Drew

I don’t know if it’s because I’ve never experienced these things before, but the thought makes me quite uncomfortable. I’ve been thinking about it a lot recently and my family just kind of brushes it off. What I’m talking about is hugging, cuddling, kissing, hand holding, close and intimate. I’m fine with hugs from very close friends and family most of the time, other times I’ve asked them to back off which they do mostly. I’ve had other people who expect hugs or just hug cause they’re a hugger. I’ve started setting boundaries with them and it’s quite the experience to tell people to back off. It’s just, I really can’t even stand the thought of cuddling or kissing and I guess I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this too.

Thanks, that’s a great idea!

Hiya! I unfortunately can’t give any advice, but I can relate. It’s been more recent for me, with the pandemic and living alone, to want someone next to me. So it’s a newer feeling that I’m experiencing right now. I still think I would be fine by myself forever if I needed to be, and I didn’t desire to have someone before. But as life keeps happening I’ve come to realize that it would be really freaking nice if I had that. Someone who thinks about me and checks in on me and surprises me with ice cream, but that won’t have a problem with me not wanting to kiss them, or cuddle with them or go out on dates. So anyway I’m really new to this site and my friend helped me find it so I would be able to not feel so alone in thinking this way. I hope you aren’t feeling alone in thinking this way either!

It’s all very interesting to hear what other people can experience and it just goes over my head. A lot of it doesn’t sound wonderful, but I am aromantic so... I still love trying to understand what other people feel, thank you for this! I thought I had crushes when I was younger but looking back, it was just aesthetic attraction, and I did not want to get to know them I just liked them. I think I’ve had 1 squish so far, I loved talking to him and my sister got excited that she could finally talk with me about boys. We would text each other a lot and I wanted to get to know him. I am able to tell (for the most part) when someone starts to like me more and I could tell that he was. At this point I was 22 and I thought, I should try it. He asked me out, I went on a date and it was horrible. For me anyway. There wasn’t a second date and after a year we were able to start talking again and I’m glad I can be friends again. He’s actually getting married this year. Anyway this is what kickstarted my understandings of being aromantic.