My wife likes to cuddle and I don't and that's okay

I'm 6'0, 240 pounds with a lean muscular build and I'm claustrophobic because of a bad experience I had when I was a kid. The most annoying thing I've discovered over the years is that everyone assumes that I don't like to cuddle because I'm a "large man". I like to cuddle but I require space to completely relax and not have a panic attack. I won't go into too many details but it has taken me years to be honest with my wife about why I don't like to cuddle as much as she does.<br><br>My wife is a 5'2 190 pounds woman with pure hourglass figure. She has been plus-sized for most of her life and she loves that about herself. She is actually the one that introduced me to this sub and she is a regular lurker on it. She loves this sub because of how positive it is and how it's a place for her to talk when she feels like she needs to. She knows all about how women are treated and being plus-sized comes with its own problems. She is very informed about the stuff that women go through from stereotypes to how much weight they should or shouldn't weigh. She knows that I respect her and her boundaries.<br><br>I don't cuddle much because when I cuddle I don't want to feel like I need to do it when I don't want to. I don't cuddle much because of how I feel and not because of how my wife looks. I don't cuddle much because I'm claustrophobic and not because I think that she is too big or too fat to be attractive. I don't cuddle much because I don't want to feel suffocated and not because I think she is suffocating me. I don't cuddle much because I need my space and not because I don't want to cuddle her.<br><br>She was very hurt when I told her and thought that it was something about her. I reassured her and we talked it out. We are taking things slow and she is more understanding and respectful of my boundaries. We are happy, healthy and we respect each other's boundaries. It's okay if you don't like cuddling and it's okay if you like cuddling. It's okay to have boundaries and it's not okay to be offended at someone's boundaries.