| Have you ever held your partner's hand and | | | | into men and start relationships, they can |
| felt a tingling sensation through every cell | | | | then associate hugs with weakness, and may |
| in your body? Ever yearned for a hug from | | | | show a lack of affection to their partners. |
| your partner, more than anything else in the | | | | |
| world? Is it an essential part of | | | | Humans not only thrive on touch, but |
| relationships? | | | | relationships do too. Some women in |
| | | | relationships complain that their partner |
| Humans thrive on touch. Research has shown | | | | only initiates physical contact as a |
| that for humans and animals, a lack of | | | | precursor to sex. And yet many women crave |
| physical contact can lead to emotional | | | | physical intimacy so much that they sometimes |
| disturbances, reduced sexual interest and | | | | agree to have sex simply to fulfil this |
| even a weakened immune system. Studies have | | | | desire for warmth and closeness.But there is |
| shown that infants deprived of skin contact | | | | a lot to be said for touch for touch's sake. |
| lose weight and can become ill. Online dating | | | | Listen up men: Try lightly brushing your |
| site Partner4real found that touch was as | | | | partner's arm or gently squeezing her hand as |
| important in some relationships as sex, | | | | you walk past her. And if you fancy something |
| conversation & commitment."Touch is as | | | | a little more intimate, author Valerie Ann |
| important as breathing," explains researcher | | | | Worwood suggests that a 10 to 15 minute |
| Tiffany Field. Without it, children do not | | | | massage from your partner a few times a week |
| grow and develop."Sensory deprivation makes | | | | can work wonders in relationships. |
| people depressed and immune-compromised, and | | | | |
| gives them emotional pain and physical | | | | If you are looking for a new partner or |
| damage," she says. | | | | starting anew relationship, think about how |
| | | | important this aspect of any relationship |
| We all crave our partner's touch but it can | | | | might be and how you communicate this, |
| be difficult for some men to admit they need | | | | whether verbally, through your online dating |
| it. From a young age, many boys are | | | | profile or just by letting actions speak |
| discouraged to go running to their mother for | | | | louder than words. |
| comfort when things get tough. When they grow | | | | |