The surprising benefits of self-soothing touch | BBC Global

Practicing "self-soothing touch" could have positive benefits, according to a new study.
Scientists believe the practice is effective because it can help us self-regulate using a combination of self-compassionate thinking and touch.
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[@livephysiology]

One factor that leads to stress is an overly active sympathetic nervous system, meaning the fight or flight response. This touch spoken of in the video may be able to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, meaning the rest and digest response. It's been said that sometimes this switch from one nervous system response to the other needs to be done manually, but literally stimulating one to turn off and to turn the other on.

[@RC-md2yx]

Breathing exercise do the same ( coherent breathing)

[@thecitizenjoan]

This is true I also sleep on a heated bed pad and its also very helpful for loneliness at the same time theres nothing like a hug from the man you love.

[@JamesMarshall-bc9nn]

The study as it’s presented here doesn’t show that touch in isolation was self soothing. There’s a mounting body of research showing that meditative practices, such as loving kindness meditation, have huge benefits on stress reduction. The cited study directions sound more like a meditation than a self soothing exercise based on touch.

[@TonyBullard]

Yeah, unless they left out having a control group that did not touch, I don't see how they could come to this conclusion.

[@ieltsLearnEasy]

So true. When I am stressed, I intuitively put my hand on my chest and belly and take a deep breath. While breathing, I feel all the movements under my hand. My hand acts as a healing instrument.

[@judasthepious1499]

I do this extensively every saturday night.. no wonder I feel so happy

[@bertkreft9689]

😂 thats pur wellness 👍

[@mindkindmom]

Havening is a kind of calming touch. Also, sitting in a bathtub can be soothing.

[@cuddlehaven576]

This is lovely seeing this in the mainstream news. As a Cuddle Therapist I suggest self soothing techniques like self havening to my clients as a way to feel calm and regulate their nervous system. Thank you for posting this. Kindness and compassion to all. 🥰

[@AndreaCrisp]

This is less about touch and more about doing a type of self-compassion meditation. Maybe you need the combo of both things, but I definitely don't think the touch alone would do it.

[@Godsent_Gabriel1999]

I opened the comments knowing damn well what i was going to find💀

[@WalterBurton]

I actually just came down here with a genuine comment before the penny dropped. I'm literally that innocent-minded.

[@judasthepious1499]

@@WalterBurton you need to touch yourself more then..

[@yelimsnusm7551]

eh? i don't get it

[@lavatr8322]

What happened

[@itsbonkerjojo9028]

Wtf happened . Stop with your bull©it tho

[@putridabomination]

All the people finding this video ready to discuss their expertise in self-soothing touch: now we got to solve this carpal tunnel crisis going on

[@pcdm43145]

And they said touching myself would make me go blind...

[@debarooo22]

🤣

[@bertkreft9689]

if you do it so intensely - than one can get very exhausted and tired not even able to watch tv anymore

[@davejones732]

Kill the irrupting music.

[@ParticleLarry]

NOT SOOTHING. The music reminds me of the scene on the train in Risky Business

[@freeguy3751]

I once told a lady I was dating I massaged myself. She thought dirty immediately and judged it as kinda perverse. It's a stigma that needs to be broken that touching yourself in kind ways is not dirty nor weird

[@shubhanshujain752]

Self-love is the first step to love.

[@lilbykings]

Thank you

[@EmilyBieman]

I’m still going to be continuing to save up my $80, for a physio massage 😀

[@WalterBurton]

Like 4-7-8. 👍👍👍

[@mlmmsm7829]

Muslims put both hands over chest or belly and pray, Masha Allah 5 times a day

[@ronlacker326]

Muslims also hump goats

[@trivialgravitas9581]

Too bad everything mohammad said was a lie.

[@mlmmsm7829]

Nice try kiddo. U r just a child, even the best of u can't win in an argument with an average muslim on the matter of theology

[@oldbeergangster2381]

@@mlmmsm7829yes, the good people of the religion invented by a paedophile carpet salesman. Right…

[@aceyage]

Doesn’t seem to work for them, they seem awfully tense.

[@whitepouch0904]

The comments here aren’t giving demure modest cutesy 😂

[@victorchen3245]

What's the benefit of working from home if I don't touch myself all the time?

[@sumedhhhh]

I don't need to be working from home to do that 😎

[@glassowlie]

I swear I've heard that music before... Oh wait, it's the music YOU added on your Roblox game.

[@seanwebb605]

I have a special tablet computer for my self soothing touching.

[@pmg0]

Really disappointed this wasn't about masturbation.
(I kid)

[@mister_jon_jon]

Practice this quite often in the toilet...

[@ronlacker326]

Obvious virgin.