skype call with your family, a zoom meeting with your colleagues, or brunch over google hangouts with your friends, technology offers alternate ways to maintain connection with others.“it’s not the same as being together in person, but it’s a lot better than nothing,” says kate mulligan, associate professor at the university of toronto’s dalla lana school of public health. “it is important to try to continue to stay in touch with loved ones because it’s vital for human life.”“i’ve heard someone say this is like the equivalent of a protein bar instead of a home-cooked meal; it’s not the same, but it will get us through,” she says.it’s especially important to to ask for help if you need it, instead of waiting for others to reach out to you first.“this is not not the time to be too proud to let people know if you’re struggling. it’s very stressful and it’s normal to feel anxious or stressed or angry or powerless,” she says. “the thing that gets you through this without long-term post-traumatic stress or depression is a good social network.”

volunteer to help strangers

volunteering is another way to fill the void that self-isolation has placed in our lives. mulligan says helping out by doing things like delivering groceries, or checking on vulnerable people who are perhaps more  isolated than you, not only helps you connect socially, but can also help you feel better about living in such uncertain times.“our research has shown that the biggest improvements in self-reported health and well-being come when you shift your perception of yourself — from being someone who’s lonely, sick, or has something going wrong — to being somebody who has something to offer,” she says. “it’s a way of trying to take control over your own situation. “for those in ontario, mulligan runs a social prescribing pilot program that connects patients during their healthcare appointments with community and social services. it’s especially designed for those who are isolated and unlikely to normally take advantage of these available programs.

reconnect with a hobby

scrolling through instagram or twitter doesn’t count. take a break from the screens and try a tactile activity that can help get you in touch with your body, she suggests, like cooking, baking, knitting, yoga, running, or even playing an instrument — anything that involves moving your body will help.“these are all things our bodies know how to do and want to do,” she says. “we know it’s good for us, but we’ve not been making time for them for a while, so this is an opportunity to carve out a bit of space for those tactile activities that use your five senses.”

get a pet

lastly, if you have the ability and home environment that allows for it, adopting a pet can help ease the sense of isolation.“pets can provide companionship, emotional connection, touch, and lots of others,” says mulligan, adding that having a cat helped her feel better during a hard time in her life.in fact, shelters across canada have reported an uptick in adoptions as more people are staying at home and take advantage of the time to welcome a new furry family member. the health benefits of pet ownership include lowering stress levels to increasing happiness and fitness. but make sure you’re also able to provide for the pet after the pandemic is over too, because like everything, this too shall pass.diana duong is an editor and writer at healthing. find her on twitter @dianaduo. dduong@postmedia.com