Wow. This was a great read.
I experienced long stretches of isolation because of extreme health issues where there was absolutely no touch from any other people — sometimes for a month or more at a time — and it felt like my soul was starving to death. Those were extreme instances that thankfully are many years behind me, but the general absence of physical affection from men has been a constant for most of my life.
It’s definitely improved for me personally and in the social culture I’m a part of now, but I’m still affected by it. The way that men’s expression of emotions and natural needs have been so squished down culturally creates such wide-teaching ripples that impact virtually everyone. Stoked that it’s beginning to be recognized as deeply unhealthy and discussed more openly.
Thank you for writing this. So good. :)
