Ideas please to politely/effectively refuse unwanted hugs?

mawbroon

Not sure about Tom or Dick, but Harry can hug me any time ]

I don't get hugs from strangers, so maybe I look un-huggable!
I love it when my family or friends hug me.

I feel very uncomfortable with all this hugging and kissing from every Tom, Dick and Harry.

I like hugs from family and close friends-nobody else!

Where's the harm in a hug ? There are some people who may feel down and when they're given a hug it lifts their spirits.
Then again I was involved in the NHS so hugging was second nature to me.
I'm by no means a distant nor an unapproachable person.

I really don't like my personal space invaded either. I can put up with the hugging if it's from relatives that I haven't seen in ages, but friends and aquaintances hugging is not a pleasant experience, and I try to side step them if possible.

I'm interested in this because for some reason I am able to stop 'huggers' and keep them at a distance. I dislike being hugged by people I don't know intensly, and somehow this is communicated to them. Maybe I flinch slightly as they approach, maybe I stiffen up, I'm not really sure, but a friend was complaining about a mutual aquaintance who routinely hugs on meeting anyone and I realised she doesn't do it to me. She did the first time we met but she soon stopped. I don't really know what I do, I wish I could explain it. I do think if you feel strongly about things your body language passes that on.

I like hugs!!

Gosh yes! I really don't like this fairly meaningless social hugging. People who know me know that I don't like it and hold back (although they laugh about me). It's more a problem with people peripheral in my life who try it. If possible I stick out my hand to shake it before they can lunge in!
It's not a problem with my more elderly acquaintances though. Phew.

I am not a hugging person , but I seem to give out vibes (or do I smell ? ) so it is unlikely that acquaintances launch themselves at me . Otherwise I put my hand out to shake