How sensitive are you physically?

[Shivers]

I was reading another thread in hot box, and saw this:

Also, since males generally have very few or no erogenous zones

and a thought occurred to me.

Just how physically sensitive is everyone here? Might be worth knowing if a lot of asexuals have little sensitivity to touch. (Or, conversely, if a lot of asexuals are hypersensitive to touch.)

I'm also going to link this to the amount that people like physical contact with other people.

For instance (possible TMI paragraph): I am hypersensitive to touch. I know from past experience that I physically twitch when people touch my ears, neck, or sides. (full body twitch) But I enjoy it (-:þ

[junie99]

High sensitivity and DONT like physical contact. Except I do love to hold hands.

[vikingo]

Sensitivity may be a function of age ... and situation ...

[Shockwave]

I'm very sensitive to touch. Whether I enjoy it or not depends on how I feel about the person touching me.

[Jesh]

I'm fairly sensitive to touch, but I'm also ticklish EVERYWHERE. It drives me nuts. And whether or not I like being touched depends on who's doing the touching. I find that if I'm not at peace with any of my friends (i.e. there's tension or we're fighting or they're just getting on my nerves) then I really don't like them touching me. In general I'd say I do love being touched, as long as I'm on good terms with the person.

[suttsteve]

I guess average sensitivity. Sometimes, I'll touch my right shoulder and it'll send an itchy, tickling sensation up my neck and to my right inner ear. I hate being touched by other people, though.

[Satori]

I'm very sensitive to touch. Whether I enjoy it or not depends on how I feel about the person touching me.

That's how I feel as well but unless I trust you your not going to be touching me unless you want me to break something on you but generally I enjoy touch from those I feel close to/trust.

[Goonie]

I have a thing called a bubble.. I don't want others coming into that bubble unless I have deemed them acceptable :lol:

[Mom]

Oh, I'm a HOPELESSLY huggy, touchy-feely type. Not in a sexual way (though men sometimes mistake it for such!) More as a way of communicating that which cannot be communicated with words!

Since I've worked with terminally ill people for years, holding a frightened hand, or stroking the shoulder of someone in desparate pain can be as therapeutical as another dose of morphine!

I'm often told that I have no concept of "personal space". Whether that is a compliment or a complaint, has to do with the other person's wish for personal space. Fortunately just about everyone I know is not in any way threatened by me!

Love,

Mom

P.S: Very small side note for you who are ticklish. Did you know that schizophrenics CANNOT be tickled??? Nor do they yawn! Strange but true trivia.

[Daimyo]

I'm very sensitive to physical contact and can say I don't like it much. I think it probably has something to do with being Aspie (I was just recently diagnosed, for whatever that's worth).

[Dargon]

I would say I'm very sensitive to physical contact. Maby not hypersensetive, but more than average, yes. And I HATE physical contact. High fives are cool, but anything beyond than, ugh. Especially massages, those are the worst.

[Cate Perfect]

I can't figure out how to answer this poll because I haven't been touched in so long I don't know if I'm sensitive or not. :?

I don't particularly care for physical contact usually, though there are certain people I just want to cuddle with. I see them and think, 'SNUGGLES!' I guess that's like the asexual version of a sexual person who sees someone they'd like to shag. Usually it's a person who strikes me as being kind.

Cate

[cait]

I put high sensitivity and don't like physical contact. This is true for the most part, but it's more that I don't know how to deal with it very well. But I am really sensitive to pain and stuff. Or like I get uncomfortable very easily. I can't wear a wrist watch for very long or anything, and I can't wear jewellery to bed unless I am insanely tired. I find it a bit of a hassle to cuddle and be touched a lot, but at the same time, I do that with my best friend and I feel less happy without it sometimes! I always long to be close to someone physically, but don't actually feel comfortable like that most of the time. I used to really really hate being touched though, and I've become more accustomed and comfortable with it, now that I have had people in my life who've shown me affection.

[Vicious Trollop]

I'm not really sure how to form this conclusion, but I can only guess I have average sensitivity to touch. I'm quite ticklish, but not as spasmodic as others I've seen. It's the thought of being tickled, or touched in any other way, that makes me physically recoil -- it's a mental instinct, and not a tactile one.

I guess I'm averagely sensitive and don't like being touched.

[Cate Perfect]

I'm quite ticklish, but not as spasmodic as others I've seen. It's the thought of being tickled, or touched in any other way, that makes me physically recoil -- it's a mental instinct, and not a tactile one.

I'm ticklish, as well, and I don't like it. I think it's the lose of control I don't like.

Cate

[Hexpiral]

I voted for average sensitivity, but just because I don't know how I stand compared to others. I like physical contact.

[Shivers]

Fascinating; apparently generally speaking, we (at least THINK) we have higher than average sensitivity.

Huh.

Woulda thought it'd be the other way.

[Vicious Trollop]

I think if you know you don't like being touched, you might think you're highly sensitive to touch.

[Shivers]

Good point. Hadnt thought of that.

[Vagus]

ummmm

would have to go with very sensitive (and cant stand it)

(maybe going off topic a little here, but it's evidence to support above staitment)

having accupuncture can be a laugh for people watching me cus the accupucturist usually has to give up on the head/neck/shoulders massage cus i twitch too much and instincively try to get away

its a shame cus it really sorts out my headaches for a few days, he eventually taught me how to do manipulate the pressure points myself and he sticks with the needles.

[The_L]

"High sensitivity and DONT like physical contact"

Yeah, that's the one. I am definately very sensitive to touch, and I get very crossfrustrated if people touch me. This has lead to many incidents where people walk by me and poke me just to get a reaction...very annoying!

[fig]

The frantic gyratings most seem to like I find as much enjoyment in as I would a clack to the head with a baseball bat. Conversely, what I like is so slow and easy most gals don't think I could be enjoying myself. I can spoon up and take all night, and if sleep happens somewhere in there, so what?

[AmoebicMe]

I put highly sensitive and like being touched. Well, I like being touched by people I know relatively well. And, like Cate, I have the "SNUGGLES!" response to certain people I see. I think that it's funny.

But yes. Highly sensitive, and am possibly a cuddle-whore. In by "possibly" you mean "definately."

[Jael L]

I have a weird dissonance between experiencing pain or discomfort and being able to identify the source of it eg. I can tell that my left foot hurts but can't locate which part without looking and finding the cut or blister. I am excruciatingly sensitive to touch, noise, flashing lights, being jolted etc. Someone tapping on a table or clicking a ball-point pen repeatedly actually causes nausea, as does any repetitive movement viewed in the periphery.

Any physical contact devoid of emotional content is unpleasant, for instance accidentally brushing someone's hand when strap-hanging in a bus - but I enjoy being hugged by friends.

When asked by doctors to rate pain on a scale of 1-10 I'm completely at a loss, how do other people manage this?

Does anyone use their body as an emotional barometer? All my life I've experienced the world in terms of pain - not necessarily in a bad way. For example when I think about a close friend for whom I feel affection I experience pain in my upper sternum, when I think about someone with whom I'm in love I feel pain in the solar plexus. It's akin to experiencing different musical pitches in different parts of the body.

[KAGU143]

I had to think on this one for a while.

I don't think I'm overly sensitive to physical sensations, but I certainly NOTICE them. I just dont respond all that much. I'm very good at tuning out physical pain, which comes in handy since I have a fair amount of neck and back damage, as well as a lot of little "owies" inherent in my job and lifestyle.

As for liking physical contact ... it depends on a lot of things.

What KIND of physical contact, for how long a period, and with whom would be the main questions.

I enjoy hugs from friends that I trust, and I will occasionally pat people on the back for a wide variety of silly reasons. Aside from that, I normally tend to keep some distance.

Exceptions: I can't hear in crowds, so I HAVE to get close, and I can't walk in a straight line to save my life, so if I walk beside you I may bounce off of you a few times. It isn't deliberate, I promise. Also, if it's extremely cold you aren't a human being, you're a heat source! Don't take it too personally.

I used to be very "touchy-feeley" and positively loved to snuggle, but that was a long, long time ago. It blew up in my face one time too many, and I finally, reluctantly swore it off. I still think that was the best choice available to me under the circumstances, and it certainly simplified things relationship-wise!

My husband isn't a snuggler either, so I've almost forgotten what it used to be like ...

*shrugs*

-Greybird

[cait]

Oh yeah, i have to add, my ears are insane. I will squeal or just convulse if my ears are touched. I think their sensitivity was heightened at some point in my life when they were being touched a lot. I can't STAND having my ears touched though. It's worse than being held down and tickled (which is pretty bad).

[Peix]

I think I'm above-average sensitive to touch. I'm certainly highly ticklish, and my senses in general are more sensitive than the majority of people I know. And I love physical contact. Cuddles, snuggles, hugs, you name it. That is, from people I like. Yeah, I'm such a hug whore. From people I don't like/know or am not on good terms with, it just makes me uncomfortable. But I reckon that's how it is for most people?

[Ifer]

I have a very low sensitivity. Except for itchiness, I can barely feel most sensations, other than heat. Absence of heat I don't even notice, and physical pain doesn't phase me much. Particularly irritating when people keep bringing me to massage/acupuncture/acupressure places; it's uncomfortable at best.

[birdnerd]

I'm not sure how to differentiate between 'high' and 'low' sensitivity, but I would guess high. In either case, I don't like physical contact.

[Piscator]

I don't mind contact much, and it's actually kind of nice if I know the person. But if I don't, yeah, it's something that puts me on my guard. As for pain, if it's not the type that causes an actual injury, sometimes I actually kind of like it. For instance, slamming a finger in a car door=bad, harmless pinch=not so bad.