Interesting article in The Guardian

The Guardian carried an interesting on this subject today: "Strokes and hugs are being edged out of our lives, with doctors, teachers and colleagues increasingly hesitant about social touching. Is this hypervigilance of boundaries beginning to harm our mental health?" ( https://theguardian.com/society/2018/mar/07/crisis-touch-hugging-mental-health-strokes-cuddles )

It relates that "In the UK, doctors were warned last month to avoid comforting patients with hugs lest they provoke legal action, and a government report found that foster carers were frightened to hug children in their care for the same reason" and mentions the growth in pro cuddling as well.

By the way, though, it is rather simplistic to equate (as the article does) being autistic with being touch-averse. For example, at https://ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/talk-to-others/2015-04-09/hugs-and-cuddles one can read "My Son (23 Month old), has Autism, not ofically diagnosed yet but 99.9% certain he is. The only thing that confuses me is that he is dead cuddley and loving" and from another contributor, "I work with lots of children on the autism spectrum and many of them like hugs and cuddles" ; see also wrongplanet.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=208172 and https://psychforums.com/asperger-syndrome/topic76795.html.

But on the main topic, there is clearly a growing awareness of the problem of touch deprivation.

UKGuy

I don't recall a doctor, teacher or colleague ever hugging me. So I have a feeling these people are being advised not to do what they aren't doing anyway. I can only talk from a boy's perspective. Maybe girls get more hugs than boys. A boy is more likely to get a pat on the back and some verbal approbation.

As an Adult I get hugged by parents and loved ones. As a child I don't recall much hugs from anyone.

I think children need to be hugged by their parents constantly as part a healthy self esteem.

This is a very interesting article. Thank you for sharing it.