How many times have you been hugged or hugged someone today? Most people believe that when we talk about physical touch we are talking about sexual interaction, on the contrary, the love language of Physical Touch does not always refer to the 3 letter word that starts with s, ends with x and has e in the middle. Sex is just one of the many aspects of the Physical Touch language.
Physical Touch is any gentle and loving touch: a hug, caress, a hand on your shoulder, a foot rub, holding hands, a kiss on the cheek, running your fingers threw someone’s hair… The examples are endless.
In the field of linguistics a single language might have five different dialects and likewise the love language of physical touch can be expressed in a variety of ways. The need to feel loved is a primary human emotional need; hence if you give your spouse their primary love language in heavy doses, the other four can just be sprinkled in.
Gary Chapman is quoted in chapter 8, page 116: “emotionally, they yearn for their spouse to reach out and touch them physically. Running the hand through the hair, giving a back rub, holding hands, embracing, sexual intercourse– all of these and other ’love touches’ are the emotional lifeline of the person whom ‘physical touch’ is the primary
When you reach out with tender touch, you create emotional closeness. This is especially true if the primary love language of your spouse is physical touch. You may say, “What if I’m just not a toucher? I didn’t grow up in a touchy-feely family.” The good news is that you can learn to speak this love language. It can begin with a pat on the back, or putting your hand on their leg as you sit together on the couch.
Perhaps you think this is a silly claim, that the absence of regular touch can have an effect on one’s emotions. However, touch and the social contact with a loved one which accompanies it are an important part of our physical and emotional health.
Gentle touch has been shown to facilitate physical and psychological functioning, particularly in terms of reducing stress, relieving pain, increasing the ability to cope, and general health ratings.
Dr Chapman relates how we instinctively hug one another in a time of crisis and the reason why we do this is because during these times, we need to feel loved more than anything. The reality is that all marriages will experience crises. Disappointments are a part of life. The most important thing you can do for your spouse in a time of crisis is to love them. Your words may mean little, but your physical touch will communicate that you care. In a time of crisis, a hug is worth more than a thousand words. Physical touch is a powerful love language.
Also read:
Love Languages – Quality Time in a Relationship – By Tondani Mukhanu
Love Languages – Words of Affirmation – By Tondani Mukhanu
Love Languages – The Gift Of Giving – By Tondani Mukhanu