Hugging

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Obviously, it has to been from the right person. But how do you make it less awkward? I can never tell if a person wants a hug or not, how to physically approach it, and how to initiate it. A few times I have actually asked, "Do you want a hug?", in a totally awkward manner, because it seemed like they did the hug arm swing thing, and then stopped.
Most of the time people don't even try to approach me physically. I guess they can tell I'm no good at it.
I actually love being hugged. I've always loved being squished, and I used to get between the couch cushions and the couch and make my sister sit on top. Best. Feeling. Ever.
Now that I'm an adult I live alone and have very little human contact. I need to make a friend who will sit on my couch cushions. Or figure out when it's appropriate or expected to hug. Then I need to figure out how to replicate the hug arm swing thing without resembling 3CPO.

I also do not know how to approach hugs, however, I have a very limited range of who I will let hug me anyway. If your problem is reading whether or not people want hugs, than I think it is appropriate to ask them in most cases. Just embrace this as a part of your inner quirkiness. The End

One thing that really helps is to not hold your breath. Exhale fully then let yourself naturally inhale. This will help your body relax and that will help a hug not feel so awkward. Sometimes closing my eyes helps too because then I just kind of let myself sink into the hug and it feels really great. And when my brother hugs me I like to put my head on his shoulder like a little kid. Also don't rush it. The reason hugs feel awkward is that you are stiff. If you can manage to totally relax you can have that son on in the between the couch pillows kind of feel. A hug is actually a great exercise in letting go. That is why they feel so great.

Hugs to Skibum!

Never been interested in hugging friends. I either want hugging in the form of romance and a relationship or nothing. I'm not affected by casual hugs. I do it out of politeness. Most times I don't know whether to hug or not but I do anyway. Casual, sort of hug-with-one-arm-tapping-the-persons-back-like-they-are-a-chap sort of hug.

I'll shake hands instead - my wife and my mom are about the only people that get hugs.

I don't do hugs, it's too awkward. Never even thought about if I'd like them if I knew what to do...

I'm from the Silent Generation. We were all very standoffish. But when the 60's hit everyone in the hippie cohort was very huggy. It was hard for me. Awkward, and clumsy. But a decade later, I ended up being pretty much the custodial parent of my two kids, and hugging is so important... especially for kids up to five or six. Anyway, I had this deal with my kids that any of the three of us could DEMAND a 30 second, or a 60 second hug anytime anywhere. I can only suggest that you try a sixty second hug with someone you love... time it. Something cold and dark inside melts away every single time.

I don't hug anyone period. Only people I will hug are my husband or my kids or my parents. I can never be afraid of them getting mad at me for it. Only time I will hug someone is if they hug me first.

I hate being hugged without asking me -_- Although I do not mind being hugged by my mother, 2 brother and 1 sister. I hugged them every time I come to home from college.

I would allow my close friends and some family to hug me, but not anyone else.

I love hugs and hugging people, but I also have issues with knowing when to hug somebody.

Just tackle them.

I love being hugged. It just does not happen often for years and the only people who hug me have learning disabilities allistics just think that it is inappropriate behaviour just because of the Y chromosome and suffering from mild mental acceleration. I find that a hug can not only strengthen social bonds between people but causes ones brain to release anandamide (an endocannabinoid) and/or oxytocin. It is also good for general mental health. However I tend to only dodge hugs when suffring from sensory overload. My family do tend to dodge hugs often because my mum does and to me as dodged hugs from me since April 1974. So now I don't really bother and have almost weak social bonds with my family. When I set up a neurodiversity group A woman with Down syndrome gave me a lovely hug and I gave her a big sloppy kiss on the face because then I was making allowances for low levels of emotional intelligence and hugging can be a socially accessible way for such people to bond with each other but I have to be cautious because of people may have a sensory integration disorder.

The way I relate to my mum is how a person would speak to someone from the council rather than a parent to son.

I have no idea how to make it less awkward. I only hug people if I need consolation, they're family members I haven't seen in years, or they've gone above and beyond to help me in some way. It's never not awkward, but the consolation/closeness/gratitude far outweighs the awkwardness.