Stress, particularly when chronic, is associated with many negative health consequences. An effective way to reduce stress and lower cortisol (the “stress hormone”) involves physical contact—be it in ...

Research shows that simple practices such as self-hugs, soothing touch, and hand-to-heart can calm the nervous system, supporting caregivers and the children in their care. As a veteran pre-K teacher ...

Scroll down for a transcription of this episode. Simple actions like consciously placing a hand on your heart or hugging yourself can lower your cortisol levels, heart rate, and help you feel less ...

Self-soothing is any relaxing practice to distract ourselves from negative thinking and help us feel better. Examples might be breathing exercises, playing uplifting music, taking up a mindfulness ...

Being able to calm yourself down is a skill all adults need. Self-soothing helps you pause before reacting, avoid impulsive decisions, and respond more thoughtfully in stressful or uncertain ...

Lisbeth continued, “I feel like I’m dying from touch starvation, y’all. I don’t get hugs. I don’t know. I feel like if I were to get the kind of hug that I f**king really want, I would crumble into ...

Spontaneous facial self-touching may be an evolutionary, self-soothing behavior that helps regulate stress, according to researchers from the University of Houston and Virginia Tech. Researchers at UH ...

Touch deprivation is a real problem. Here’s how to navigate it and protect your mental health. Touch starvation, also known as touch deprivation or “skin hunger,” refers to experiencing a chronic lack ...