It sounds like you have trouble believing people like you. That maybe if people don't tell you a lot that you feel like they don't. I have been amazed at the number of people who tell me that I'm the only one to remember their birthday, to give them a compliment or lots of other things. When you rely on verbal affirmations to feel okay - when you rely on people telling you good things to feel okay - then most of the time you won't feel okay.
When you go back to a church - like being the prodigal son - they do tend to throw you a party and you get lots of hugs and the things you want. But as time goes on, they don't do that much at all. So either you cycle back and forth forever - which means you have to keep finding new churches because the old ones think you are crying wolf - or else you need to find a direct connection with God and other ways to feel good.
Often you can feel good by helping others. If the helping is what makes you feel good and not the thank yous. It has been said that the best way is to help those who cannot thank you.
When you find yourself doing the same thing over and over - then it is time to ask yourself why you are doing it. If you can't find another way to respond to the reason, then you likely will continue doing it in the future.
God is our sufficiency. God doesn't tend to get up and hug us every morning. Sometimes our weeny little human selves need to figure out what it takes to keep us in line - as far as God hugging you goes though, if you plan quiet time with God every morning, that will often give you God hugs that you can actually feel. When we come to him quietly, we receive rich rewards.
