Break Quote by Marya Hornbacher
“I do not remember very many things from the inside out. I do not remember what it felt like to touch things, or how bathwater traveled over my skin. I did not like to be touched, but it was a strange dislike. I did not like to be touched because I craved it too much. I wanted to be held very tight so I would not break. Even now, when people lean down to touch me, or hug me, or put a hand on my shoulder, I hold my breath. I turn my face. I want to cry.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Center Cannot Hold, Marya Hornbacher, 2002
The narrator feels a deep disconnection from physical sensations, fearing intimacy because of past trauma and a fragile sense of self.
In simple terms: Fear of touch stems from trauma and fragile self.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and gently explore bodily awareness.
Themes
trauma
intimacy
self‑esteem
vulnerability
grief
Mood
anxious
reflective
hopeful
Type
personal
psychological
emotional
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- support groups
- close relationships
- self‑care routines
Key Concepts
attachment theory
sensory processing
psychological defense
Questions to Reflect On
- What sensations can you safely notice today?
- How might you gently re‑introduce touch?
A Different Perspective
Healing may be slow and trigger painful memories.
![“[My father] would be proud, he would hug me and he would be sitting front-row at all the events where I talk to the youth about not repeating [Pablo Escobar's] story because I am a consequence of what he did and I have not changed my stance on violence since we talked about it.” quote by Juan Pablo Escobar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b23/juan-pablo-escobar-11709_be-proud_my-father-would-be-proud-he-would-hug-me_632418.jpg)
