Oxford

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Although most of us can still see and talk to our loved ones, if we Live With them, we can no longer touch.

milestone-birthdays to be celebrated telephone calls over video, older people speak to the neighbors through the window, and those who go to live alone, without Touching people, because they obey the government's guidelines, to stay At Home and keep up to 2m (6ft) from the rest.

But touch "really basic" for the people, says Professor Robin Dunbar , evolutionary psychologist at the University of Oxford and go without it weakens our Close Relationships .

"The kind of intimate contact arm round the shoulder, a Pat on The Arm and this kind of things reserved for closer friendships and Family Members - Are really important," he says. You make us feel happier, satisfied and trust of The Other .

the Two Friends Are sitting in Leeds apart, at a safe distance, before the lockout came into force

Touch is to develop our first sense in the womb, physical contact with other people can reduce the effects of stress. Prof Dunbar says that The Reason why people need physical contact, due to our evolutionary background as primates.

"All primates Are highly social, and most probably The Most social of all The Animals on The Planet ," he says. "You build these kind of relationships and friendships with each other through social touch in the form of social care - what do you do by flipping through the fur. And we still do that. "

While most of our fur is gone, the people make the same movements, the cuddling on exactly the same neurons, when you stroke or Pat each other," he says. This triggers the release of endorphins that dull pain, feel-good chemicals that act in The Brain to.

'is It horrible'

Robyn Munday is one of the Many millions of people around The World Are Living Alone due to this Lockdown time.

"I'm a hugger, I all embrace," says Robin, 57, from her home in Victoria, Australia. "I have my Many friends that I embrace, I embrace [now adult] children. It is The One thing I think I miss most in all of this. "

Robyn says she is able to talk to their children and friends regularly, But misses your hugs

Asked how long she thinks she can take before the lack of contact has an impact on her, she responds, "I know it already. It makes me feel emotional just thinking about it," she says, with tears fighting. "But , you see, it is what we have to do. I know that.

"It's terrible, I miss it. I don't think I would miss [] as much. This is probably more noticeable for me because I moved into My Own place for the First Time in November. Until November I had always been a child At Home . It is really Bad Timing . I like living in My Own . I like the solitude, But I always had contact with people. "

Anita Byrne, 47, from Norwich, describes himself as a very tactile, Something which she puts on the years of work in The Beauty industry. "I don't think you really understand that you Are [tactile], until it be taken from you," she says.

you usually hug your friends, hug to celebrate their Adult Children on the sofa, and even hugs from strangers, aims at the support of their local football club, Norwich City.

Anita says that she and her friends discuss how much they enjoy hugging each other

"I didn't realize how much I missed that kind of interaction with people," says Anita, who now works as a patient coordinator for the NHS. "It was a real struggle. Sometimes at work, where we had a hard day, you put your arm around someone, and you can't. The Other night, I wanted someone to be there. Sometimes, the hug is worth a Thousand Words . It's just that touch, it means so much more sometimes. "

people who Are Grandparents - Many of which Are brought in the risk-age group and remain there - an expression of grief about not being able to hug their grandchildren.

Janine stone "devastating" will not be able to hold her baby granddaughter, Grace, was born in Derby in Lockdown .

Janine stone with the three other grandchildren

"It's nice to see a new baby in The Family , But it is not heart-rending, the added will be able to touch you and cuddle with you and have your first photo, with a newborn grandson," she says. to have

"The World seems to have got colder,'

A man from Chester who wants to remain anonymous, says he comes from a "very loving family" and not be able to give the members of The Family a hug "is Something that I miss very much".

"If this madness started and shopping was close, I shared a toilet paper roll with The Lady the Next Door care worker," he says. "This made you cry, and I could not cuddle, to tell her not to worry and that everything is in order and only had to wave over The Fence . The World seems to have got colder. "

Although some cultures Are more touchy-feely than Others , it is important for all of us, says Prof Dunbar.

"We did A Survey in Europe of Russia and Finland in The North of England to The Italians in The South , plus the Japanese, and actually, all touched the same parts of The Body ," he says. "There Are some minor style Differences . to say The Italians Are unnecessary, Are not all hugs and kisses and The Like , and the British Are a bit "stand-off, I'm British - don' T Touch Me " - But not quite so.

"It is remarkable how much we touch do, without really, I think deliberately. "

But we can replace, partially, the advantages of the physical contact at a distance, says Prof Dunbar.

"to Laugh and make people laugh, and singing Are , in fact, very good opportunities, the activation of the endorphin system," he says. "But in The End , for a close relationship and they Are what I the shoulders-to-cry-about friendships, I think, really depend on, eyeball-to-eyeball physical contact. "

As a carer, Daniel Cahill when he was filmed for visiting the socially isolated 91-year-old woman: "I think, to have everyone, a big hug when this is over. "

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Source of news: bbc.com