The need to feel close to someone is inherent to any human being, but for some, this is their default way of communicating affection. A “Physical Touch” person needs to feel cherished and secure throughout the day, so gestures like a hug, a pat on the back, or a kiss on the cheek go a long way!
People usually think about sex when they first hear about this language, but it’s essential to know that it is just one part of the picture. An individual who seeks physical touch mostly wishes to have their hand held or get a massage after a difficult day at work. For them, touching means “I am here with you and for you. You are not alone,” and saying it without any tactile comfort will be like talking to a brick wall.
So, the bottom line is that no words, gifts, or acts of service will communicate care as gestures. But what if you grew up in a severe environment and are not used to treating people like giant huggable Teddy bears? While it may be difficult initially, this love language can be learned. I recommend you talk with your significant other about physical touch that they deem appropriate in various settings because even if your partner speaks “Physical Touch,” they might sometimes feel embarrassed to be touched in public. Remember that cultural traditions and religion also play a role in how you manifest affection, so be sure to consider it.
Let’s take the following example to see how to communicate with your partner:
A couple has been married for over 15 years; the wife’s primary love language is Physical Touch, and the husband’s is Acts of Service. However, the woman is the mother of two twins and has, throughout time, shifted her need for affection to Acts of Service. While the children were small, the couple communicated exceptionally well because they spoke the same language: Acts of Service. They would complement each other by doing chores, picking the children up from school, and managing other household activities. But time flew for everybody, and the twins grew old enough to go away to college, leaving the couple alone in a big house and… with not so much to do anymore.
Two years later, their marriage had almost dissolved. Why? Because they’d forgotten how to communicate with each other. The wife returned to her primary love language, physical touch, but unfortunately, she felt she wasn’t getting affection. Thoughts like “I’m not attractive anymore,” “I’ve hadtwo2 kids, how can I be?”, “There’s so much distance between us,” or “Look at us,two2 strangers in a house…” etc. spun inside her head.
The mental images we create are often far from what reality depicts, and this case was no different. The good thing was that the couple decided to give their marriage another shot and got counsel; they identified and learned about love languages and had an epiphany: their marriage wasn’t over! They just had to try something else. Love had found a way…
Don’t let their story become yours! Take the test, find out your love language, and have an open conversation with your partner. Discover, explore, and be curious!
For those who are dating, are engaged, or married to a “Physical Touch” person, here’s a list of things you can do to get your feelings across:
- The 3 H’s- Hugs, High Fives, and Holding Hands.
- Casual touches- caress their face, rub their head, go with your fingers through their hair, a peck on the cheek, etc.
- If they like exploring the child part of them: poke, tickle.
- I am sitting Close – quite self-explanatory.
- Massages and rubs.
- Intimate gestures related to teasing, foreplay, and lastly, sex.
