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My heart races when I go to hug someone doesn't matter who it is.
I then get paranoid that they can feel my heart racing when we hug so I get more anxious...
Can people feel your heart race with a hug ???
Everyone has different preferences. And as a society, we REALLY need to learn to respect consent in physical contact.
It's TOTALLY ok to say "I'm not a hugger" or "I'm not comfortable with hugs" or "hugs make me anxious" and step aside or offer a handshake or other physical gesture instead. You should never, ever have to hug someone you don't want to.
I don't think I could ever determine someone's heart rate when I hugged them.
As for why you get nervous hugging people--who knows? It's something you could reflect on or talk to a therapist about.
My family didn't really do physical contact. The first time my mother hugged me was when I graduated high school. I froze up, having absolutely no idea how to respond. It seemed so alien and awkward. The first time I got a massage I was tense and uncomfortable just from being touched.
But over time I got more comfortable. I love being physically affectionate with my female friends. I love long tight hugs and I love to cuddle or stroke or brush their hair. But I'm not comfortable with physical contact with other men, or with the girl initiating/controlling the contact--I don't like it if she plays with my hair, for example.
Those are just my preferences, and that's ok. Your preferences are totally ok, whatever they are. Perhaps you'll never enjoy any kind of hug. Perhaps you'll enjoy certain kinds of touches with certain people. Whatever you want is perfectly ok.
You might consider talking about it with a close friend though and experimenting slowly, gradually, making sure they understand it is difficult for you. For me, it was something I had to get used to, but then enjoyed once I had experience.
Best of luck!
When my friends that I play Pathfinder with started a group hug, I only did it because I felt pressured to (and because the one guy made my character a new suit). I felt awkward the entire time and didn't enjoy it.It was made worse by the fact that my mother (who knows I don't enjoy hugging humans) saw it and started thinking that they were gay perverts.
I have never been able to feel someone's heartbeat racing or steady when I've hugged someone.
I'm not a tactile person so If hugs are needed I try to get them over & done with asap to try to stop my heart pounding.