Just told a girl who had a really big crush on me that I don't feel the same way and now I feel terrible.?

lol I know how that is lol

If you don't feel the same way then being honest with her was the kindest thing you could have done but it does sound as if you have some kind of feelings torwards her because you have this urge to comfort her and you were hugging her and being affectionate with her in the first place.

Perhaps you simply genuinely enjoyed her company and friendship, I have cared very deeply about friends of the opposite sex but would not have wanted anything romantic to happen, most of us will have friends who we can hug and comfort but who we would not be in the slightest bit attracted to.

The problem is that these friendships rarely work out if one person does develop feelings, your hugs and affection will always make her hope that you are going to suddenly realize you do feel the same and want more and that will just result in her feeling constantly rejected, so yes I do think it is normal to feel the way you do because you have feelings for her as a friend but I also think that it's better for her sake to keep your distance so she doesn't get hurt anymore.

Nobody is ever obligated to reciprocate feelings of attraction. As long as you told her nicely, you shouldn't feel terrible about it. At least you have not tried to string her along and be dishonest. That would be terrible. Some guys pretend to like a girl just to see what they can get out of her. You sound like a very nice and responsible person.

You're feeling empathy, which is a good thing.

But if you betray your own feelings at the expense of someone else's, then you'll never be truly happy.

Stick with your gut, she'll figure it out.