Support and reassurance feel like one thing. Comfort, for me, feels more primal. Words aren't necessarily needed. When I imagine being comforted, I picture myself being in pain and someone with whom I share a mutual affection comes and embraces me and I don't feel so alone anymore. It doesn't necessarily require touch, although that's nice too. I've felt comforted at times in therapy with just my therapist's presence. I'm sure he was doing something subtle. He sighs deeply a lot when I think he's feeling empathetic so maybe that's part of it. My husband was not a good comforter. He often actively mocked me when I was hurt or upset. Yet I still craved him to comfort me. For some reason, the thought of my mother comforting me right now fills me with dread and I don't know why. I have felt comforted by her in the past.