Poll Do You Use Stuff Toys / Animals For Comfort?

[Grama-Herc]

My cats are my saviors! For a while when I first started sheltering the kittens I had to take one with me when ever possible. I even took my favorite orphan with me tho my therapy sessions. I thought I was a little wierd because I did this but now I see. Not so wierd.

I use to sleep with 4 cats but as I recently lost 2 of them I now only sleep with 2 and this is difficult> I only have a twin bed and I am 6 feet tall and weigh a little more than I should shall we say.

I have made myself a "sleeping buddy" by putting 2 of those body pillows into a very big pillowcase. I wrap myself around that gigantic pillow all night long.

 

[JustJane]

I have dozens of stuffed animals. They are my little sentries and collectively keep me safe.

 

[rallynut78]

I use my cats instead.

x2 i have a live teady bear named max. who else will lower your blod presure just by entering a room?

 

[Annie]

I have Grover from Sesame Street. I have slept with him since I was in grade 3, when I got him. I am now forty and he is still the only stuffy I have. He is now not a sleep toy (lats 8 months or so) as I am afraid he may fall apart soon and I couldn't bear the thought of not having him. My children have been taught that he is strictly off limits to them as I don't want him ruined. He sits on an antique chair right beside my bed. I hold him when I am having a rough time, however he can no longer stay in the bed at night. He was present at the birth of both my children, I brought him instead of a pillow :) He is even in my will; my lawyer has dubbed it the Grover clause. And no don't worry, I am not leaving the toy all my belongings, I just want him cremated with me.

So there you have it, a glimpse into my life that you probably didn't need or want to know! LOL

Annie

 

[shiraz]

Someone once told me that toys and 'blankys' etc carry the positive energy of the snuggles and hugs they have been given which is why kids need a certain soft friend to cuddle with at night or when they are anxious. Since then, I cuddle my stuffed friends with abandon. I used to feel so foolish - wrapped around 'Marmalade' my favorite friend to cuddle as he is as big as a pillow and wonderful to hug onto all night - now I don't care - he is filled with the dedicated love and comfort of a number of decades and it is all this positive energy and love I get back from him now that keeps me calm when things get foggy.

 

[Annie]

I can totally relate to that, Shiraz. I actually 'load' my kids' bears up with hugs when they are away overnight at a granparents place, or somewhere else, so that when they need comfort, they have Mommy hugs. My son is 12 and calls his bear 'Huggy" and my daughter is 8 and calls hers 'Happy'. I asked my daughter why they name Happy and she says because she always feels Happy with her bear.

 

[trapped]

Mina- I've been going through some of the old polls because I'm in quite an anxious state at the moment and needed a distraction until my mind slows down a bit... I was so glad to see this poll and the responses. Thank you. As you know, I've been struggling a bit with the issue of Darwin, and how he provides so much comfort to me, but how at the same time others seem to find the comfort he provides me "socially unacceptable". I'm happy to see I'm not the only one who still has stuffed animals though, or finds them comforting :) Maybe one of these days I'll be brave enough to bring Darwin to therapy with me. Usually I just hide some clay or playdoh or silly putty in my pocket and play with that, but lately it hasn't been enough. Normally she has clay there, and all kinds of art stuff she'll have out since she does art therapy, but she hasn't been putting those supplies out for the past month, I don't know if it's just cuz she hasn't had time to set them up before I get there or if she doesn't want me using them or what... it helped make me feel safer when I went to see her when she had the supplies out though- even though I didn't always use them, it was nice for her to have it set up where I didn't feel forced to use them, but had the option. It made me feel more comfortable opening up and talking to her. Now lately I've been feeling threatened, but don't know how to ask her about the art stuff.

 

[liv now]

I have a few soft toys. They work sometimes when i am distressed but I prefer to hug a really soft fluffy cushion.

 

[Ursa]

I have 2 stuffed dogs.

The small one is Lalau.

The big one is Seu Jorge.

 

[BethRSA]

My Stuffed Animal Comfort

When I'm stressed and at home, I hug my bear. For a while afterwards, I had a small teddy bear on my keychain. So I could just grip him whenever I needed comfort.
I think that fuzzy things (sweater, flannel sheets, stuffed animals, etc.) just help me feel better.

 

[starshine]

I have a special stuffed toy, and also others that I add in as need be.

I used to have a pet cat. I miss her.

 

[LoveWins]

I have begun using a stuffed mouse that squeaks when I press it for comfort at night and during the day when I feel loneliest. I feel pathetic sometimes but it really does help, I'm glad so many others do this and it's ok!