Are You Touch-Deprived? The Mental Health Benefits of Human Touch Through Massage

We live in a hyperconnected world. American lives are spent constantly texting, emailing, scrolling. But in all this digital contact, many of us are missing something vital: human touch.

Whether you live alone, work from home, or are simply feeling emotionally disconnected, you might be experiencing something known as touch deprivation. And the effects can be deeper than you think.

At Intention Wellness at SUN Therapy in Riverhead, NY, I often see clients who come in for muscle pain or stress—but leave feeling surprisingly emotionally nourished. That’s because therapeutic touch through massage doesn’t just relax the body, it heals the nervous system and reconnects you to yourself and the world around you.

What Is Touch Deprivation?

Touch deprivation (sometimes called skin hunger) occurs when a person doesn’t get enough physical contact. This can happen during periods of isolation, illness, loss, or simply in our modern lives that lack regular, caring touch.

Research shows that lack of touch can lead to:

• Increased anxiety and depression

• Weakened immune response

• Higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol

• Feelings of loneliness and emotional disconnection

• Poorer sleep and increased fatigue

It’s not about needing romantic affection. It’s about needing comforting, intentional, nonsexual touch, which is a core human need from birth to old age.

Why Massage Is the Ultimate Healing Touch

Massage therapy is a safe, structured, and therapeutic way to receive the benefits of touch in a professional setting. At Intention Wellness, every session is about more than just muscles, it's about helping you feel seen, safe, and supported.

Key mental health benefits of therapeutic massage:

1. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

   
   

   Massage lowers cortisol while increasing feel-good hormones like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin.

2. Improves Mood and Emotional Balance

   
   

   Regular sessions help regulate the nervous system, reducing mood swings, emotional exhaustion, and burnout.

3. Creates a Sense of Safety and Belonging

   
   

   Touch activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” state), allowing your body and mind to release tension held in the tissues—often linked to trauma or emotional stress.

4. Combats Loneliness Without Words

   
   

   For many clients, especially those experiencing grief, depression, or isolation, massage provides wordless connection, one that communicates care and presence.

It’s Okay to Need Touch

If you feel like you’re “doing all the right things” and still not feeling better, you might be missing this foundational piece of healing. Massage isn’t indulgent, it’s a necessary part of human connection and emotional well-being.

At Intention Wellness at SUN Therapy, I hold space for you not just physically, but emotionally and energetically. Whether you choose a full massage, Reiki session, or a nurturing add-on like scalp or foot work, you’ll be cared for with intention and compassion.

Reconnect. Heal. Feel Again.

If you’ve been touch-deprived, stressed, or emotionally heavy, massage therapy may be exactly what you need. Come experience the warmth, safety, and healing that only human touch can offer.

Book your session today at Intention Wellness at SUN Therapy in Riverhead, NY, and let healing begin ~ one breath, one touch, one moment at a time.