Sucking My Thumb?!?!

[Smile]

I'm in my friggin 30s and have just started sucking my phone for the first time in my life.

Never sucked my thumb as a child/baby. I remember thinking at about the age of seven that it looks kind of cute and I tried to get into it but it never did anything for me so it never happened.

In the past few weeks I have noticed that I've started sucking in my cheeks The way an infant does when he wants a pacifier or to nurse. And then today I just started sucking my thumb??

As I write this I realize how crazy and strange this seems…

I know my anxiety has been amped up the past few weeks but why would I lean towards an action that I didn't even do in my childhood? That's not regression. Makes no sense

Any suggestions? Ideas? Same situation? Feeling really weird right now

 

[shimmerz]

As I write this I realize how crazy and strange this seems…

No, it doesn't. Therapy does that to people. I used to go to my T-doc back at the beginning, before I knew ANY of my past. I would walk out of the office and breathe like a toddler who has cried for WAY too long. I told him about it 3 sessions in and was so embarrassed. He was cool always about that stuff which is a good thing because I was just lost with it. I seriously thought I was going crazy.

He explained it like this. The body does not do anything subconsciously unless it has learned how to do it in the past. Trust it . Iif you are more open to healing than you are afraid of it, your body will tell you everything you need to know.

So, for instance, my guess (from my own past experiences) is that something was touched on in your session. Something possibly so subtle that your conscious mind didn't recognize it. But it triggered a body memory of sucking or suckling. It needs to play it out. My suggestion is to let it without shame or fear. Trust it.

For me, my body remembered first and I would watch for new things and actually welcome them. It meant that I was progressing. Flashbacks and perhaps nightmares would come. Sometimes really hard to digest ones. With them the 'sucking' may change to something else. Embrace it. Talk about it with your T. These are all important things to a trauma doctor and you will learn if you ask questions. It will become natural to you.

He was correct.

 

[Smile]

I suppose it can be related to therapy. I did have a particularly difficult session which we have not brought up again. Maybe I need to bring it up

The body does not do anything subconsciously unless it has learned how to do it in the past. Trust it as if you are open to healing it will tell you everything you need to know.

@shimmerz, I don't quite understand that. Can you explain further please?

 

[Friday]

I sleep with my thumb or fingertips on my lips when I'm massively stressed out, or über relaxed (sigh. And never the twain shall meet). Looks like a 'shush' motion. Lips are highly enervated. Feels nice. Calming.

 

[shimmerz]

Yes, of course. My apologies. I have noticed I am a bit off today so please note the changes I made in the original posting you are questioning (and rightly so! lol). If you need further clarification, just let me know. :hug:

 

[Smile]

Thanks @shimmerz ! It could just as well have been me... Thoughts very scattered today :)

 

[miffy]

Hi, I actually searched for this and your thread came up. I have secretly sucked my thumb my whole life (I'm 23), and it feels so silly to think about. It feels especially silly to say out loud.

For me, it feels like the ultimate mental hug, a wave of calm just washes over me and I breathe deeply. It also seems to help me focus. So, perhaps your brain has decided it needs a hug.

The obvious downside is that it has been slightly detrimental to my teeth :( so because of this, I consciously try to stop. I don't have any suggestions, or ideas sorry. Just thought you would like to know you are not the only one who does it - perhaps you will grow out of it with time.

 

[Smile]

Thank you @miffy :)

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I think that this is self comfort and very normal for going through abnormal situations as a child. I do not think that there is anything wrong with it and for you to go for it.

 

[mrsps]

I cant believe I am going to admit to this on here, but I am 34 and I still suck my thumb *totally embarrassed*
I can remember as a child my mum tried everything to stop me but nothing worked. I guess my thumb has always been my comfort ...... I have no idea how I would ever give it up but wish I could as its gross really imagine all the germs!
I have never told any T about it as I am so embarrassed!

@miffy nice to see another kiwi on here :)

 

[ihateusernames]

For me, it feels like the ultimate mental hug, a wave of calm just washes over me and I breathe deeply.

This is why a toddler does it @Smile. It's a perfectly natural thing to do. Hey, my thumb sucking almost 3 year old sucked his thumb in utero. He was doing it during every ultrasound. Sucking on something for comfort is that ingrained in us. I know it seems normal for a toddler and abnormal for a 30 year old, but those are just social constructs. It serves the same purpose for you as for them. Don't feel weird or embarrassed by it.