One of the love problems that I have always had is that I experience a range of reactions to play behavior. I can barely tolerate it sometimes, sometimes I can barely enjoy it, but all too often I react to playfulness with fear and extreme discomfort. In relationships, I'm always begging to be taken seriously.

I think it's because of some of the things I experienced with my stepdad. He had a way of perverting everything; his playfulness was more often than not inappropriate. And it was so insidious, there was never anything you could point to specifically and say, "THIS is not something a parent should say to a child," it was just all very implied.

Now, I can be playful around other people. But if my SO tries to behave playfully around me, I have a hard time with it.

It's odd how a kind of affection can be sort of ruined, or at least slightly spoiled, for you...

I'm totally confused about the verbal affection thing. :) I actually respond VERY strongly to people saying nice things to me. I love words. But I can't handle it when someone says something extravagantly complimentary, in such a way that makes it obvious that they don't know who the hell I am as a person. :) Know what I mean? Verbal affection is sometimes complicated...