I've noticed several reasons. I get bumped and it hurts, yes. Sitting on a bench where others are moving around hurts. And then there's the days even a light touch is painful.

Crowded rooms are often hot, and I really don't like being hot.

Being close to others puts me into proximity of smells I'm allergic to...perfumes, smoke on their clothes, even their fabric softener. I don't like breathing in another person's exhaled breath, even if it's minty fresh.

Normal voices are too loud. If someone yells nearby, its quite painful. And all the other noises of being in public...coughs, kids, horns, dings, bells, beeps, shoe scuffs, screeches, door slams.

Some days, my 'personal space circle' is the size of my bedroom.

I've always had a large personal space myself. If people sit next to me I often push my chair away. We are all different. We all have some quirk or another.

Yes I do. I never like for people to touch or hug me and I've come to realize why. Now, I hate talking to people especially when having a bad flare or in fibro fog.

Might be that you are afraid of being bumped someplace that hurts?

Oh my goodness I thought it was only me! I used to be able to hug someone when meeting them but now I will push them away. At church I ask to sit at the end so I can jump out if I get anxious. It's terrible I miss so many family functions SMH. Thanks for sharing. Tammy Roldan