It’s not always obvious because I don’t have problems with hugs and fortunately people are otherwise not very touchy beyond the hands in everyday life, but yeah I actually hate most physical touch. A lot of people have been kind of confused/intrigued by the details of it and why and I have no problem explaining, because as seen in the title, it’s not a trauma thing at all. Frankly, the only physical trauma I’ve experienced was minor and just makes me irrationally angry/afraid of some really random things.

It’s a sensory issue I’ve had as long as I can really remember, at least since I was a small child. I think it might have been more bearable then because I remember my parents carrying me and stuff. Being touched directly with hands and the like is really overwhelming and unpleasant for me. Best thing I can compare it to is being tickled but worse or being the touch equivalent of microphone feedback. If grabbed directly I’ll tense up really bad, and close my eyes and seethe if it’s prolonged. That fortunately only happens at stuff like doctor’s appointments where there’s no way around it, which can make some readings and palpating anything difficult lol I don’t have any problems with touching things myself or clothing textures outside of like, overly hot/cold or really gross or scratchy stuff basically nobody would like. As a side note, my only other sensory problems are with food smells and textures/taste and I can avoid that probably 80-90% of the time as an adult. I also have the VERY double-edged sword of not being able to smell body odor at all on anyone unless I stuff my face directly into dirty laundry.

The main area it affects is basically anything a t shirt and shorts would cover. Legs below the knee, hands and arms below the elbow, and oddly enough, any part of my face and head is totally fine. Dentists are no bother at all if it’s not otherwise painful but having a stethoscope against my back will make me flinch and tense up. Blunter touch like hugs or being bumped into or squished against are also generally not bothersome, it’s mostly grabbing/feeling with hands that is. Level of trust and harmless intent does nothing because it’s a purely physical issue. There’s no difference between my reaction to my mom, a doctor, or a stranger doing it other than if I feel threatened for other reasons. Wearing thick clothing or a fursuit can also help to a degree but not entirely, I got patted down and still tensed up while wearing a winter jacket and two pairs of pants.

A lot of people who are this way still feel touch starved or crave something hug-adjacent for comfort, a famous example being Temple Grandin and her squeeze machine. I’m actually not. If I was never touched again and all medical appointments were done by light beam or something I’d actually be fine with and like that. Not being touched at all during covid lockdowns wasn’t a problem at all. I actively hate any kind of handsy touch and I’m glad it’s only an issue maybe once or twice a year. Part of the reason I’ve always felt blessed and relieved to be completely uninterested in romance and sex is that I’m so physically incompatible with it lol I’ll hug people as a formality but almost never get anything out of it myself, like a handshake. I can think of only a few times I have actively wanted a hug, usually in times of severe distress. In those few situations I actively wanted to hug a human it was more to squeeze them than have them squeeze me. But when I do feel that urge, I really don’t care if it’s even something living, a squishmallow works just as well and is more readily available. It’s also nice to have a pillow or plushie or wadded up blanket as something to hold when I sleep. Ironically I actually fantasize about cuddling a lot despite hating the idea irl


I feel like basically everyone I’ve known/seen who has non-trauma-related touch aversion is autistic but I really can’t say yes or no myself. Honestly I haven’t bothered finding it out. Even though I have some of the super media stereotypical traits, they’re just inconveniences I’ve learned to deal with years ago and there’s nothing having an official label would do to help me. There’s a good chance it could be something else, though. I am planning to get tested for ADHD in January or so because my focus issues have become so unbearable and I actually have had other huge signs of it since childhood. But I’m not gonna go into that situation because that’s a whole other can of worms and gets pretty dark and upsetting tbh.


I think that’s everything, really. It’s pretty ironic being one of the few furries who isn’t touchy at all with how they trend extremely physically affectionate overall. I don’t think that’s a bad thing because a lot of people crave that and men especially don’t get it and furries skew male. It’s probably a great outlet for them, just leave me out of it other than obligated fursuit hugs lol Fortunately I’ve never had issues with furries disrespecting that, anime fans in the cons I did in the 2010s were awful though.