Psychologists define skin hunger (or touch starvation) as the biological need for physical contact. For a married OFW who leaves a spouse behind, or a single OFW living in a cramped shared apartment in Dubai, Singapore, or Hong Kong, the lack of touch triggers a chemical imbalance. Cortisol (stress) rises, while oxytocin (the bonding hormone) plummets.
Some popular books and online resources on the topic of OFW stories include: Kwentong Kalibugan Ofw
The Kwentong Kalibugan OFW often starts the same way: "I never thought I would do this, but..." Psychologists define skin hunger (or touch starvation) as