Is it normal to be afraid of being tickled?

76% Normal
5 Comments

Really - is it normal that I am afraid of being tickled. The feelings i have when being tickled (Sadly, even have these feelings when my son attempts to tickle me and just goof around) - are very bad. The feelings I have are hard to describe - but are fear, a horrible icky feeling that I want the person to not touch me like that at all, and almost like I am being suffocated - just want the person to stop the tickling. I have a horrible feeling, that I may have been sexually touched by a parent when I was younger. This seems to be a flashback to it if in deed it happened. I saw a home video of my dad tickling me when I was 6 and got the most horrified and disgusted thoughts and feelings and reactions when I saw it. It didn't look bad to the average person - but I felt a whole array of emotions. So, does anyone have any thoughts or advice on that? Do you think it could have happened to me and that is why I hate to be touched/tickled?

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76% Normal
Based on 51 votes (39 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • sabrinaandnik
    11 years ago

    I used to hate being tickled and I used to have dreams about being tickled but I learned to enjoy them and soon enough they didn't bother me anymore my friend Ian tickles me all the time and it doesn't bother me anymore you have a bad memory with tickling when all you need is a good memory

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  • princesspea105
    13 years ago

    Totally, I scream if someone tickles my neck or thigh. It's so scary!

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  • penpal21
    13 years ago

    You're welcome. Warm thoughts and best wishes for you.

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  • JustWonderingNow
    13 years ago

    Thank you PenPal21. I suppose you are correct with your analysis of my feelings and the situation.The thing you pointed out, about how I am not describing the sensations of being tickled, rather feelings that are unrelated - that makes sense. When i found the home video of my dad tickling me, I was around the age of 14 - and in the video I was 6 (I am now 28). It really scared me and brought up a lot of emotions. I will see if I can get in to talk with my old friend who is a psychotherapist. Thanks!

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  • penpal21
    13 years ago

    You described all of the emotions that come up when you're tickled or even around tickling, rather than the sensations of being tickled. This COULD mean something did happen to you. I'm so sorry to hear that. Some folks post about tickling here and those of us who have it as a happy and fun part of our relationships (or at least see the humor in it) comment a lot. You may want to get with a counselor and work through this if only so you can tickle your son, partner, grandkids, etc. or just even see it on TV or in the park without being so uncomfortable. Lots of people have been molested as children and tickling was very often the pretext. There is help available, though and you can heal. Best of luck to you.

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