# Adult self soothing poll **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 23, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950 "2012-12-23T19:56:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/1 "2012-12-23T19:56:35Z")
It’s odd what pops into your head at night isn’t it? Occasionally I’ll read about someone who as an adult sucks their thumb or uses a blankie or bear to get to sleep, & decided to see who was brave enough to 'fess up. Hence this poll, which is anonymous, BTW! ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/2 "2012-12-23T20:34:36Z")
Not weird at all! My blankie is cheaper, more legal and more easily obtainable than cannabis (2nd choice). ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/3 "2012-12-23T21:42:00Z")
Some daily quality time with a bottle of Gewurstraminer does it for me. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/4 "2012-12-23T21:51:12Z")
Preface: my reply is a joke directed at Troppus, and not factual. My vote is C, both Both a security blanket, and thumb sucking…except its my ex wifes twin sucking my thumb ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/5 "2012-12-23T22:07:11Z")
I’m on my phone, so I can’t see the poll, but is there an option for “other”? Because if so, I choose bubble wrap. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2012, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/6 "2012-12-23T23:55:41Z")
[Kitty purr](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u38xZsCTCOY) usually does it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/7 "2012-12-24T04:59:02Z")
I think we all self-soothe in many different ways but so far as infantile needs go, my son’s ex had to have her “bankie.” All that was left was a pale blue square about the size of a napkin. She slept with it every night and oddly, for it to “work,” she had to put it on top of her head. If I’m lyin’ I’m dyin. We’ve got some cute pictures. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/8 "2012-12-24T15:38:29Z")
I cuddled a stuffed animal to sleep from the age of 15-35, until my husband and I got our dog and she likes to rip apart soft things like teddy bears. Now I have to keep all my stuffed animals on a high shelf in a closet. It actually took me a quite a while to get used to sleeping without a stuffed animal clutched to my chest. ---
**Author:** ![SandyHook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@SandyHook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SandyHook)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/9 "2012-12-24T16:34:17Z")
I went with, “No, I stopped when I was little.” I can’t remember ever having a blankie, special teddy bear, etc. Though I suspect that almost everyone ‘self soothes’ regularly in some form or another. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/10 "2012-12-24T16:43:16Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > I cuddled a stuffed animal to sleep from the age of 15-35, until my husband and I got our dog and she likes to rip apart soft things like teddy bears. Now I have to keep all my stuffed animals on a high shelf in a closet. It actually took me a quite a while to get used to sleeping without a stuffed animal clutched to my chest. I replaced my teddy bear with a small squishy pillow and hug that instead. I can’t sleep without something soft and cuddly in my arms. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/11 "2012-12-24T17:03:21Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > I cuddled a stuffed animal to sleep from the age of 15-35, until my husband and I got our dog and she likes to rip apart soft things like teddy bears. Now I have to keep all my stuffed animals on a high shelf in a closet. **It actually took me a quite a while to get used to sleeping without a stuffed animal clutched to my chest.** What, a real live dog doesn’t serve the purpose equally well, or in fact much better? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/12 "2012-12-24T17:09:27Z")
Oh god yes. I have both a special pillow and blanket, which I will use for years, until they aren’t even fit for the rag bin. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/13 "2012-12-24T17:10:51Z")
> [@SandyHook](#): > > Though I suspect that almost everyone ‘self soothes’ regularly in some form or another. Do it too much and you’ll go blind. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/14 "2012-12-24T18:19:24Z")
Thank you for making the poll one that supports choosing multiple options. I went with both _I see no problem with self soothing_ and _I think ya’ll are a buncha freaks and wierdos_ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/15 "2012-12-24T18:25:17Z")
I did too! _LOL_ ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/16 "2012-12-24T18:51:17Z")
> [@robardin](#): > > … _I think ya’ll are a buncha freaks and wierdos_ 😃 Not true…that’s just a rumor our psychiatrist’s started ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/17 "2012-12-24T19:52:02Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Do it too much and you’ll go blind. Stupid, unfounded old wives’ tale. :mad: Unrelated I know, but while I’ve got the floor… my eyesight is way worse than when I was eleven. 'Sup widdat? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/18 "2012-12-24T20:39:04Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Do it too much and you’ll go blind. That’s what I thought this thread was going to be about before I opened it, since I’ve never heard the term “self-soothing.” Then I saw all the options about blankets and stuffed animals and was very confused for a second. Like **Rachellogram** , I used to have a teddy bear but replaced him with a pillow. It feels weird trying to sleep without my arms around something. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/19 "2012-12-24T23:49:25Z")
I’ve never within my memory sucked my thumb for comfort. But a couple of times, out of scientific curiosity, I did put my thumb in my mouth touching my upper palate. To my surprise, it did have a very calming effect on me, and I could see how it could become habit forming. I’ve never seen studies done on this though. What I do for comfort before I sleep is to imagine myself in the arms of my fictional lover as I drift off. It’s fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2012, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950/20 "2012-12-25T00:14:15Z")
> [@Two\_Many\_Cats](#): > > I’ve never within my memory sucked my thumb for comfort. But a couple of times, out of scientific curiosity, **I did put my thumb in my mouth touching my upper palate. To my surprise, it did have a very calming effect on me, and I could see how it could become habit forming**. Assuming you’re female…we need to talk…you seemed very stressed out lately, from your posts. I just may have the thing for you. j/k [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adult-self-soothing-poll/644950.md?page=2)