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gl l"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh gm gn go gp"></div></div><article class="meteredContent"><div class="l"><div class="l"><span class="l"></span><section><div><div class="ge gv gw gx gy gz"></div><div><div class="speechify-ignore l"><div class="ha l"></div><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh gm gn go gp"><div class="cq ab hb"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><div class="hc q hd gr he hb ao"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16px" height="16px" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 64 64"><path fill="#FFC017" d="m39.637 40.831-5.771 15.871a1.99 1.99 0 0 1-3.732 0l-5.771-15.87a2.02 2.02 0 0 0-1.194-1.195L7.298 33.866a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 0-3.732l15.87-5.771a2.02 2.02 0 0 0 1.195-1.194l5.771-15.871a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 3.732 0l5.771 15.87a2.02 2.02 0 0 0 1.194 1.195l15.871 5.771a1.99 1.99 0 0 1 0 3.732l-15.87 5.771a2.02 2.02 0 0 0-1.195 1.194"></path></svg><p class="hf b bg z dw">Member-only story</p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="hg hh hi hj hk"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh gm gn go gp"><div><h1 id="e94d" class="pw-post-title hl hm hn hf b ho hp hq hr hs ht hu hv hw hx hy hz ia ib ic id ie fq" data-testid="storyTitle">Skin Hunger And The Failure to Thrive</h1></div><div><h2 id="6ee5" class="pw-subtitle-paragraph if hm hn hf b ig ih ii ij ik il im in io ip iq ir is it iu cq dw">The tragic repercussions of being denied loving touch</h2><div><div class="speechify-ignore ab cp"><div class="speechify-ignore bh l"><div class="iv iw ix iy iz ab"><div><div class="ab ja"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><a rel="noopener follow" href="/@sheriheller?source=post_page---byline--19c9e3ff4799---------------------------------------"><div class="l jb jc by jd je"><div class="l fv"><img alt="Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW" class="l fj by dd de gg" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:88:88/1*KPqRFu-T5awhi7m9L40T9g@2x.jpeg" width="44" height="44" loading="lazy" data-testid="authorPhoto"/><div class="jf by l dd de ge n jg gf"></div></div></div></a></div></div><div class="jh ab fv"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><a href="https://medium.com/invisible-illness?source=post_page---byline--19c9e3ff4799---------------------------------------" rel="noopener follow"><div class="l ji jj by jd jk"><div class="l fv"><img alt="Invisible Illness" class="l fj by br jl gg" src="https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:48:48/1*KCdWeLHgIFfw5gv7fX97Eg.jpeg" width="24" height="24" loading="lazy" data-testid="publicationPhoto"/><div class="jf by l br jl ge n jg gf"></div></div></div></a></div></div></div></div></div><div class="bn bh l"><div class="ab"><div style="flex:1"><span class="hf b bg z fq"><div class="jm ab q"><div class="ab q jn"><div class="ab q"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><p class="hf b jo jp fq"><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap dy dz jq" data-testid="authorName" rel="noopener follow" href="/@sheriheller?source=post_page---byline--19c9e3ff4799---------------------------------------">Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW</a></p></div></div></div><div class="jr js l"><div class="ab jt"><div class="ab"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="16" height="16" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 16 16"><path fill="#437AFF" d="M15.163 8c0 .65-.459 1.144-.863 1.575-.232.244-.471.5-.563.719s-.086.543-.092.875c-.006.606-.018 1.3-.49 1.781-.47.481-1.15.494-1.744.5-.324.006-.655.013-.857.094s-.465.337-.704.575c-.422.412-.906.881-1.542.881-.637 0-1.12-.469-1.543-.881-.239-.238-.49-.482-.704-.575-.214-.094-.532-.088-.857-.094-.593-.006-1.273-.019-1.744-.5s-.484-1.175-.49-1.781c-.006-.332-.012-.669-.092-.875-.08-.207-.33-.475-.563-.719-.404-.431-.863-.925-.863-1.575s.46-1.144.863-1.575c.233-.244.472-.5.563-.719.092-.219.086-.544.092-.875.006-.606.019-1.3.49-1.781s1.15-.494 1.744-.5c.325-.006.655-.012.857-.094.202-.081.465-.337.704-.575C7.188 1.47 7.671 1 8.308 1s1.12.469 1.542.881c.239.238.49.481.704.575s.533.088.857.094c.594.006 1.273.019 1.745.5.47.481.483 1.175.49 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https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1100/0*SbRYCigQl2-V8Kq1 1100w, https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:2000/0*SbRYCigQl2-V8Kq1 2000w" sizes="(min-resolution: 4dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 4) and (max-width: 700px) 50vw, (min-resolution: 3dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 67vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 3) and (max-width: 700px) 65vw, (min-resolution: 2.5dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2.5) and (max-width: 700px) 80vw, (min-resolution: 2dppx) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, (-webkit-min-device-pixel-ratio: 2) and (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 1000px"/><img alt="" class="bh nb oo dt" width="1000" height="667" loading="eager" role="presentation"/></picture></div></div><figcaption class="op fl oq oa ob or os hf b bg z dw">Photo by <a class="af ot" href="https://unsplash.com/@thomascpark?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Thomas Park</a> on <a class="af ot" href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh gm gn go gp"><p id="0e51" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ou ov hn hf b ig ow ox oy ij oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi pj pk pl pm pn po hg fq pp"><span class="l pq pr ps bo pt pu pv pw px fv">I</span>t’s common knowledge that children require consistent exposure to many kinds of novel sensory stimulation and experiences in order to adequately respond to the environment and develop into healthy human beings. This includes <a class="af ot" href="https://www.brighthorizons.com/resources/Article/Caring-Touch-Is-Critical-to-Thriving" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">caring touch</a>. In fact, r<a class="af ot" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3287094/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">esearch</a> in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), substantiate the importance of consistent touch, revealing that <a class="af ot" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6956667/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">premature infants</a> who receive regular skin-to-skin contact, also known as <a class="af ot" href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/12578-kangaroo-care" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">kangaroo care</a>, have better physical and emotional outcomes. Additionally, <a class="af ot" href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9309640/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">studies indicate</a> that infant massage correlates with a significant increase with weight gain and physical growth.</p><p id="a4b8" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ou ov hn hf b ig ow ox oy ij oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi pj pk pl pm pn po hg fq">However, for those who are afflicted with <a class="af ot" rel="noopener" href="/p/a12b700661a7">complex trauma</a>, s<a class="af ot" href="https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/skin-hunger/" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">kin hunger</a> (aka touch starvation), a deep need for physical touch and human contact, is a condition endured throughout youth and well into adulthood. Considering that skin hunger often stems from early-life neglect or abuse where nurturing, healthy touch was absent or inconsistent, as a complex trauma clinician of over three decades, addressing this tragic emotional and sensory deficit is a priority in trauma-informed treatment.</p><p id="be03" class="pw-post-body-paragraph ou ov hn hf b ig ow ox oy ij oz pa pb pc pd pe pf pg ph pi pj pk pl pm pn po hg fq">Given that physical contact is the foundation for forming a secure attachment with a caregiver and that touch lowers cortisol, a stress…</p></div></div></div></div></section></div></div></article></div><div class="l"></div><footer class="py pz qa qb qc ab q qd jk dt"><div class="l ae"><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh gm gn go gp"><div class="ab cp qe"><div class="ab q lw"><div class="qf l"><span class="l qg qh qi e d"><div class="ab q lw lx"><div class="pw-multi-vote-icon fv kf ly lz ma"><span><a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap dy dz ea eb" 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Survivor turned thriver, with a love for world travel, the arts and nature. I think outside the box. <a class="af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap dy dz ot hh" href="http://Sheritherapist.com" rel="noopener ugc nofollow">Sheritherapist.com</a></p></div></div></div><div class="h k"><div class="ab"><span><button class="bf b bg z sa sb sc sd se sf sg fb fc sh si sj fg fh fi fj bm fk fl">Follow</button></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div class="sl sm sn so sp l"><div class="sq bh du qm"></div><div class="ab cb"><div class="ci bh gm gn go gp"><div class="ab q cp"><h2 class="hf rl sr ii ss st il su sv sw sx sy sz ta tb tc td fq">Responses (25)</h2><div class="ab te"><div><div class="bm" aria-hidden="false"><a class="tf tg" href="https://policy.medium.com/medium-rules-30e5502c4eb4?source=post_page---post_responses--19c9e3ff4799---------------------------------------" rel="noopener follow" target="_blank"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="25" height="25" viewBox="0 0 25 25"><path fill-rule="evenodd" d="M11.987 5.036a.754.754 0 0 1 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