Hi dear Vampire girl ~ Bless your heart. How can you be expected to give something that you dont have? You weren't given it as a child -- and now you're expected to give it as an adult! It's very difficult!

As far as your CLOSE friends, just TELL them. Since they told YOU that you give awkward hugs, explain that you weren't given affection as a child, and you find it very difficult to be on the giving end of affection. Honesty is the best, and perhaps they can even let you "practice" on them. lol Why not?

And with potential relationships, this will come. You don't have to stress out or worry about it. If you feel awkward about it, just ask them to please go slow -- that you don't want to hurry any relationship and you don't want to get hurt. Of COURSE any guy will TELL you that he won't hurt you -- but we all know how that is. Just take it slowly, and let the chips fall where they may. But don't rush anything.

If you are REALLY stressed out, why not enter therapy? Perhaps you have a social avoidance personality and need some assistance? There's no shame in that -- all of us have needed help of some sort. So have your doctor refer you to a good therapist -- he would know who to send you to. I wish you the very best, my friend. Please let us know how you're doing -- but keep posting! God bless and please take care. Hugs, Lee