Well I usually do not like touching people at all. My close family has somewhat realized that so when my cousins leave, instead of hugs I get fist bumps or high fives. I am okay with that.

However a few years ago when I first started dating this girl (now an ex) when she hugged my I felt incredibly happy and safe. I never felt that before. I loved being close to her which was very new for me.

So I think it depends. I do not like to hug family or touch strangers but if someone has a special place in my heart then I might just enjoy physical contact from them.

I love hugs. They make me feel wanted and loved. And that makes me feel good. Hugging shows affection to me. And I like that. Here's to hugging.❤️

Frog soup I am the same with extended family. I don’t like to hug them. I do need hugs from my parents though. Just a reassurance and safety thing

I was never hugged much as a kid or adult. I wish I could be hugged and cuddled by that special guy. Mom wants hugs now more than before she got sick. YES, hugging is the best form of caring!!!

I love physical affirmations. My mother is great, my dad not so much. All my friends are amazing with hugs etc. However, my girlfriend is not a very emotional person in general so I don't get enough physical affirmations from her in public or in private. It's a big issue for me and part of the reason we're talking about a breakup.

I never got many hugs as a kid, so they were always kind of foreign to me. My best friend is a big hugger and that made me want hugs more often. It is a sign of caring and love - my nephews know that I want to hug them every time I see them. And I tell how much I love them every time I do. My siblings that don’t live at home with me always hug now when we see each other and goodbyes. It’s comforting. I don’t feel weird about it with them, anyway.

I hug frequently. My mom, I give side hugs to as that is comfortable compromise since she is not a big hug person.

Two young girls I met through relatives for the first time, I shook their hands rather than hug them. The strange looks I got from the adults and the appreciation I got from the girls were worth it.

It's a matter of preference.

I used to love hugs---but then it seemed that people who had hugged me were also people who treated me really badly--so I don't exactly trust hugs.

I'm happy to hug family and friends regardless of gender, but I'm definitely a touch-focused person in relationships, too. It's my #2 love language (just a hair behind quality time / sharing space). I'm hooked on the oxytocin, I guess.

Thank you all for the responses. I’m glad to see hugging is the same for you as for me

I swing like a pendulum on this one. One extreme to the other extreme without many pauses between the extremes. I most often don't like to be touched by anybody for any reason but when I go touchy feelie, I go extreme there, too, and can even carry it to the point of obnoxious.

One or three of my pro therapists thought that was a big part of the reason live support groups are so good for me. Platonic hugs were horrifically absent in my childhood. Child prostitute hugs are enough to give the most loving of hearts an aversion to touch. There is always a platonic hug available in most live support groups.