Yes, I think some experience this, cynthiadean.

I know a few people who feel this way. Actually, there are several who have borderline personality disorder who experience this, as well.

So you are not alone, though my comments are by no means a sufficient answer, or a solution.

Just letting you know there are others. :/

*hugs*

I don't think this is part of BP. It would fall more typically under OCD which is part of the Anxiety Disorders. Of course being BP we can experience symptoms from more than one diagnosis even if the additional diagnosis hasn't been made. I'd discuss the being touched business with your doc. I suspect that a calming med would help.

I too feel this way from time to time. I usually jump like I am being startled from a scary movie.

I feel that way sometimes. I try to make an effort to touch family any way. When I don't I tend to distance myself from them. But that is just me and I have a different situation because I have grandchildren. I have to hug them it comes with the grandmother title. When I reach out to them it opens my heart up more.

Sensory hypersensitivity and overload can be a part of bipolar disorder (and other disorders as well). I have issues with it and so does my son. A sensitivity to touch is called tactile defensiveness.

When my son was receiving therapy at home they used a special brush to help him. It's plastic with lots of flexible plastic bristles on it. When I got curious and tried it I just about jumped out of my skin it felt horrible. The therapist said that means I have the same problem with sensory integration. I asked her for some suggestions about how to deal with it for myself. She said I could use the brush too (still have it and use it sometimes). She also said that she knew someone once who used a loofah (one of those puff ball things made out of mesh) in the shower instead of brushing and it helped. I tried it and it helps me too, maybe it would work for you.

I know a lot of people who have dealt with that, including myself. Most of the time I feel like there is a trauma connection, but that might not be the case all the time.

Forgive me, but is this new?

I have experienced this once in my life after a traumatic event. It went away but not for a long time and I unfortunately lost a great love because I couldn't stand him being close to me. For me it was a PTSD thing rather than personality disorder type thing.

sounds like anxiety to me
i get it ALOT...a hot bath helps me with some lavender or something?
i dont have bipolar i just popped over for a nosey cos a good friend of mine posts here

hope no one minds

dont worry about it xx

hugs xx

Well, it depends on what mood you are in, i get like this if I am extremely agitated and towards people i don't know.

Like for example, strangers in stores start talking to me, but they stand so close and keep touching my arm, and I actually start holding my breathe, and within minutes feel like i could pick that person u and toss them to get them away (and I am a tiny woman). I never do but that is how uneasy it makes me feel.

I have actually had incadents where i would start to gasp and run for my life, it was embarrassing, lol.

hang in there, I think this could be many things, agitation, anxiety's, PTSD, or just your nature in general.

((hugs))

I always find the foreigners to be touch feely in public places.. They don't mind if they touch you standing in line or something like that. I HATE that, it pisses me off I want to yell at them. Anywho I don't think it is BP though I think people just don't like to be touched just like people don't like eggs.

I have experienced this on occassion. It is usually when I am irritable or am having alot of anxiety. I have found that klonopin takes the edge off and I feel better about being touched.

Thank you everyone for your replies and kind words they mean alot to me. I use to love hugging people and being hugged back, now to be honest I really dislike it. I do hate it more when I'm feeling irritable, which is alot of the time lately. I think my partner is finding it hard to understand, I get the feeling he just thinks its him, but its not. Thank you everyone again hugs from Cynthia xx