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Thumb sucking in adults, psychology? The effects of thumb sucking in adults.
What do you think about this habit?
If I suck my thumb, it’s to reassure myself
Nobody laughs when they see a baby separated from its mother or a young child left to cry on the pretext that you shouldn’t give into them. They have no other way of expressing themselves than crying. Seeing that it has no effect on those around them, they then turn to their thumb to reassure themselves and find the comfort they lack.
➡ Despite what others think, it’s just a comforting, soothing and reassuring ritual, a little cocoon I seek to recreate to protect myself. Some people bite their nails or play with their hair, others suck their thumb. Everyone has their own ritual. This one is less common and more childlike, which is why it’s frowned upon by society. But the aim of the action is the same: to reduce my anxiety.
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There’s nothing wrong with returning to your childhood
It’s often said that children are cruel to each other, but sometimes adults are no better. After a certain age, sucking your thumb is seen as something to be ashamed of, and is met with mockery. This gesture makes me look like a big baby and gives the image of a fragile, vulnerable person, who tends to withdraw into themselves.
However, there’s nothing wrong with going back to your childhood and taking refuge in your cocoon for a little while, just long enough to be carefree again and to reassure yourself. I’d like to know anyone who has never enjoyed watching a good old Walt Disney cartoon snuggled up under a blanket! Psychiatrists and psychoanalysts are quick to point out that it’s sometimes good to let go and allow yourself to regain a part of your childhood. As long as the means used to combat the stress are minor.
But be careful not to regress into the Peter Pan syndrome, that keeps you locked up in a childlike world
In the end, sucking your thumb at any age isn't really a big deal
When you think about it, sucking your thumb is a healthier and less expensive addiction than smoking. It will make me less fat than if I stuffed my face with food as soon as I got stressed. So it’s neither a harmful habit nor a serious act! The problem is that sucking your thumb in public can be really embarrassing. The famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, like most people, said that “it’s primarily an act of autoerotic exhibition, hence the embarrassment of others who catch you in this intimate moment”. And what if I tried to reverse the situation?
🧠 I think first about my well-being. If it relaxes me, I don’t deprive myself of it because of teasing that’s even more childish than my act. I don’t hesitate to tell myself (or them!) that they’re the ones with the twisted minds!
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The editor's opinion – The real problem is elsewhereIf you want to put an end to this nasty habit, body therapies can help you release the emotional overload. Sophrology, reiki or mindfulness meditation are some examples. There are also tricks like putting plasters on your finger or applying nail polish with a horrible taste. It’s important to remember that we suck our thumbs when we feel vulnerable and are trying to fight stress or protect ourselves. The question is, what from! In order to stop sucking your thumb, you have to treat the root of the problem and try to determine the origin of the stress or discomfort. 🤗 Understand yourself, accept yourself, be happy... Let’s do it here and now! #BornToBeMe |
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Hi, I am 54 years old and I suck my thumb. Not many know, my children accept it, catching me from time to time. My boyfriend’s over the years have learned to accept it. I try to be discreet about it. When it comes up in discussion I am quick to say it doesn’t give you cancer. It makes me feel comfortable. I don’t see it as a regressive childhood behavior and think that is another misconception of doctors. I meditate,exercise and have much psychotherapy for childhood sexual abuse and challenges with a controlling mother that I work for. At the end of the day I don’t need to shame myself for anything else. It makes me happy and is calorie free.
Genevieve Stevenson