Being touched.

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The thought of being touched right now makes me want to jump off a cliff. It’s more when people do it by accident. But mainly in public when people brush past. I end up wanting to kill them with my bare hands. Has anyone any strategies for this? Or any items to help? Thanks

I can relate but on the reverse. When people touch me and they know they're doing it, I get extremely bothered. I feel like it's sort of an "invasion", or they're asking for a punch in the face. Unfortunately for this situation, I'm very passive so I just let people walk all over me (working on that). The only strategy I have is coordinate my location so I'm not in the middle of a group and I'm not in a place where that will happen. Most public places where I am people don't come close to you, but everyone here is very social. They like all the hand shaking and that. I always make sure I'm standing in a location where I can't be pranked or grabbed or something.

It's unpleasant when touched by accident but horrible when someone on purposely comes up and violates my space. They know (I hope) that their freedoms and rights end and mine begin when someone enters my own space, so why do they violate it? Because they know I won't do anything. In public, it's unavoidable and accidental, so even though it bothers me I just had to learn that there's really no alternative to being touched and I'd rather not live as a hermit or wear giant clothing to keep the sensation from reaching me.

I realize it's probably not helpful to say it, but going to India helped me with this. The crowds are just unbelievable. The concept of personal space is almost non-existent. And being there, I just had to accept it.
I was there during holi festival, and on that day if you go outside, someone will paint you. (I had a picture up from that). It's beautiful. It was really overwhelming, but it was positive. It's a festival of color and love. And being engulfed by a crowd of thousands of people throwing and rubbing paint all over each other and everything else in sight was...
Not sure what to call it, exactly. But ever since then it's been much easier to deal with crowds and contact. Still difficult, but easier. Less stressful.
There were a lot of other things happened that day, too.

I can melt down from unexpected touch.
Yet I can go to concerts, festivals, etc., as long as I'm mentally prepared for touch I can deal with it.

I do not like being touched especially neck up. My startled reactions have on occasion offended people.

Non-family members' intentional touching bothers me more, but when I can't help but end up in contact with someone (say, one too many people in a small car) it also grates a bit on my nerves.

While I'm in a field that personal warmth is highly valued, so are boundaries, so I can generally just tell the touchers that I prefer that they stop, and can justify taking the extra car if it will be too tight to have "elbow room".

I'm uncomfortable with being touched, unless I'm in the proper mental zone for it, such as when playing hockey. Even if I go somewhere where I expect it'll happen, I still don't like it. I try to not let it bother me too much.

My boss used to come up from behind and put his hand on my shoulder, I didn't like that, but I also loathed speaking up about anything. I'm rather uneasy with being the subject of attention, or maybe being noticed in general. I quietly like going about my business with no fuss.