Soothing touch can provide solace and relieve pain
—Joan Borysenk, Co-founder Mind/Body Clinic, Harvard Medical School
Having just lost my father a few months ago, I can personally attest that caring touch can be a blessing for someone who is very ill or frail. Being in that condition almost always means the loss of control over one’s life and can leave a person feeling quite alone and disconnected.
Touch given by someone who cares can help meet the need for human involvement and provide an antidote to needle-pricks and other discomforts of medical procedures. I saw pain and anxiety fall away as my dad shifted his focus to the simple pleasure of soothing touch. Gentle massage moves can even help relieve pain when medication has reached its limitations.
If someone you care about is ill, try the following. Sit by him or her with an open heart and soft, willing hands. Have your loved one direct you to an area that feels tense or painful. Place your hands there, and direct soothing pressure for some minutes before moving to another uncomfortable spot. Place a hand on either side of the head to help ease a headache. Massage the palm of the hands or the feet to achieve relaxation throughout the body.
Just remember to be responsive to your loved one’s changing needs. Let him or her guide what you do. Even if all she or he can tolerate is holding hands, be assured that this simple act is very powerful. If needed, a massage therapist can be called on to help relieve discomfort and anxiety.
