nebrets wrote:
I am uncomfortable with physical contact, like hugs, pats on the back, etc. But when people ask I have trouble clarifying why it is uncomfortable.
Do others have trouble with physical contact? And can anyone set out why they do or do not like it?
Most of my life, I used to have a big problem with disliking physical contact and I narrowed it down to two reasons:
1) in childhood, even a "friendly pat" was often a devious way for someone to end up making fun of me, or they would grab me and punch me
2) when it is genuine and has no ill intent, the physical contact signifies that you may be coming into closer interaction with the person, i.e. potential friendship, while some internal alarms are telling you that either:
a) you have some trouble managing friendship protocols in general
and/or
b) this person is not going to go beyond superficial, fair-weather friend
and/or
c) upon becoming closer, they can hurt you more in general