Poll Thumb Sucking

[2quilt]

Do you now or have you ever sucked your thumb or fingers? I ask because I am an incest survivor, and I sucked my index finger in public until I was 14. I am amazed that my teeth did not move at all from 24-hour pressure on them for 14 years. I was very insecure and sensitive as a child, as you can imagine, however, being the butt of school jokes and the prize of bullies didn't stop me from sucking my finger because my life was hell anyway. I wonder if I am the only one.

 

[Seychelle]

I didn't vote because I don't think I've ever sucked my thumb, except possibly briefly as a baby.

 

[Marlene]

I had never thought of it in this context...I sucked my thumb as a child. Stopped when I was about 9 or so. But every time I get stressed my hands go up to my mouth/face area. Like I want to find the comfort that the thumb sucking provided.

I wonder if this is what led me to smoking at such an early age?

Lisa

 

[nic]

I lived in an abusive household growing up, and I sucked my thumb until age 8 or 9. I don't know if the two are related or not, though.

 

[Grama-Herc]

I sucked on 2 fingers until I was about 11 or 12. I even had large callus type growths on the spots where my teeth rested.

I still have a faint scar on both fingers from the callus due to the prolonged pressure of my teeth.

Marlene brings up an interesting thought----relating this to early life smoking. I was about 15 or 16 when I started smoking so maybe there is something to these two things being related!

 

[nie]

I didn't choose one, because I never sucked my thumb.

 

[kers]

I grew up in a house where the abuse was ongoing. I sucked my thumb until I was 12. I didn't stop by choice--the dentist put a contraption in my mouth that wouldn't let me do it anymore. Even now, when I'm sleepy or scared, I tuck my thumb under my chin and wrap my index finger around my nose in a sort of modified thumb-sucking position.

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I carried a piece of a blanket until 12, too. I tied it up in knots and rubbed them to calm myself. I still tend to rub things, like the hems of my shirts, when I need to calm down.

 

[anthony]

I didn't vote because I don't think I've ever sucked my thumb, except possibly briefly as a baby.

I added a further option for yourself, myself and likely many others. Beyond being a baby / toddler where I no doubt sucked my thumb though do not remember... but kids often do that at some point.... I fall into that category.

 

[JustJane]

I didn't vote because there didn't seem to be a category for me. I sucked my thumb until I was 18 - and occasionally after that. I don't recall when I started.

 

[Annie]

I grew up in a house where the abuse was ongoing. I sucked my thumb until I was 12. I didn't stop by choice--the dentist put a contraption in my mouth that wouldn't let me do it anymore. Even now, when I'm sleepy or scared, I tuck my thumb under my chin and wrap my index finger around my nose in a sort of modified thumb-sucking position.

The only difference with me is that I was 13, same thing... dentist intervention. I do the exact same thing as kers now, in meetings, stressed, or scared, and my children have told me that I suck my thumb in my sleep as well, from time to time.
Until this poll, I never really thought of it as being because I was abused.

Interesting poll, thanks for posting it!

Annie

 

[RubyNicole]

I was traumatized young and I sucked till I was 8 when an orthodontist put in a thumb gaurd to prevent the thumb sucking.

 

[disconnect]

I sucked my thumb until I was 12/13 and I'd do it all the time. It was a way to comfort myself. Even now, when I'm feeling extremely anxious and low, as a 25 year old adult, I find myself slipping back into that habit, but it doesn't have the same effect.

I had to stop, because my teeth were a mess and the orthodontist told me that I needed a brace, but I had to stop sucking my thumb. From that day on, I didn't do it again.