Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

Find support with others who have gone through a traumatic experience. Whether you have chronic or acute PTSD, we are here for you.

10,128 Members
27,617 Posts
1 Online
Anxiety Disorders
/ Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Support Group

Insulated Hug?

arfie
arfie
Anybody heard of the "insulated hug."?

Touch just might be more important to our growing geriatric population than in the rest of the adult population. The Old School Gentlemen tend to be very aggressive in their pursuit of this primal need. The "insulated hug" is where you keep one hand between you and the patient while you hug with the other hand. You can gently push them away with the insulating hand if their old-school conditioning kicks in.

Thoughts? Experience?
LeoX3
LeoX3
I put a hand on the other person's shoulder so they can't pull me any closer than I allow. It's my one-armed hug against their two-armed hug and when people feel that palm around their collarbone, they usually get the unspoken message of "Uh-uh. No further."

My mom taught me this. She was a nurse and got many an unwelcome hand, hug, etc. in her years. but this is the move they taught her in nurses' training over 45 years ago.

I even use it on Hubby if he's going for a big squishy hug and my pain levels are up and he just needs that subtle signal to not crunch me!
ginateresa
ginateresa
LOL....never thought of it that way. :)
jewells1
jewells1
familiar feeling...protecting one's self.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've never heard of this, but I did hear when some patients have seizures nurses, doctors or caregivers will hug them very tight and it calms them. I think it's called sensory Processing Disorder, but there is another one I can't remember.

Kind of off topic a little, sorry
arfie
arfie
Not at all off topic, bloopers. Your addition is a good example of why we should resist the temptation to throw the baby out with the bath water. Given my PTSD druthers, I might not have allowed any human to touch me, EVER. I am far more comfortable with other species.

My grandbaby is currently making me glad I worked on that one. His great-grandpappy is currently triggering me to Hades and back...
deleted_user
deleted_user
I agree Lilly. Unless it's someone very close or someone I want to be close ;)~ hugs freak me out. I will stand hips back, shoulders barely touch and a friendly pat on the back! If I can get away with a polite gentle handshake yay!!
arfie
arfie
I, too, get sketchy about the vast majority of hugs I am expected to give or receive. Always have been. Looking for ways to cope. It was the hardest part of living in South America.

When I was little, I literally threw fits. Wish I could still get away with it. Sigh. If wishes were horses, the streets would be full of shit. Maybe wishes ARE horses...
Posts You May Be Interested In
  • NorthernSoulX

    Scared

    Posted by: NorthernSoulX
    Last Reply: JazzyLady
    5
    Lately I've been feeling scared and full of anxiety. I recently found a lump under my nipple. I hurt my back too. I'm in the process of moving. I'm run down. Everything is hard 
  • Vince3789

    Shoutout and Thank You!

    Posted by: Vince3789
    Last Reply: Vince3789
    6
    Just wanted to give a thank you to Mid, Arfie, Malibumark, Greeneyes, Mlro, Girlincalif, and Suncloudjd! You all always have such helpful tips and advice, but I always forget to write on my posts when I see you post, lol. I would lose my head if it wasn't attached to my body, lol. Thank you all so much! I'm starting to use my AI app as a sounding board again. I used to use it as that before...