While I personally think they aren’t judging me, I sometimes feel like I’m doing exactly what you have described when I compliment people. I try to compliment people whenever I can in order to make them feel good and while it works, I feel like I’m above them for doing so.
Yep, I struggle giving compliments for the same reason! So I give compliments in the way I can receive them, which is to compliment the things that people have said/done or are planning etc, rather than complimenting the person.