Skin Hunger And The Failure to Thrive
The tragic repercussions of being denied loving touch
It’s common knowledge that children require consistent exposure to many kinds of novel sensory stimulation and experiences in order to adequately respond to the environment and develop into healthy human beings. This includes caring touch. In fact, research in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), substantiate the importance of consistent touch, revealing that premature infants who receive regular skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care, have better physical and emotional outcomes. Additionally, studies indicate that infant massage correlates with a significant increase with weight gain and physical growth.
However, for those who are afflicted with complex trauma, skin hunger (aka touch starvation), a deep need for physical touch and human contact, is a condition endured throughout youth and well into adulthood. Considering that skin hunger often stems from early-life neglect or abuse where nurturing, healthy touch was absent or inconsistent, as a complex trauma clinician of over three decades, addressing this tragic emotional and sensory deficit is a priority in trauma-informed treatment.
Given that physical contact is the foundation for forming a secure attachment with a caregiver and that touch lowers cortisol, a stress…
