Fics like Lonely are the Guarded Hearts

Touch-starvation, colloquially known as ‘skin hunger’ occurs when a person doesn’t receive enough physical contact, or touch, from other people. People who are touch deprived are more lonely and less happy, and more likely to experience stress or depression than people with fulfilled touch requirements. These people tend to have less social support and experience more mood and anxiety disorders. They are also more likely to experience alexithymia, a condition that impairs ability to express and interpret emotions. They are also more likely to have preoccupied or fearful-avoidant attachment style and therefore are less likely to form secure attachments with others in their lives. Research has shown that people need at least 8 meaningful touches a day to maintain health. Tony freaking Stark does not need a hug of all things, to function. He was perfectly fine without human contact. And with lying to himself. So he pushed on, ignoring the screaming in his cells and the tremors coursing through his body. Or, Tony is touch-starved and too stubborn to ask for a hug (5 times Tony needed a hug and one time he actually fucking asked)

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