It's been just over two years since I posted this sweet little video, and I am still overwhelmed with the response it's received. I remember getting the idea to film it - I wanted something a little more positive, because my channel can get pretty serious. I just wanted to show off my furry friends. It's since become my most popular video, regularly getting new comments, often from people finally realising that they're not alone in being an adult who loves and depends on their plushie friends. We've created a little community here, and I absolutely adore it. The comments here have made me cry and brightened my days in equal measure. Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories, their struggles, and their sweet stuffies. You are all wonderful, loved, and so very precious. With lots of love, from Nell, Walter, and the gang xxx
im a stuffed animal collector myself i have many different friends and love getting more and more friends, they make me so happy and help me cope with my depression and anxiety and ive been told many times that i need to stop collecting stuffed animals or throw away old ones that i had when i was younger by my mother which i never did i have a stuffed animal that i have kept for a long time he's a grey wolf and his name is chrome that i sleep with and cuddle i do want to take with me everywere but i cant, ive been told no or that someone will take him or that i'll lose him which i never wanted that to happen
This really warmed my heart watching this as a fellow doll and plushie collector. I'm the proud owner of a build a bear MyMelody doll, and ever since I bought her months ago, she's essentially become my child. I enjoy buying her cute outfits on eBay, and the fabric that makes up her body and head is so soft and pleasant to the touch. So much so that I even use her as a sleeping buddy as well. While I hesitate to bring her with me outside on trips for fear of getting dirty,She truly gives me a great sense of comfort when nobody's around. Catering to your inner child as an adult needs to be normalized more.
They can help a lot.. My 21 year old son does too. He has. ADHD and verbal high functioning Autism. I find myself a very sensory person. I will be 67 too. I been collecting since age 35 after suffering chronic pain and PSTD from having that. I am a normal person. It is great to get one at an airport when you fly. I am am Mom to a 41 year old son. A structural Engineer who has built projects around the world. My middle son age 37 works as a manager for the Michigan Treasury Department. My youngest son is the only one that gets it. I have 4 Grandchildren ages 6, almost 5, 2/1/2 and 7 months old. I have my own stuffies and they have theirs.
If someone comments something mean to you, you can just say that this is must better coping mechanism than drinking or smoking and you are not doing any harm to anyone. If someone shames you, they simply are just having problems and probably wish to be as brave as you are💖
Absolutely, I think so many people were forced to put away their stuffed friends when they were children and probably wish they could hold onto a bear when they're anxious, so when they see someone doing that, they get confused and they either think it's wonderful that you're doing what makes you happy, or they're jealous that you are still doing what they wished they could do! Either way, I hope people just learn that we should be kind to each other and ourselves, and that if hugging a stuffed friend is what makes us feel better, then we should go right ahead ☺
I’m 35 and just started significantly adding to my stuffed animal collection since my mother got diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and now close to end of life. I feel so bad inside with the trauma, and looking at them and hugging them makes me feel happy so why not?
Exactly - that's what I would ask anyone who criticises this as a comfort and coping mechanism. Why not? What's wrong with this? If it brings you some comfort and happiness, and doesn't hurt anyone else, then there isn't a downside. And you definitely need comfort. I hope your fluffy friends can keep comforting you through this difficult time, and the difficult times ahead.
I'm 57 and have a lot of stuffed animals. They DO bring me joy, and happiness, and reduce my stress. My husband doesn't mind if I sleep with some of them either, as we have a king size bed and he even likes to cuddle one sometimes. I have a small portable stuffy I call Squishy Man, which is a small sand-filled cat like animal that I can fit in my purse when I go places where I am going to be stressed, and I have taken him into surgery with me too. Much better than other mechanisms that are harmful for stress relief.
I can see how nervous you are talking about your stuffies. Please, don't be afraid to talk about it, know that there are people like me who searched for people who like stuffies like I do, so I know I'm not weird and alone. I've never met another adult in my area who *needs* stuffies
I knew maybe two personally, and then I made this video and was so encouraged to see so many people who also loved stuffies and were so excited to see other people who felt the same way. I'm so thankful I went ahead and made the video, because it's brought so many people together and helped us all realise we're not alone, and there are more of us than we thought ☺
Glad you had someone to snuggle with. Being a big kid is a hell of a lot better than a jaded adult unable to connect with such basic joys. This was a really sweet video.
I just received my ASD and ADHD diagnosis at 47 years old. I have always loved stuffed animals as they truly are a huge comfort. Recently I was shopping for a weighted stuffed animal but they are so expensive or too light in weight so I decided to make my own. I took my favorite stuffed frog opened him up and stuffed him with poly pellets in his arms, legs, tummy and head with the weight of my choice. I put the poly pellets into socks and sewed them shut then stuffed them in where I wanted them. I moved or took out stuffing as needed to get the weighted sock into place. You can also use face cloths or tea towels for a wider spread of weight, then sew that shut. Now my favorite froggy is weighted for even more comfort. I too feel no shame and I sleep better also.
31 this year and I have over 40 stuffed animals. Crammed as much of them as I could to sleep sleep with me on the side of the bed that I don't sleep on. 2 of them, a Calico cat named Chip and a raccoon named Ren I've had since I was a teenager. Both have t-shirts haha! I can't sleep without without them by my side. I bring both of them with me wherever I go as much as possible. I feel more comfortable around them than another person.
I have stuffed animals in my life and I'm 28! I'm used to be so self-conscious about this part of me. This was until I was diagnosed with Autism. Now I don't care what people think when I have them and I use them and stim/fidget toys all the time and I'm 100% happy with myself.
i'm 21 and i still have so, so many plushies. i sleep with one & i sleep with a baby blanket as well. i just ordered another comfort plushie this morning and i'm so excited for her arrival! i have no shame in my attachment to them. this is something that should be normalized in society and i 100% stand behind adults having plushies 💗
I have a bear that I call Katy Bear and she comes everywhere with me. She’s been to college in my dorm. And anytime the fire alarm went off I took her with me cos I didn’t want her to die in a fire. My roommate told me she definitely understood that lol. Also, when we were outside at times because of the fire alarm, I did occasionally see other people holding stuffies too. She’s been on every trip (she’s not a fan of traveling by plane, cos she gets stuffed in a bag. She much prefers car trips lol) She’s been camping with me too. Shes definitely my emotional support bear. I too am on the ASD spectrum, so I get it. But even if someone isn’t, they can still have a stuffy. Nothing wrong with it. Great video! 🥰
I’m 28 and I adore my 2016 Raphael Build-A-Bear. I didn’t really sleep with stuffed animals before that. I’d hug a pillow or nothing instead. But now I can’t imagine not having him.
This was very comforting for me, I'm 21 and have always felt the need to have a stuffed animal with me and as I grow older I just.... feel the need for it more now than ever. Thank you for reminding me that there's nothing wrong with my comfort items.
Aww, I'm so glad my video helped you. I think as we get older, it can get harder to find comfort. We're expected to put away all of the things that brought us comfort when we were learning to become who we are, our stuffies, our blankets, our familiar spaces, and we're out on our own, with people who often don't understand us, and no way of processing what we're going through. We're told that our stuffies are an unhealthy coping mechanism, and somehow smoking and drinking are more acceptable ones for adults! Keep doing what you need to do to stay safe and comforted, and try not to let people steer you away from it.
I'm 24. I started sleeping with a stuffed animal 2 years ago when our family dog was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor. After we found out, I started having very frequent nightmares (a problem I didn't have until now). I had my eye on a specific bear for a few months. There was only one such bear in the store, and it seemed like no one else besides me picked it up because it was always in the same spot. He literally waited for me to buy him 😂. Well, I've been sleeping with Hector ever since, and he helps me calm down every night!
I am so sorry for the upsetting and traumatic way you started your stuffy-comfort journey, but I am so glad you and Hector found each other, it sounds like it was meant to be 😍
Thank you for this video, it's absolutely amazing. I'm 17, 18 in less than a year and I'm so attached to my stuffies and I bring them everywhere. I've been dreading becoming an adult and people judging me for having my frog around. He's my absolute best friend and the best emotional support I have. This video means so much because now I feel much more comfortable about my attachment stuffed animals, thank you!!
Try your very best not yo be ashamed - you might just find that carrying your precious frog might help you find another stuffy-loving friend, or even help someone else feel brave enough to carry their soft friend around 😊
@@nell_tyler_warninghonestyahead I rely on my stuffed animals too. And had I never heard my parents shame me because of them I´d be more happier. But with that being said I still carry and take at least one with me. Because I ask the question all the time. Who cares if adult is carrying cuddly bear or dog for comfort. I´d prefer that over drinking myself to oblivion.
I'm 32, I bring a stuffed animal with me almost everywhere 💕 I have some stuffed friends that stay in my cubicle at work (I keep a few there so they don't get lonely!) and I have some in my home office. I carry one in my bag when I go out, I have some in the bed, and I have a room just for my stuffed animal collection. Spending time in that room makes me feel very peaceful. Having a plush friend with me just in case I need it helps me feel less anxious. I'm flying for the first time soon, for work, and I'm very afraid. I've bought myself a special bear to take on flights and he has a pocket in his paw. I'm going to write my name and phone number on a note to put in the pocket in case something happens and he gets lost.
We are never too old for stuffed animals. I still have my Lassie dog and Socks Cat . I was 4 years old when I received Lassie as a Christmas gift and probably 2 years old when my Aunt Millie made Socks the Cat as a gift for me. I still have both some 60 years later.
I am 34 I love my stuff animals always had I cried when I didn’t have my Elmo with me when I was delivering my son. They are amazing thee listen and understand they’re cute and comforting im so happy my partner accepts it and loves it as well.
This video made my day. I’m 28 and my grandmother hated when I would have stuffed animals with me as a kid, when I was in pain with chronic illness. I don’t know what I would do without them. Feeling so much better about taking my teddy bear I made in my purse with me to an appointment I had the other day. Been struggling with processing old emotions and trauma and needed the reminder that it’s okay to relay on stuffed animals for extra support.
Aww, I'm so glad you were able to bring a friend for some moral support. It's interesting, in some of the things I've read about adults who rely on stuffed animals, for a lot of us it's about working through trauma by accessing a child-like part of our brain, that innocence that's represented by the gentle face of a teddy bear (or, for me, that silly smile of a monkey). There's something that is devoid of judgement and we can just hurt and be as vulnerable as we need to be. Stuffies can take all our stress without losing their smiles 😌
Why wouldn't adults need the warmth of a stuffy friend as much as a kid would. Honestly, we probably need it more with all the stress we have to deal with!! No shame in coping. Thanks for sharing this video
Exactly! If a kid needs a cuddly friend to comfort them and shield them from the big, bad world, well, the world just gets bigger and badder as we get older!
I’m a 52 male with autism spectrum, kleinfleters syndrome, severe depression, anxiety and PTSD. I love my stuffies so much !! I have around 200. Some have more meaning and several are closer to me that I can’t live without. They are my best friends. I sleep with them everyday and one watches tv with me everyday as well. I have max and Duke from secret life of pets but smaller than my hands. I keep both in my side pocket on my cargo pants every where I go. If I’m at the coffee shop I put them on the table looking at me. My closest stuffies are a doggie named Jellybean and Oggie. A rabbit name Sniffles, a bear name doggie bear, an otter name snuggles and a penguin name Icy.
I’m sitting here having anxiety holding my stuffed bull dog animal on my lap right now lol it’s honestly comforting I also have other teddy bears to we all need something to comfort us and it’s the best feeling to just have something soft to hold during hard times or just in any times ♥️🙏🏾 thank you for saying there’s no shame
Thank you for making and sharing this video. I’m 25, have lots of stuffies and buying new ones very often. I see it as a healthy addiciton! Also it makes me so happy and it helps me with my anxiety 🌸 No shame as you said 🙌🏼
I just got a new valentines stuffy tonight. I'm 42 and also autistic. I was beating myself up on the way home for spending money on a "stupid" stuffy so I found your video. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, I'm so glad you found this video too! And I hope you can read some of the other comments here and know that you're not alone, that there's nothing 'stupid' about spending money on something that you like and that makes you feel better, and that you're in excellent company ☺
I just received my first teddy bear as a gift and I’m 28. he’s made from alpaca fur and white with a brown snout and has a knitted green bow tie. He’s hand made as well. He’s so soft and I never thought I would love him as much as I do. He’s always there and I have now found I cannot live without him. I shamelessly take him places as well sometimes he’s in my backpack and sometimes I take him on long car rides. I am glad I got recommended this video randomly because I am sitting here with my stuffed bear happy
Aww I love this! I've been OBSESSED with plushies and Barbies since I can remember and have always taken them everywhere with me with absolutely no shame 😁😁 I've never kept my plush and doll addiction private everyone has always known. I sleep in my bed FULL to the brim of plushies and frequently photograph them for my friends to see on my instagram. My Krusty (he's one of my bears) he's the main one who I first one I need when I'm in tears. Last year I had am extremely bad panic attack/mental health breakdown due to ocd and had to go to the hospital. You can bet I was begging for Krusty. My mum had to go all the way home, grab him for me and bring him to me. I'm your age too and also autistic 💖 P.S I love your plushies so much. They're adorable 💖
When I was organising my office, one major priority was where to put my doll house, which I've had since I was six, and which I still like to tinker with to this day, complete with the old dolls inside. I still have my old Barbies, I still make clothes for them. I was bullied in high school for still loving my toys, but I could never see why, I wasn't hurting anyone and they made me happy. Now I'm seeing that there's a whole community of us who love our toys and stuffies because they're so comforting, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it!
@@nell_tyler_warninghonestyahead aww bless you! I'm sorry to hear you were bullied for it. There's a massive community of adults who collect plush, dolls, action figures.. Facebook has some great groups for collectors to join. I'm a member of at least 4 hahaha! My bestie collects toys too and he's 38 and not even autistic 😁 To make fellow adult toy collector friends you just gotta know where to look (while of course being cautious because I have no doubt there are likely dodgy people out there). I love that you kept your doll house! I ordered 2 more bears today and I'm likely gonna order more dolls by the end of the week 😁😁💖👍
@@SpookySlytherin666 Yes, I loved growing up and finding there was a whole lot of us who never wanted to let go 😊 And then when we talk about it, we're giving more and more people permission to be open about that love.
I have ADHD, and was diagnosed as an adult. I've had a teddy bear that I cuddle every night, and I just need to hold everytime I want to. Her fur just calms me down. I've had her for over 20 years. 😅
I love this❤️ . I’m someone who is a 3 time cancer survivor , have ADHD , complex ptsd , chronic illnesses and my sister was killed violently in August 2023 . I’m 49 and my plushies have helped me in Some of my darkest days . Love your monkey !
I am so deeply sorry for the pain and grief you've had to go through, but I am thankful that your plushies have brought you some light. They truly are healing xxx
Thank you so much for this video. Im 34 and i always carry a stuffed animal with me. I always have. And now i startet sewing my own stuffed animals so i bond with them on a deeper level. This stigma needs to stop cause i know, as a teddy maker, how meaningful my weighted plushies are for adults. Keep spreading this Massage ❤❤❤ Thank you
That's lovely! I sew stuffies too, and I put so much love into all of them, some of them I keep, and some I plan to sell, and I definitely plan to make sure people know that they're perfect gifts for adults xx
I turn 25 this week and have a bear collection with an frog and a duck. Also a cat since my real cat passed away. Teddy bears are my support animals. Thank you for coming out about this so freely, it takes courage and I think this is great, because it normalizes this in society to come out about this. Because it is so healthy and lovely!
I am 66 and have a plushie collection. I just love them ]. I been collecting since my mid 30's. My 20 year old son is a plushie collector. I also have a husband of 41 years or marriage. A 40 year old son, a 36 year old son. Not to mention a 5 year old grandson, a 4 year old grandson, a 2 year old granddaughter and a newborn granddaughter. My 20 year old son (midlife surprise baby0 and I always get some plushies on vacation.
Thank you!!! I love soft toys and would have at least 50. I often take one with me when I’m feeling anxious, usually in my pocket or bag. I’m not autistic, but what you had to say really resonated with me.
I love this video so much! When I was younger I carried a plushie with me everywhere I went because I had a lot of anxiey and having a stuffy just made me feel like I wasn't alone and it helped so much. As I got older and peer pressure started, I still felt like I needed my stuffed animals for support, so I would bring a plushie in my backpack or bag so I knew I wasn't alone in whatever I was dealing with, but nobody could see they were with me and judge me. Now that I'm older I still need them sometimes and it seems the older I get the less I care what people think of me. I bring them for car rides or in my bag sometimes depending on the day. Some days you just need a stuffed friend for that extra support, you know? I started an instagram account with photos of my plushies so whenever I am out in public and feel like somebody is judging me or if anybody tries to be rude I just say "I need to carry this plushie for an instagram account" and they bugger off because I have a "reason" to be carrying my stuffy. I feel like this helped me be a lot braver and not need to hide them all the time, but I really wish I was brave enough to never care at all about what anybody thinks of me. I'm getting closer, but not quite there yet. I definitely would prefer carrying one openly everywhere I go because it just makes me feel so happy. Your video is very inspiring 💕
I love this! That's such a clever idea, and a wonderful way to normalise it for yourself, at least until you feel brave and safe enough to take a stuffy out for no other reason than that you want to. And if and when you do, remember to focus only on the positive reactions. The people who react negatively or judge you only do it because they either don't understand, or because they wish they were brave enough to bring their stuffies out too!
the same with me! i 100% agree on this and taking them on car rides too but i always had a lamb where i would take everywhere but at the moment, i really love monkey and horse teddies at the moment and that’s okay
It’s good to know that I’m not alone. I need plushies and my collection always grows. They have their own personalities, I talk to them, dress them up. I hate that society doesn’t accept it as if adults aren’t allowed to be childlike and have fun or to have comfort items on them. Even something as simple as going to the park is frowned upon , adults look at us as if we shouldn’t be there because their kid wants to go on the swing. You know? It’s awful. We all have things that bring us joy and society needs to stop shaming us. Be you, have your plushies. We’re not alone💜
Same! I’m 32 and have at least 12-15 stuffed animals that I love to have around to cuddle with. It makes me super calm and feel “at home” you could say.
This is probably one of my favorite videos of all time!!! I'm not an adult yet but in high school some people felt it was weird even though I carried it all year, every second so everyone was pretty used to it. I've slept with stuffies all my life and have so many, I don't ever wanna let them go. I struggle with anxiety and mental health issues so I carry my sloth all the time, he's always with me- I get pretty lonely sometimes but I know he's with me. My stuffed animals are such a comfort to me and are amazing, I don't have the words!!!! Thank you for this, me and everyone else really appreciate it. I hope your doing better, my sloth says hi and sends hugs!!!!
I'm 13, nearly 14 and I have autism and ADHD. I have loved stuffed animals since I was small and still do now but I feel like I should have grown out of it by now but I haven't. I've been struggling recently with my self esteem and anxiety (suspected anxiety) and I have a rabbit called Bunny (ik creative name) that I have had since I was a baby and she used to come with me everywhere but now I feel like I shouldnt take her everywhere bc I'm growing up now but she helps when I'm feeling anxious. Idk what to do at this point bc I have a real fear of people judging me and I feel like it isn't normal at my age but I watched this video and it made me feel so much better about myself so thank you ❤
What i hate more then people try to shove their shallow stereotypes down your throat to be like specific way instead not following the crowd and be who you want to be
Im only a teen yet i have many stuffies that help me cope in a healthy way! I usually bring them to stores or school and they really do help! I love bringing my little lobster friend (his name is luscious Lad. Me and my mom named him) or even my little cat that reminds me of puss in boots. So far no one seems to mind but I'm worried for high school since the expectations of me being a normal teen are just so dang high! I should be ok though, I'm touring the school early so i can ask if it's ok that i bring them in. I'm just so dang happy to have plushies that make me feel safe :]
This video made me tear up. Thank you so much for this, I am 31 and recently lost my dad and I am a big Barbie collector and ever since I was a kid I always had Barbie with me and now today I really take time to heal my soul and truly love myself, and still to this day if I travel or am watching movies in my bed I have a Barbie with me lol, it just brings me comfort. You are such a beautiful human and know just by this video alone you're reaching to those who are also learning to accept every single part of them. Keep shining your light and cuddle those stuffies wherever and wherever you please! Thank you thank you thank you. 💖💖💖💖
Aww, thank you! What a special comment. I still have my own Barbie collection too! My parents said I always had something in my hand, often a Barbie, I always had a little friend to give me courage. I am so glad that, by me reaching that point of self-acceptance, and knowing that there's nothing wrong with this, nothing weird, nothing creepy, nothing childish, nothing unhealthy, other people are learning to embrace it as well, and to know that if this is the thing that makes them feel safe, no one has the right to tell them that it's wrong xx
I have a plushie of my favorite anime character (Kakashi Hatake) and I quite literally bring him everywhere I can. I’m an adult so sometimes I’m scared people will judge me but I literally need him with me.
Me too my coworkers know I keep my stuffed animal dog hubble in my person and they know if I get overwhelmed or anxious I can take him outside with me for a few seconds and calm down and I’m 20 😂♥️
I have destructive habits. But I also have a large amount of stuffed animals. I think if I could turn to them more when I’m out and experiencing my most intense anxieties, I could come home and not turn to my destructive coping mechanisms. I think I’m going to start taking one with me, and hopefully I can get over potential mean glances. Thanks for this video. Much love.
Oh, bless. I have destructive tendencies too, things like skin-picking and nail-tearing. For me, having a little stuffed friend in my bag is a good safety net, because having something to squeeze and pull at lets me get some of that energy out of my system before I do something harmful to myself. At least until I can get into a safe place. I hope you're able to find a good way of coping xxx
this is the same problem that i have , but i have been relying on stuffed animals and worry that i have too many but can never get myself to physically sell them because i’m attached to ghem. When i go into the bathroom, i talk to my stuffed animals because it distracts me from picking at my skin or when i’m in the shower, its honestly so wonderful how much better it can make us feel when we have a stuffy who’s not only there for lifelong, but it doesn’t have any judgements what so ever which is what i think makes it closer to you as you can talk to your teddy and it makes you feel better about yourself because it’s having someone to understand you, and that for me personally is why its special to me
I never cared for stuffed animals until I had my son .But now he's grown out of them and I'm the one who still loves my stuffed animals, especially my toy dogs .
I'm glad you're teaching the next generation. We won't let the naysayers (many of them from older generations) indoctrinate them against our coping mechanism. We will defend it together.
Absolutely! Gone are the days of 'put away the things of childhood' and 'grow up!' - we know that comfort, happiness and security come in many forms and have no age limit. And honestly, if hugging a teddy bear stops a lot of us from turning to drinking, smoking or doing drugs, I don't see why anyone should have a problem with it! Would they rather we use a more 'grown up' coping mechanism?!
And yes, I'm definitely teaching the next generation. I proudly tell kids that I still sleep with my stuffed monkey, even though I'm 'big' now 😄 And I'll also proudly tell single people that I sleep with my monkey on one side and my partner on the other, and, like a good, reasonable person, he thinks there's nothing wrong with that, so they can definitely find someone who will love them, stuffies and all 🥰
I don't know why this came up in my recommended but I'm having a really hard time rn and I needed to hear this. I don't really carry them anywhere, mostly because I'm afraid of losing them or getting them dirty, but when I feel alone or sad, I always just hug them and cry, and I know that it's not true and that they're not alive, but I usually feel better after hugging my pillow/my stuffed bunnies, I feel like they love me unconditionally and that they are there for me when I feel lonely. I'm so happy to see I'm not the only who feels like this and validated that not because I rely on my bunnies/pillow mostly when I'm sad, I'm not a capable or responsible adult who needs to "mature" it has nothing to do with that. I'm glad I found someone else's experience 😊. Life is too short and we all should do what makes us happy (obviously as long as it doesn't hurt anyone) and we are all just trying to navigate through life as best as we can.
I'm so glad this video found you when you needed it! I love it when I get a new comment on this video and I see that another person has found that they're a member of a happy community of adults who love their cuddly friends and who are learning there's no shame. There are some people who love their plushie friends and who've been told to develop a more 'healthy' adult coping mechanism, and my answer to that is, like what? Drinking? Smoking? Going to a shooting range? Holding a teddy and having a cry has to be the healthiest coping mechanism there is, because it's not hurting us or anyone else. Which, really, also makes it the most responsible! ☺
Much respect, I need and love to have plushies with me too. If others have issues about it, they are their issues. Someone else's expectations are not a to do list. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I love stuffed animals, too. :3 Stuffies help ground me as well, and I'm almost 30. I have some mental health/disability ones from the company Plushie Dreadfuls, and to be honest, they are my absolute favorites. And bunnies are my favorite animal, so it's a win-win. 💜 For doctors appointments, I enjoy carrying one of the Dreadful bunny plushies in my bag because it helps me feel less alone or anxious. My recent Dreadful plushie I bought is called the Avoidant Personality Disorder bunny (who I named Gerald). :D I'll try to be less shameful when it comes to my plushies. Maybe I'll bring one of them on a walk with me sometime. This was a wonderful video. ( ＾▽＾)
I love stuffed animals too! I have loved them since I was born and I never kind of grew out of them, I´m 21 years old. I take them with me to doctor and dentist. I sleep with them in my bed and my spouse. I have had stuffed animal with me in time of surgery too, once I didn´t have one and it was awful, it was horrible, the anxiety was so bad. Now I know I need them and I will take one with me if I feel like I want to. Life is hard enough on it´s own to not be yourself. I´m so glad I found this video, I´m not alone! Love from Finland💖
Thank you for this beautiful comment! I agree, there is so much hardship that we need to face in life, and for me, it's easier to face it all if I hold a stuffed animal sometimes. I can't be bothered pretending to 'grow up' just to make other people happy. And most people grow out of stuffed animals just to replace them with other ways of comforting themselves. Stuffed animals works for me, so I don't see any reason to change now 😄
I am so Happy I had found your channel. Watching your video made me smile. I have a love of stuffed animals since I was a kid. I am 52 and have several stuffed animals. They bring me joy, comfort, happiness, they keep me company. I couldn't be with out them. Thank you for sharing. Your stuffed animals are so very cute. I have depression, and anxiety. I also find them help me. As I always say, everyone doesn't matter your age. Everyone can have stuffed animals. 😊❤
I love stuffed animals too. I'm not autistic but do have several mental health diagnosis and holding and being around my stuffed animals is so soothing. I sleep with them. I watch TV with them. when I talk to my therapist I am always holding one. I really enjoyed your video and it made me feel less ashamed
I'm so glad you felt that way! I definitely think there are more of us out there than we think. The comments on this video alone have taught me that! They're just so comforting and soothing, they can be a really good way of focusing our energy on something tangible and soft and non-threatening so that things feel a little easier to process. And they're adorable, which is an added bonus 😄
One of my greatest things in my life is my desire for plushies/stuffies. I reckon I definitely have at least 150+ in my room (Precisely dotted round the room in various locations to maximize roomspace) My current main collection are Fugglers , I have 85+ at the moment. I'm sat here at 36 years old happy as anything with my plushies, but I know I'm like the only person in my friend groups. I'm aware of who loves plushies as much as I do. So whilst I have supportive friends, I can feel alone. I follow plush friends on Instagram, which is nice, but trying to project what I love in other places isn't always easy. I'm not sure if I have autistic traits etc, but I know my behaviour is vastly different from other people. Doesn't mean I matter any less because I have a passion people don't associate with my age. This video spoke to me soul. I loved your stuffies by the way, and you seem like a wonderful person. ❤️
This video is so inspirational and powerful. I myself suffer from severe depression, ptsd and anxiety and this teddy bear I have is the best friend I could ever have. 😊 ❤❤❤
You absolutely are not alone :) Being 39, i have a collection of hundreds of plushies, from small to Giant, self-diagnosed high masking AuDHD after a severe burnout and now i do deeply understand myself for the first time in my life after trying to really hard for about the last 15 years and never understanding, why almost no one can understand me (i did lots of therapies but was masking too well to be diagnosed properly, self education and analysis of me and other humans in the most part of my spare time etc.). I am looking forward to find a place to get a formal diagnosis but it is not easy. It helps a lot, to know, that i am not the only one, who feels like an alien between humans. I started collecting plushies in my mid-twenties, when i felt very alone and got my first depressive episode. They give me warmth, security and will never choose to leave me, like many people did. I can love them unconditionally and get the feeling, that they love me back. I also emotionally deeply attach to other "objects" (i hate to call my plushies like that, because they feel alive for me), like my car, my bicycle, my house etc. On plushies, i always can rely on. I will never ever want to be without them. I am still too ashamed to show them in public but often, i carry a small one in my pocket and keep it in my hands, when no one is around. I also make my own plushies and do love it (your green bear looks adorable btw). It is one of my special interests and i am very passionate about it. I made some dogs, deer and wolves, two sharks, a teddy bear and am working on a giant fox at them moment. Sewing also lets my brain calm down. The feel of fluffy faux fur is one of the best things for me, to relax.
I went on a plane for basically the first time a few months ago (first time in fifteen years, first time ever in a wheelchair) and I was clutching Bimbo the entire time I was at the airport and on the plane!
I’m 37 and absolutely love stuffies 🥰 my bed is full of them, I recently got a huge polar bear from ikea and he’s my comfort at night - suffer with insomnia and he just brings me comfort and that helps me sleep - I have my giraffe that when I go somewhere for a week/ weekend / night away he comes with me. ❤ I’m not ashamed xx
Not going to lie - I am jealous! Walter looks like he gives the *best* hugs! I got my most beloved bear when I was 9 years old. It was August 8th (I remember because it was my grandfather's birthday and we wished him happy birthday that day). My mom took me on a day trip to a quilt shop because she was into quilting. He was living at the quilt shop, and I asked my mom to get him for me. He's 9", so he's a bit smol for me now (I'm 35), but I still sleep with him every night. He went to middle and high school with me every day in my book bag. I tend to spray him with my favorite perfume, so he has a comforting scent to him if I ever need to travel (usually for work). On the small child front: Kids have such interesting views on adulthood. I definitely remember thinking adulthood was like a choice, and one day you consciously made the choice to stop utilizing comfort objects, stop utilizing imaginary friends, stop imagining things, stop playing pretend, stop being creative, etc. Instead, it was just a gradual process over time. I also thought when I became an adult, I'd start using several sheets instead of just the comforter by itself. It wasn't until my early 30s that I realized "that's a personal choice, I don't *have* to, and also, if I haven't started now, I won't." I love that you gave the small child something to think about!
Hi! Thank you for your video ❤️ I always liked stuffed animals, I never stoped.. I’m 28 and still bring them around with me everywhere I go. Like you I have some smaller ones that are more easy to put in my bag or pockets. I was sick these past few days and my plushies gave me some support and helped me cope with the pain and sadness. I always wondered why I am like this, I don’t know anyone personally who is like me.. I finally decided to do some research and found your video ❤️ Thank you for making me feel normal ❤🧸
Thanks for sharing. Scheduled a dentist apt. This week and literally told the receptionist I have bad anxiety at dentist offices and will be one of the adults that shows up with a stuffed animal in hand. They were really understanding. Nice to hear there are others who really on plushies.
When I first started carrying a stuffed animal 10 or so years ago, I was really self-conscious about it too. I was used to "you're grown, not allowed.. " training. But I did grow used to it eventually. At first, mine was just in my backpack until I grew brave enough to carry him in my arms. (His name is Chance. I got him at a thrift store, missing an eye.) Flash forward a few years, I went to a dental appointment. I was trying to be brave and NOT carry him. I was having such bad Panic Attacks (I struggle with PTSD, Panic Disorder and more), the dentist refused to see me without my stuffie. They tried to find something else for me, but failed to find anything that would work. Next time I went in and Chance soothed me enough I was able to get through my appointment without problems. Lesson learned!
Thank you for sharing. I have and stuffy I relied on through an emotionally disregulated kidhood into young adulthood. Still rely on her if I'm feeling anything big. I held her in my home spaces without hiding her even as a teen but I never felt like I was allowed to have her in public. It never really occured to me that I could do that. And the wide world of scary strangers is where I'd need her the most now. You just opened my mind to new possibilities of compassion and care for myself so thank you
I am so glad I made this video, every time I check back on it there are so many lovely comments, lifting each other up, creating a beautiful community and helping people realise that they're not alone!
Thank you for sharing! Stuffed animals are lovely, and I’m happy to see you enjoying yours. They really are a great coping mechanism. I’ve recently gotten a weighted stuffed animal hippo, and he is wonderful to hug and a lovely emotional support friend. I sewed a little jacket and top hat for him.
I collect them. I like teddies, a lot. It helps me with my trauma. I have a lot of age dysphoria too, so because of the dysphoria (being mostly 4-8) I'm less self conscious some of the time, so sometimes it's a good thing. other times, It's not that I want to avoid responsibility, its just that sometimes I want people to realise and *see* that I'm *not* 30 and not make a face when I ask for a sticker at the doctors office. I support you.
I'll be honest, sometimes the appearance helps me as well. I'm autistic and while for the most part I cope with things very well, there are times when I struggle greatly. I have at times brought my big monkey, Walter, to very stressful appointments, partly because I need him, but also to basically signpost to people that I am not in a mindset where I can handle the current situation. If I enter a doctor's office and I'm clutching a teddy, then it's not as much of a leap for people to understand that I might need someone else to speak for me, that I might struggle with eye contact, that I might rock back and forth in my chair. I remember when I was getting my IUD, I took Walter with me to hospital, and the response was that people were very gentle with me, they spoke slowly, they took my autism diagnosis more seriously, and they let me keep him with me until I was unconscious, and gave him back to me before I woke up. I think it's a powerful think to use our fluffy friends to help people understand what we need. It's like they can speak for us, in a way.
Recently I started a plush collection. I saw a big stuffed rabbit in a store (plus it was in a recycled bottle, so I really fell in love). Finally I started this collection with a stuffed whale found on promotion, randomly in a store. And I bought the rabbit second hand because it was more affordable! I already had Pokemon stuffed animals, but I thought of them more as decorations. What I love about stuffed animals is that in general they are very soft, and super cute, and personally just seeing them makes me happier.
A plush collection sounds like heaven 😍 And yes, they just light up your whole day. Whenever I'm in my office and I see my sweet little Gerald sitting on my Bibles, I just can't help but smile 😊
Hi Walter! I have a koala teddy bear named Peg. I call her my hangout and we've been together 7 years. When I had surgery done on my hand, Peg was with me, near by on a table. What you are doing is great! Keep it up. It's a great coping tool.
I'm in my mid 30ies and I brought my teddybear to my bonemarrow biopsy. I was so afraid, I was literally out of my mind...so he helped me not to lose it even more. The nurse and surgeon didn't even question the teddybear at all...they told me that most people bring stuffed animals or good luck charms with them. 🤷🏻♀️ The staff was so kind, like the nurse was holding my hand through the procedure because I was in so much pain. 🥺
I just stumble over your Video. You speak out of my heart. I love stuffanimals and I am already 52. No I am not lonly or have a problem. I have a family a house a dog and a cat. But still I love them and everybody who loves me accept it. The other people I don't care anymore but in the past I felt of cause like it is my little secret. But since I am very open with it I found out that many people have a stuffy Thanks for this nice monkey show ; )
I too have a stuffed animal that really comforts me, and I see that very often people are contradictory to this, I'm Italian and I'm 17 I also have autism and I must say that there is a lot of rigidity in this country, very often if I carry it, it's inside a backpack, also because people look at you too badly afterwards here, there have been some calm and open people about the thing but they are really rare here, I very often feel even in my family there is this rigidity, for example mine father says that sooner or later he hopes that I will be able to overcome it, to be strong, and it is really oppressive to think that in order to be mature in my father's eyes I have to get rid of my teddy bear, and it also makes me sad that I always have to hide it when I am out , because otherwise there is too much shame in this, I think it is a beautiful thing, and I can enjoy my life better with this care for myself of appreciating my plush friend, so I hope that I will always and forever be able to don't listen to this rigidity and be free to express this side of me, and of my love towards this teddy bear. So I'm really reassured to know that I'm not the only one with this love for stuffed animals, I really feel better so thank you very much for sharing this experience!💗💙
honest to god this video came to me at just the right time- im about to start college and i often need something like a stuffy to keep me happy and grounded but i dont carry one for the sake of social norms and not being made fun of even more than i usually am- but i think i really am going to try and bring one of my stuffed friends with me most days because they bring me so much comfort and im tired of pretending that a hug from a human or being sat in a dark corner is going to help me when all i really need is to squeeze my build a bear alien. so thank you, so much, for being true to yourself and helping all of us to be ourselves, too
Oh, that makes me so glad! Yes, hug your cuddly alien buddy! And you never know, you being brave enough to bring your stuffy to college might help other people come out of the woodwork and bring their stuffies. You might have people tell you how cute your bear alien is, they might tell you about their stuffies, they might say how they wish they could bring theirs, and you'll be able to be the one to tell them there's no shame in it. And you might end up with some stuffy-loving friends ☺
Thank you. Thank you so, so much for this. I’m 24, and I was diagnosed with Autism last year. Outside of that even, I’ve always been ridiculed by people and even my parents for being “childish”, but I need them. They make me happy and give me the support I need to keep myself regulated and in a good mental state, and if that’s what I need, then so be it. I’m still scared of being perceived as childish, but your video has helped me feel more comfortable. 💚
That makes me so glad, this video was really just me wanting to overcome those feelings after realising that there was no basis to the people saying I was childish or that this was an unhealthy coping mechanism, and seeing how many people it has helped and encouraged is making me so grateful I sat down with my sweet stuffies and filmed it (and thankful that they didn't get camera-shy and refuse to be filmed 😆)
I went to second hand store and bought a fox stuffed animal and I absolutely adore it...I am 19 and I have all my favorite stuffed toys and they all sleep with me and I love them ❤
I also wanted to share with you something i learned. Monkeys represent joyfulness. I felt on my heart that since you are drawn and feel a sense of security when you are with your monekys, that maybe the Lord is drawing you to his joy-fullness for strength. Sometimes there is a hidden message into the things we are drawn too. Theres a scripture that says the Joy of the Lord is your strength. I just felt on my heart that that was for you and that your monkeys could very well be a reminder/representation that His Joy is your strength. I just share this to encourage when the going gets tough and you grab that monkey fr support. . Thank you again.
Aww, thank you so much for sharing that. I definitely feel like joy gives me strength. Joy is the second of the Fruit of the Spirit, right after love, and I think it's there for a reason. I feel like joy goes deeper than just happiness, you can be joyful even when you're sad, because it's deeper than the ups and downs of what makes you smile or laugh. And I definitely feel like monkeys have that way about them, just being joyful all the time, no matter what. Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate that xxx
I have a stuffed animal. She’s a Build-A-Bear and she has a strawberry sent in her and whenever I get anxious, I smell it and it makes me less anxious. It’s really cool that I can go to her whenever I start getting anxious. It helps when I’m really anxious too, like I can feel my heart pounding out of my chest and I smell that strawberry scent and I calm down immediately! It’s awesome!
Thank you for this video. I just found it and I am sixteen and still really like having my stuffed animals with me, but I fee embarrassed about it. It’s reassuring to know that there are adults who still really love their stuffed animals and that I don’t have to grow out of it because I don’t want to. Thank you.
Honestly, whatever works for you, you do it. I have two stuffies, there both bunnies, one is small, and there other is bigger. I sleep with the big one, and I can honestly say that I feel emotionally safe with them. I'm not embarrassed. If they, music and Journaling from time to time work for me for self therapy, then fine. I never realized it, but I think I gravitated to stuffed bunnies because I had a blankie when I was a baby that had a huge rabbit on it, blue and white with a light ribbon going around it, and I had a life size stuffed rabbit, I called it Mr. Rabbit. Ironically, the blanket and the stuffed rabbit I had as a child I finally got rid of, because instead of bringing me comfort they brought me pain because it reminded me of my childhood. Then when I was 25-27 years old, one of my cats died, I had to put her down, I basically had a break down, went to Target and bought a little stuffed bunny, lost it, and kept the two I have with me now. I guess for me, subconsciously the bunny represents my childhood, innocence, safety, home, love, comfort, none judging love I craved as a child. After growing up, crap from school, dating so many people and now married, my mom passing away, I realized that no one sadly will, or can give me the comfort I crave, and so I have my two stuffies. ❤️💕
That little boy's parents probably told him that he can't have stuffies when he grows older. And, I agree, you can still have stuff toys, even as an adult, it isnt harming anyone, and it's like a comfort! I have plenty on my bed, and I sleep with them. And I have them, and still buy them, because my childhood was traumatic, and my parents never brought me any. So, yeah, I buy them to heal my inner child, and I love them, and I love to collect them! It's better than drinking, doing drugs, partying, like most "adults" do to take a break from life.
I was like that when I went for surgery I had to have my kitty Valerie with me! They asked me if Valerie wanted to be put under too. They kept her with me and woke up to her tucked under my chin. I love Valerie to pieces she is my best friend in the universe!
![Nell Tyler [Warning: Honesty Ahead]](http://yt3.ggpht.com/G_Wwm84VACPUWyxCE4K5INrJ2f3Fs-09xq8wDpYl968-FBUOkZQHOcFvS_xkUsMSo5gnUtOWFA=s48-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj)
It's been just over two years since I posted this sweet little video, and I am still overwhelmed with the response it's received. I remember getting the idea to film it - I wanted something a little more positive, because my channel can get pretty serious. I just wanted to show off my furry friends.
It's since become my most popular video, regularly getting new comments, often from people finally realising that they're not alone in being an adult who loves and depends on their plushie friends. We've created a little community here, and I absolutely adore it. The comments here have made me cry and brightened my days in equal measure.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their stories, their struggles, and their sweet stuffies. You are all wonderful, loved, and so very precious.
With lots of love, from Nell, Walter, and the gang xxx
im a stuffed animal collector myself i have many different friends and love getting more and more friends, they make me so happy and help me cope with my depression and anxiety and ive been told many times that i need to stop collecting stuffed animals or throw away old ones that i had when i was younger by my mother which i never did
i have a stuffed animal that i have kept for a long time he's a grey wolf and his name is chrome that i sleep with and cuddle i do want to take with me everywere but i cant, ive been told no or that someone will take him or that i'll lose him which i never wanted that to happen
This really warmed my heart watching this as a fellow doll and plushie collector. I'm the proud owner of a build a bear MyMelody doll, and ever since I bought her months ago, she's essentially become my child. I enjoy buying her cute outfits on eBay, and the fabric that makes up her body and head is so soft and pleasant to the touch. So much so that I even use her as a sleeping buddy as well. While I hesitate to bring her with me outside on trips for fear of getting dirty,She truly gives me a great sense of comfort when nobody's around. Catering to your inner child as an adult needs to be normalized more.
Stuffed animals love you unconditionally. And they are darling and adorable. Too many stories to tell here, but I treasure them all.
I'm 54 and just started a plushie collection because of my depression and c-ptsd symptoms. It's been very helpful 🥰
I'm so glad you've found some comfort!
They can help a lot.. My 21 year old son does too. He has. ADHD and verbal high functioning Autism. I find myself a very sensory person. I will be 67 too. I been collecting since age 35 after suffering chronic pain and PSTD from having that. I am a normal person. It is great to get one at an airport when you fly. I am am Mom to a 41 year old son. A structural Engineer who has built projects around the world. My middle son age 37 works as a manager for the Michigan Treasury Department. My youngest son is the only one that gets it. I have 4 Grandchildren ages 6, almost 5, 2/1/2 and 7 months old. I have my own stuffies and they have theirs.
@@donnabrown4349I don’t get it u have a 21 old sun then suddenly u don’t and 40 odd years quite a big age gap between a parent and child
If someone comments something mean to you, you can just say that this is must better coping mechanism than drinking or smoking and you are not doing any harm to anyone. If someone shames you, they simply are just having problems and probably wish to be as brave as you are💖
Absolutely, I think so many people were forced to put away their stuffed friends when they were children and probably wish they could hold onto a bear when they're anxious, so when they see someone doing that, they get confused and they either think it's wonderful that you're doing what makes you happy, or they're jealous that you are still doing what they wished they could do!
Either way, I hope people just learn that we should be kind to each other and ourselves, and that if hugging a stuffed friend is what makes us feel better, then we should go right ahead ☺
I totally agree!!!✨🌟✨
I am 63 years old, and I love my stuffed animals. They are my friends and make my life more bearable. My husband calls them my "comfort objects".
I’m 35 and just started significantly adding to my stuffed animal collection since my mother got diagnosed with terminal brain cancer and now close to end of life. I feel so bad inside with the trauma, and looking at them and hugging them makes me feel happy so why not?
Exactly - that's what I would ask anyone who criticises this as a comfort and coping mechanism. Why not? What's wrong with this? If it brings you some comfort and happiness, and doesn't hurt anyone else, then there isn't a downside. And you definitely need comfort. I hope your fluffy friends can keep comforting you through this difficult time, and the difficult times ahead.
I got a new teddy bear today, Yay! For people who don't get this, I feel a bit sorry!
I'm 57 and have a lot of stuffed animals. They DO bring me joy, and happiness, and reduce my stress. My husband doesn't mind if I sleep with some of them either, as we have a king size bed and he even likes to cuddle one sometimes. I have a small portable stuffy I call Squishy Man, which is a small sand-filled cat like animal that I can fit in my purse when I go places where I am going to be stressed, and I have taken him into surgery with me too. Much better than other mechanisms that are harmful for stress relief.
I can see how nervous you are talking about your stuffies. Please, don't be afraid to talk about it, know that there are people like me who searched for people who like stuffies like I do, so I know I'm not weird and alone. I've never met another adult in my area who *needs* stuffies
I knew maybe two personally, and then I made this video and was so encouraged to see so many people who also loved stuffies and were so excited to see other people who felt the same way. I'm so thankful I went ahead and made the video, because it's brought so many people together and helped us all realise we're not alone, and there are more of us than we thought ☺
Glad you had someone to snuggle with. Being a big kid is a hell of a lot better than a jaded adult unable to connect with such basic joys. This was a really sweet video.
I just received my ASD and ADHD diagnosis at 47 years old. I have always loved stuffed animals as they truly are a huge comfort. Recently I was shopping for a weighted stuffed animal but they are so expensive or too light in weight so I decided to make my own. I took my favorite stuffed frog opened him up and stuffed him with poly pellets in his arms, legs, tummy and head with the weight of my choice. I put the poly pellets into socks and sewed them shut then stuffed them in where I wanted them. I moved or took out stuffing as needed to get the weighted sock into place. You can also use face cloths or tea towels for a wider spread of weight, then sew that shut. Now my favorite froggy is weighted for even more comfort. I too feel no shame and I sleep better also.
What a wonderful idea!
It's lovely to see adults that like plushies too.
I grew up having the "Your too old for toys".
But they cause no harm and make some of us happy.
Never too old. I would rather have plushie gifts at almost 67 than flowers.
31 this year and I have over 40 stuffed animals. Crammed as much of them as I could to sleep sleep with me on the side of the bed that I don't sleep on.
2 of them, a Calico cat named Chip and a raccoon named Ren I've had since I was a teenager. Both have t-shirts haha!
I can't sleep without without them by my side. I bring both of them with me wherever I go as much as possible. I feel more comfortable around them than another person.
I have stuffed animals in my life and I'm 28! I'm used to be so self-conscious about this part of me. This was until I was diagnosed with Autism. Now I don't care what people think when I have them and I use them and stim/fidget toys all the time and I'm 100% happy with myself.
i'm 21 and i still have so, so many plushies. i sleep with one & i sleep with a baby blanket as well.
i just ordered another comfort plushie this morning and i'm so excited for her arrival! i have no shame in my attachment to them. this is something that should be normalized in society and i 100% stand behind adults having plushies 💗
I have a bear that I call Katy Bear and she comes everywhere with me. She’s been to college in my dorm. And anytime the fire alarm went off I took her with me cos I didn’t want her to die in a fire. My roommate told me she definitely understood that lol. Also, when we were outside at times because of the fire alarm, I did occasionally see other people holding stuffies too. She’s been on every trip (she’s not a fan of traveling by plane, cos she gets stuffed in a bag. She much prefers car trips lol) She’s been camping with me too. Shes definitely my emotional support bear. I too am on the ASD spectrum, so I get it. But even if someone isn’t, they can still have a stuffy. Nothing wrong with it. Great video! 🥰
I’m 28 and I adore my 2016 Raphael Build-A-Bear. I didn’t really sleep with stuffed animals before that. I’d hug a pillow or nothing instead. But now I can’t imagine not having him.
This was very comforting for me, I'm 21 and have always felt the need to have a stuffed animal with me and as I grow older I just.... feel the need for it more now than ever. Thank you for reminding me that there's nothing wrong with my comfort items.
Aww, I'm so glad my video helped you. I think as we get older, it can get harder to find comfort. We're expected to put away all of the things that brought us comfort when we were learning to become who we are, our stuffies, our blankets, our familiar spaces, and we're out on our own, with people who often don't understand us, and no way of processing what we're going through. We're told that our stuffies are an unhealthy coping mechanism, and somehow smoking and drinking are more acceptable ones for adults! Keep doing what you need to do to stay safe and comforted, and try not to let people steer you away from it.
I'm 24. I started sleeping with a stuffed animal 2 years ago when our family dog was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor. After we found out, I started having very frequent nightmares (a problem I didn't have until now). I had my eye on a specific bear for a few months. There was only one such bear in the store, and it seemed like no one else besides me picked it up because it was always in the same spot. He literally waited for me to buy him 😂. Well, I've been sleeping with Hector ever since, and he helps me calm down every night!
I am so sorry for the upsetting and traumatic way you started your stuffy-comfort journey, but I am so glad you and Hector found each other, it sounds like it was meant to be 😍
Thank you for this video, it's absolutely amazing. I'm 17, 18 in less than a year and I'm so attached to my stuffies and I bring them everywhere. I've been dreading becoming an adult and people judging me for having my frog around. He's my absolute best friend and the best emotional support I have. This video means so much because now I feel much more comfortable about my attachment stuffed animals, thank you!!
Try your very best not yo be ashamed - you might just find that carrying your precious frog might help you find another stuffy-loving friend, or even help someone else feel brave enough to carry their soft friend around 😊
@@nell_tyler_warninghonestyahead I rely on my stuffed animals too. And had I never heard my parents shame me because of them I´d be more happier. But with that being said I still carry and take at least one with me. Because I ask the question all the time. Who cares if adult is carrying cuddly bear or dog for comfort. I´d prefer that over drinking myself to oblivion.
As long as they make you happy.
I'm 32, I bring a stuffed animal with me almost everywhere 💕 I have some stuffed friends that stay in my cubicle at work (I keep a few there so they don't get lonely!) and I have some in my home office. I carry one in my bag when I go out, I have some in the bed, and I have a room just for my stuffed animal collection. Spending time in that room makes me feel very peaceful. Having a plush friend with me just in case I need it helps me feel less anxious. I'm flying for the first time soon, for work, and I'm very afraid. I've bought myself a special bear to take on flights and he has a pocket in his paw. I'm going to write my name and phone number on a note to put in the pocket in case something happens and he gets lost.
Almost 27 and autistic. My mom made me a build a bear my first weekend of college and she's been my constant companion for the last 8 years!
Aww, that's gorgeous!
We are never too old for stuffed animals. I still have my Lassie dog and Socks Cat . I was 4 years old when I received Lassie as a Christmas gift and probably 2 years old when my Aunt Millie made Socks the Cat as a gift for me. I still have both some 60 years later.
I am 34 I love my stuff animals always had I cried when I didn’t have my Elmo with me when I was delivering my son. They are amazing thee listen and understand they’re cute and comforting im so happy my partner accepts it and loves it as well.
This video made my day. I’m 28 and my grandmother hated when I would have stuffed animals with me as a kid, when I was in pain with chronic illness.
I don’t know what I would do without them. Feeling so much better about taking my teddy bear I made in my purse with me to an appointment I had the other day.
Been struggling with processing old emotions and trauma and needed the reminder that it’s okay to relay on stuffed animals for extra support.
Absolutely! They are empathetic ears, loving friends. I’ll carry my stuffies around with me until I’m dead lol
Aww, I'm so glad you were able to bring a friend for some moral support. It's interesting, in some of the things I've read about adults who rely on stuffed animals, for a lot of us it's about working through trauma by accessing a child-like part of our brain, that innocence that's represented by the gentle face of a teddy bear (or, for me, that silly smile of a monkey). There's something that is devoid of judgement and we can just hurt and be as vulnerable as we need to be. Stuffies can take all our stress without losing their smiles 😌
Why wouldn't adults need the warmth of a stuffy friend as much as a kid would. Honestly, we probably need it more with all the stress we have to deal with!! No shame in coping. Thanks for sharing this video
Exactly! If a kid needs a cuddly friend to comfort them and shield them from the big, bad world, well, the world just gets bigger and badder as we get older!
I’m a 52 male with autism spectrum, kleinfleters syndrome, severe depression, anxiety and PTSD. I love my stuffies so much !! I have around 200. Some have more meaning and several are closer to me that I can’t live without. They are my best friends. I sleep with them everyday and one watches tv with me everyday as well. I have max and Duke from secret life of pets but smaller than my hands. I keep both in my side pocket on my cargo pants every where I go. If I’m at the coffee shop I put them on the table looking at me. My closest stuffies are a doggie named Jellybean and Oggie. A rabbit name Sniffles, a bear name doggie bear, an otter name snuggles and a penguin name Icy.
I call my stuff animals Stuffiemals. I made that word up around 20 years ago.
I’m sitting here having anxiety holding my stuffed bull dog animal on my lap right now lol it’s honestly comforting I also have other teddy bears to we all need something to comfort us and it’s the best feeling to just have something soft to hold during hard times or just in any times ♥️🙏🏾 thank you for saying there’s no shame
Thank you for making and sharing this video. I’m 25, have lots of stuffies and buying new ones very often. I see it as a healthy addiciton! Also it makes me so happy and it helps me with my anxiety 🌸 No shame as you said 🙌🏼
i love my stuffed snowman. he gives me comfort and helps with stress and anxiety.
It's okay to have stuffed animals because it brings joy and comfort to people 💖
I just got a new valentines stuffy tonight. I'm 42 and also autistic. I was beating myself up on the way home for spending money on a "stupid" stuffy so I found your video. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, I'm so glad you found this video too! And I hope you can read some of the other comments here and know that you're not alone, that there's nothing 'stupid' about spending money on something that you like and that makes you feel better, and that you're in excellent company ☺
I just received my first teddy bear as a gift and I’m 28. he’s made from alpaca fur and white with a brown snout and has a knitted green bow tie. He’s hand made as well. He’s so soft and I never thought I would love him as much as I do. He’s always there and I have now found I cannot live without him. I shamelessly take him places as well sometimes he’s in my backpack and sometimes I take him on long car rides. I am glad I got recommended this video randomly because I am sitting here with my stuffed bear happy
Aww I love this! I've been OBSESSED with plushies and Barbies since I can remember and have always taken them everywhere with me with absolutely no shame 😁😁 I've never kept my plush and doll addiction private everyone has always known. I sleep in my bed FULL to the brim of plushies and frequently photograph them for my friends to see on my instagram. My Krusty (he's one of my bears) he's the main one who I first one I need when I'm in tears. Last year I had am extremely bad panic attack/mental health breakdown due to ocd and had to go to the hospital. You can bet I was begging for Krusty. My mum had to go all the way home, grab him for me and bring him to me. I'm your age too and also autistic 💖 P.S I love your plushies so much. They're adorable 💖
When I was organising my office, one major priority was where to put my doll house, which I've had since I was six, and which I still like to tinker with to this day, complete with the old dolls inside. I still have my old Barbies, I still make clothes for them. I was bullied in high school for still loving my toys, but I could never see why, I wasn't hurting anyone and they made me happy. Now I'm seeing that there's a whole community of us who love our toys and stuffies because they're so comforting, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with it!
@@nell_tyler_warninghonestyahead aww bless you! I'm sorry to hear you were bullied for it. There's a massive community of adults who collect plush, dolls, action figures.. Facebook has some great groups for collectors to join. I'm a member of at least 4 hahaha! My bestie collects toys too and he's 38 and not even autistic 😁 To make fellow adult toy collector friends you just gotta know where to look (while of course being cautious because I have no doubt there are likely dodgy people out there). I love that you kept your doll house! I ordered 2 more bears today and I'm likely gonna order more dolls by the end of the week 😁😁💖👍
@@SpookySlytherin666 Yes, I loved growing up and finding there was a whole lot of us who never wanted to let go 😊 And then when we talk about it, we're giving more and more people permission to be open about that love.
I have ADHD, and was diagnosed as an adult. I've had a teddy bear that I cuddle every night, and I just need to hold everytime I want to. Her fur just calms me down. I've had her for over 20 years. 😅
Aww, what a beautiful stuffie love story 🥰
I love this❤️ . I’m someone who is a 3 time cancer survivor , have ADHD , complex ptsd , chronic illnesses and my sister was killed violently in August 2023 . I’m 49 and my plushies have helped me in
Some of my darkest days . Love your monkey !
I am so deeply sorry for the pain and grief you've had to go through, but I am thankful that your plushies have brought you some light. They truly are healing xxx
Thank you so much for this video. Im 34 and i always carry a stuffed animal with me. I always have. And now i startet sewing my own stuffed animals so i bond with them on a deeper level. This stigma needs to stop cause i know, as a teddy maker, how meaningful my weighted plushies are for adults.
Keep spreading this Massage ❤❤❤
Thank you
That's lovely! I sew stuffies too, and I put so much love into all of them, some of them I keep, and some I plan to sell, and I definitely plan to make sure people know that they're perfect gifts for adults xx
I turn 25 this week and have a bear collection with an frog and a duck. Also a cat since my real cat passed away. Teddy bears are my support animals. Thank you for coming out about this so freely, it takes courage and I think this is great, because it normalizes this in society to come out about this. Because it is so healthy and lovely!
I just became aware of my own neurodivergence, over the pandemic, and I love my Emotional support stuffed animals. They are amazing.
I’m 37 and I love stuffies 😊
I am 66 and have a plushie collection. I just love them ]. I been collecting since my mid 30's. My 20 year old son is a plushie collector. I also have a husband of 41 years or marriage. A 40 year old son, a 36 year old son. Not to mention a 5 year old grandson, a 4 year old grandson, a 2 year old granddaughter and a newborn granddaughter. My 20 year old son (midlife surprise baby0 and I always get some plushies on vacation.
This makes me feel less alone. My plushies are literally my babies and they mean so much to me, most of them are wolves my favourite animals 🐺🖤
Thank you!!! I love soft toys and would have at least 50. I often take one with me when I’m feeling anxious, usually in my pocket or bag. I’m not autistic, but what you had to say really resonated with me.
The love of stuffies definitely reaches beyond autism, so many of us just want comfort, and stuffies are sometimes more reliable than people, haha.
I love this video so much! When I was younger I carried a plushie with me everywhere I went because I had a lot of anxiey and having a stuffy just made me feel like I wasn't alone and it helped so much. As I got older and peer pressure started, I still felt like I needed my stuffed animals for support, so I would bring a plushie in my backpack or bag so I knew I wasn't alone in whatever I was dealing with, but nobody could see they were with me and judge me. Now that I'm older I still need them sometimes and it seems the older I get the less I care what people think of me. I bring them for car rides or in my bag sometimes depending on the day. Some days you just need a stuffed friend for that extra support, you know? I started an instagram account with photos of my plushies so whenever I am out in public and feel like somebody is judging me or if anybody tries to be rude I just say "I need to carry this plushie for an instagram account" and they bugger off because I have a "reason" to be carrying my stuffy. I feel like this helped me be a lot braver and not need to hide them all the time, but I really wish I was brave enough to never care at all about what anybody thinks of me. I'm getting closer, but not quite there yet. I definitely would prefer carrying one openly everywhere I go because it just makes me feel so happy. Your video is very inspiring 💕
I love this! That's such a clever idea, and a wonderful way to normalise it for yourself, at least until you feel brave and safe enough to take a stuffy out for no other reason than that you want to. And if and when you do, remember to focus only on the positive reactions. The people who react negatively or judge you only do it because they either don't understand, or because they wish they were brave enough to bring their stuffies out too!
the same with me! i 100% agree on this and taking them on car rides too but i always had a lamb where i would take everywhere but at the moment, i really love monkey and horse teddies at the moment and that’s okay
I loved this video very much then.
Thank you so much for this! I’m only 18 but I have a lot of mental health issues and I love plushies but I feel ashamed for it sometimes.
Hopefully you can read some of these comments and know that you're not alone, and there's nothing to be ashamed of ☺
It’s good to know that I’m not alone. I need plushies and my collection always grows. They have their own personalities, I talk to them, dress them up. I hate that society doesn’t accept it as if adults aren’t allowed to be childlike and have fun or to have comfort items on them. Even something as simple as going to the park is frowned upon , adults look at us as if we shouldn’t be there because their kid wants to go on the swing. You know? It’s awful. We all have things that bring us joy and society needs to stop shaming us. Be you, have your plushies. We’re not alone💜
Same! I’m 32 and have at least 12-15 stuffed animals that I love to have around to cuddle with. It makes me super calm and feel “at home” you could say.
This is probably one of my favorite videos of all time!!!
I'm not an adult yet but in high school some people felt it was weird even though I carried it all year, every second so everyone was pretty used to it. I've slept with stuffies all my life and have so many, I don't ever wanna let them go.
I struggle with anxiety and mental health issues so I carry my sloth all the time, he's always with me- I get pretty lonely sometimes but I know he's with me. My stuffed animals are such a comfort to me and are amazing, I don't have the words!!!! Thank you for this, me and everyone else really appreciate it. I hope your doing better, my sloth says hi and sends hugs!!!!
I'm 13, nearly 14 and I have autism and ADHD. I have loved stuffed animals since I was small and still do now but I feel like I should have grown out of it by now but I haven't. I've been struggling recently with my self esteem and anxiety (suspected anxiety) and I have a rabbit called Bunny (ik creative name) that I have had since I was a baby and she used to come with me everywhere but now I feel like I shouldnt take her everywhere bc I'm growing up now but she helps when I'm feeling anxious. Idk what to do at this point bc I have a real fear of people judging me and I feel like it isn't normal at my age but I watched this video and it made me feel so much better about myself so thank you ❤
What i hate more then people try to shove their shallow stereotypes down your throat to be like specific way instead not following the crowd and be who you want to be
Absolutely! Who are they to say their way is better?? If what you do makes you happy, and you're not hurting anyone, then why should anyone else care?
I’m 34 I have a lot of stuffed animals and it keeps me safe and relaxing and happy
I have a lot of stuffed toys i collect every year and i am 25 🤭but i feel so happy when i see them my heart gives good vibes 🥺
Im only a teen yet i have many stuffies that help me cope in a healthy way! I usually bring them to stores or school and they really do help! I love bringing my little lobster friend (his name is luscious Lad. Me and my mom named him) or even my little cat that reminds me of puss in boots. So far no one seems to mind but I'm worried for high school since the expectations of me being a normal teen are just so dang high! I should be ok though, I'm touring the school early so i can ask if it's ok that i bring them in. I'm just so dang happy to have plushies that make me feel safe :]
This video made me tear up. Thank you so much for this, I am 31 and recently lost my dad and I am a big Barbie collector and ever since I was a kid I always had Barbie with me and now today I really take time to heal my soul and truly love myself, and still to this day if I travel or am watching movies in my bed I have a Barbie with me lol, it just brings me comfort. You are such a beautiful human and know just by this video alone you're reaching to those who are also learning to accept every single part of them. Keep shining your light and cuddle those stuffies wherever and wherever you please! Thank you thank you thank you. 💖💖💖💖
Aww, thank you! What a special comment. I still have my own Barbie collection too! My parents said I always had something in my hand, often a Barbie, I always had a little friend to give me courage. I am so glad that, by me reaching that point of self-acceptance, and knowing that there's nothing wrong with this, nothing weird, nothing creepy, nothing childish, nothing unhealthy, other people are learning to embrace it as well, and to know that if this is the thing that makes them feel safe, no one has the right to tell them that it's wrong xx
I have a plushie of my favorite anime character (Kakashi Hatake) and I quite literally bring him everywhere I can. I’m an adult so sometimes I’m scared people will judge me but I literally need him with me.
Me too my coworkers know I keep my stuffed animal dog hubble in my person and they know if I get overwhelmed or anxious I can take him outside with me for a few seconds and calm down and I’m 20 😂♥️
I have destructive habits. But I also have a large amount of stuffed animals. I think if I could turn to them more when I’m out and experiencing my most intense anxieties, I could come home and not turn to my destructive coping mechanisms. I think I’m going to start taking one with me, and hopefully I can get over potential mean glances. Thanks for this video. Much love.
Oh, bless. I have destructive tendencies too, things like skin-picking and nail-tearing. For me, having a little stuffed friend in my bag is a good safety net, because having something to squeeze and pull at lets me get some of that energy out of my system before I do something harmful to myself. At least until I can get into a safe place. I hope you're able to find a good way of coping xxx
this is the same problem that i have , but i have been relying on stuffed animals and worry that i have too many but can never get myself to physically sell them because i’m attached to ghem. When i go into the bathroom, i talk to my stuffed animals because it distracts me from picking at my skin or when i’m in the shower, its honestly so wonderful how much better it can make us feel when we have a stuffy who’s not only there for lifelong, but it doesn’t have any judgements what so ever which is what i think makes it closer to you as you can talk to your teddy and it makes you feel better about yourself because it’s having someone to understand you, and that for me personally is why its special to me
I never cared for stuffed animals until I had my son .But now he's grown out of them and I'm the one who still loves my stuffed animals, especially my toy dogs .
Aww, that's a sweet way to fall in love with stuffed animals!
I'm glad you're teaching the next generation. We won't let the naysayers (many of them from older generations) indoctrinate them against our coping mechanism. We will defend it together.
Absolutely! Gone are the days of 'put away the things of childhood' and 'grow up!' - we know that comfort, happiness and security come in many forms and have no age limit.
And honestly, if hugging a teddy bear stops a lot of us from turning to drinking, smoking or doing drugs, I don't see why anyone should have a problem with it! Would they rather we use a more 'grown up' coping mechanism?!
And yes, I'm definitely teaching the next generation. I proudly tell kids that I still sleep with my stuffed monkey, even though I'm 'big' now 😄 And I'll also proudly tell single people that I sleep with my monkey on one side and my partner on the other, and, like a good, reasonable person, he thinks there's nothing wrong with that, so they can definitely find someone who will love them, stuffies and all 🥰
Thank you so much for this video this makes me feel so protected I love it
Aww, that's so sweet!
I don't know why this came up in my recommended but I'm having a really hard time rn and I needed to hear this. I don't really carry them anywhere, mostly because I'm afraid of losing them or getting them dirty, but when I feel alone or sad, I always just hug them and cry, and I know that it's not true and that they're not alive, but I usually feel better after hugging my pillow/my stuffed bunnies, I feel like they love me unconditionally and that they are there for me when I feel lonely. I'm so happy to see I'm not the only who feels like this and validated that not because I rely on my bunnies/pillow mostly when I'm sad, I'm not a capable or responsible adult who needs to "mature" it has nothing to do with that. I'm glad I found someone else's experience 😊. Life is too short and we all should do what makes us happy (obviously as long as it doesn't hurt anyone) and we are all just trying to navigate through life as best as we can.
I'm so glad this video found you when you needed it! I love it when I get a new comment on this video and I see that another person has found that they're a member of a happy community of adults who love their cuddly friends and who are learning there's no shame. There are some people who love their plushie friends and who've been told to develop a more 'healthy' adult coping mechanism, and my answer to that is, like what? Drinking? Smoking? Going to a shooting range? Holding a teddy and having a cry has to be the healthiest coping mechanism there is, because it's not hurting us or anyone else. Which, really, also makes it the most responsible! ☺
I'm in my 50ies and absolutely LOVE AND NEED my plushies and even have favourite tattooed :)
Much respect, I need and love to have plushies with me too. If others have issues about it, they are their issues. Someone else's expectations are not a to do list. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I have a cute stuffed sheep. It’s part of my life for so long and it just comforts me to hold it.
I love stuffed animals, too. :3 Stuffies help ground me as well, and I'm almost 30.
I have some mental health/disability ones from the company Plushie Dreadfuls, and to be honest, they are my absolute favorites. And bunnies are my favorite animal, so it's a win-win. 💜
For doctors appointments, I enjoy carrying one of the Dreadful bunny plushies in my bag because it helps me feel less alone or anxious.
My recent Dreadful plushie I bought is called the Avoidant Personality Disorder bunny (who I named Gerald). :D
I'll try to be less shameful when it comes to my plushies. Maybe I'll bring one of them on a walk with me sometime.
This was a wonderful video.
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I love stuffed animals too! I have loved them since I was born and I never kind of grew out of them, I´m 21 years old. I take them with me to doctor and dentist. I sleep with them in my bed and my spouse. I have had stuffed animal with me in time of surgery too, once I didn´t have one and it was awful, it was horrible, the anxiety was so bad. Now I know I need them and I will take one with me if I feel like I want to. Life is hard enough on it´s own to not be yourself. I´m so glad I found this video, I´m not alone! Love from Finland💖
Thank you for this beautiful comment! I agree, there is so much hardship that we need to face in life, and for me, it's easier to face it all if I hold a stuffed animal sometimes. I can't be bothered pretending to 'grow up' just to make other people happy. And most people grow out of stuffed animals just to replace them with other ways of comforting themselves. Stuffed animals works for me, so I don't see any reason to change now 😄
@@nell_tyler_warninghonestyahead I couldn´t agree more! Stuffed animals are great and you don´t need to care what others think.🙂
I am so Happy I had found your channel. Watching your video made me smile. I have a love of stuffed animals since I was a kid. I am 52 and have several stuffed animals. They bring me joy, comfort, happiness, they keep me company. I couldn't be with out them. Thank you for sharing. Your stuffed animals are so very cute. I have depression, and anxiety. I also find them help me. As I always say, everyone doesn't matter your age. Everyone can have stuffed animals. 😊❤
Support Monkey 🐵 💕 that is so cute
Walter looks very very comfy
He is! He is so soft and squishy, when I saw him in the store I squished him and he was irresistible 😃
Thank you for sharing this. I still have Monk Monk, my beanie baby monkey. I've been feeling like a weirdo so it's nice to see I'm not alone 😁
Aww, I wish you and Monk Monk many more happy years together! 😄
I love stuffed animals too. I'm not autistic but do have several mental health diagnosis and holding and being around my stuffed animals is so soothing. I sleep with them. I watch TV with them. when I talk to my therapist I am always holding one. I really enjoyed your video and it made me feel less ashamed
I'm so glad you felt that way! I definitely think there are more of us out there than we think. The comments on this video alone have taught me that! They're just so comforting and soothing, they can be a really good way of focusing our energy on something tangible and soft and non-threatening so that things feel a little easier to process. And they're adorable, which is an added bonus 😄
One of my greatest things in my life is my desire for plushies/stuffies. I reckon I definitely have at least 150+ in my room (Precisely dotted round the room in various locations to maximize roomspace)
My current main collection are Fugglers , I have 85+ at the moment.
I'm sat here at 36 years old happy as anything with my plushies, but I know I'm like the only person in my friend groups. I'm aware of who loves plushies as much as I do.
So whilst I have supportive friends, I can feel alone. I follow plush friends on Instagram, which is nice, but trying to project what I love in other places isn't always easy.
I'm not sure if I have autistic traits etc, but I know my behaviour is vastly different from other people. Doesn't mean I matter any less because I have a passion people don't associate with my age.
This video spoke to me soul. I loved your stuffies by the way, and you seem like a wonderful person. ❤️
This video is so inspirational and powerful. I myself suffer from severe depression, ptsd and anxiety and this teddy bear I have is the best friend I could ever have. 😊 ❤❤❤
You absolutely are not alone :)
Being 39, i have a collection of hundreds of plushies, from small to Giant, self-diagnosed high masking AuDHD after a severe burnout and now i do deeply understand myself for the first time in my life after trying to really hard for about the last 15 years and never understanding, why almost no one can understand me (i did lots of therapies but was masking too well to be diagnosed properly, self education and analysis of me and other humans in the most part of my spare time etc.). I am looking forward to find a place to get a formal diagnosis but it is not easy. It helps a lot, to know, that i am not the only one, who feels like an alien between humans.
I started collecting plushies in my mid-twenties, when i felt very alone and got my first depressive episode. They give me warmth, security and will never choose to leave me, like many people did. I can love them unconditionally and get the feeling, that they love me back. I also emotionally deeply attach to other "objects" (i hate to call my plushies like that, because they feel alive for me), like my car, my bicycle, my house etc.
On plushies, i always can rely on. I will never ever want to be without them. I am still too ashamed to show them in public but often, i carry a small one in my pocket and keep it in my hands, when no one is around.
I also make my own plushies and do love it (your green bear looks adorable btw). It is one of my special interests and i am very passionate about it. I made some dogs, deer and wolves, two sharks, a teddy bear and am working on a giant fox at them moment. Sewing also lets my brain calm down. The feel of fluffy faux fur is one of the best things for me, to relax.
I love unicorns 🦄 and Llamas. My brother gave me a stuffed Llama for Christmas 🎄 and it's the best gift I have ever received. 💓 ❤️
I relate to this so much, as a 19 year old last year stuck in an airport overnight, my stuffed bunny Oliver was the only thing able to keep me calm.
I went on a plane for basically the first time a few months ago (first time in fifteen years, first time ever in a wheelchair) and I was clutching Bimbo the entire time I was at the airport and on the plane!
I’m 37 and absolutely love stuffies 🥰 my bed is full of them, I recently got a huge polar bear from ikea and he’s my comfort at night - suffer with insomnia and he just brings me comfort and that helps me sleep - I have my giraffe that when I go somewhere for a week/ weekend / night away he comes with me. ❤ I’m not ashamed xx
Not going to lie - I am jealous! Walter looks like he gives the *best* hugs!
I got my most beloved bear when I was 9 years old. It was August 8th (I remember because it was my grandfather's birthday and we wished him happy birthday that day). My mom took me on a day trip to a quilt shop because she was into quilting. He was living at the quilt shop, and I asked my mom to get him for me. He's 9", so he's a bit smol for me now (I'm 35), but I still sleep with him every night. He went to middle and high school with me every day in my book bag. I tend to spray him with my favorite perfume, so he has a comforting scent to him if I ever need to travel (usually for work).
On the small child front: Kids have such interesting views on adulthood. I definitely remember thinking adulthood was like a choice, and one day you consciously made the choice to stop utilizing comfort objects, stop utilizing imaginary friends, stop imagining things, stop playing pretend, stop being creative, etc. Instead, it was just a gradual process over time. I also thought when I became an adult, I'd start using several sheets instead of just the comforter by itself. It wasn't until my early 30s that I realized "that's a personal choice, I don't *have* to, and also, if I haven't started now, I won't."
I love that you gave the small child something to think about!
Hi!
Thank you for your video ❤️
I always liked stuffed animals, I never stoped..
I’m 28 and still bring them around with me everywhere I go.
Like you I have some smaller ones that are more easy to put in my bag or pockets.
I was sick these past few days and my plushies gave me some support and helped me cope with the pain and sadness.
I always wondered why I am like this, I don’t know anyone personally who is like me..
I finally decided to do some research and found your video ❤️
Thank you for making me feel normal ❤🧸
I have my stuffed animals to help me with everyday stress too. By holding them, I feel safe
Thanks for sharing. Scheduled a dentist apt. This week and literally told the receptionist I have bad anxiety at dentist offices and will be one of the adults that shows up with a stuffed animal in hand. They were really understanding. Nice to hear there are others who really on plushies.
When I first started carrying a stuffed animal 10 or so years ago, I was really self-conscious about it too. I was used to "you're grown, not allowed.. " training. But I did grow used to it eventually. At first, mine was just in my backpack until I grew brave enough to carry him in my arms. (His name is Chance. I got him at a thrift store, missing an eye.)
Flash forward a few years, I went to a dental appointment. I was trying to be brave and NOT carry him. I was having such bad Panic Attacks (I struggle with PTSD, Panic Disorder and more), the dentist refused to see me without my stuffie. They tried to find something else for me, but failed to find anything that would work. Next time I went in and Chance soothed me enough I was able to get through my appointment without problems. Lesson learned!
Thank you for sharing. I have and stuffy I relied on through an emotionally disregulated kidhood into young adulthood. Still rely on her if I'm feeling anything big. I held her in my home spaces without hiding her even as a teen but I never felt like I was allowed to have her in public. It never really occured to me that I could do that. And the wide world of scary strangers is where I'd need her the most now. You just opened my mind to new possibilities of compassion and care for myself so thank you
This is such a good video, thank you for saying this. My stuffed animals mean so much to me and it helps so much that other people feel the same
I am so glad I made this video, every time I check back on it there are so many lovely comments, lifting each other up, creating a beautiful community and helping people realise that they're not alone!
Thank you for sharing! Stuffed animals are lovely, and I’m happy to see you enjoying yours. They really are a great coping mechanism.
I’ve recently gotten a weighted stuffed animal hippo, and he is wonderful to hug and a lovely emotional support friend. I sewed a little jacket and top hat for him.
Oh, he sounds wonderful! And I love the idea of a hippo with a top hat 😄
I collect them. I like teddies, a lot. It helps me with my trauma. I have a lot of age dysphoria too, so because of the dysphoria (being mostly 4-8) I'm less self conscious some of the time, so sometimes it's a good thing.
other times, It's not that I want to avoid responsibility, its just that sometimes I want people to realise and *see* that I'm *not* 30 and not make a face when I ask for a sticker at the doctors office.
I support you.
I'll be honest, sometimes the appearance helps me as well. I'm autistic and while for the most part I cope with things very well, there are times when I struggle greatly. I have at times brought my big monkey, Walter, to very stressful appointments, partly because I need him, but also to basically signpost to people that I am not in a mindset where I can handle the current situation. If I enter a doctor's office and I'm clutching a teddy, then it's not as much of a leap for people to understand that I might need someone else to speak for me, that I might struggle with eye contact, that I might rock back and forth in my chair. I remember when I was getting my IUD, I took Walter with me to hospital, and the response was that people were very gentle with me, they spoke slowly, they took my autism diagnosis more seriously, and they let me keep him with me until I was unconscious, and gave him back to me before I woke up. I think it's a powerful think to use our fluffy friends to help people understand what we need. It's like they can speak for us, in a way.
Recently I started a plush collection. I saw a big stuffed rabbit in a store (plus it was in a recycled bottle, so I really fell in love). Finally I started this collection with a stuffed whale found on promotion, randomly in a store. And I bought the rabbit second hand because it was more affordable!
I already had Pokemon stuffed animals, but I thought of them more as decorations.
What I love about stuffed animals is that in general they are very soft, and super cute, and personally just seeing them makes me happier.
A plush collection sounds like heaven 😍 And yes, they just light up your whole day. Whenever I'm in my office and I see my sweet little Gerald sitting on my Bibles, I just can't help but smile 😊
Hi Walter! I have a koala teddy bear named Peg. I call her my hangout and we've been together 7 years. When I had surgery done on my hand, Peg was with me, near by on a table.
What you are doing is great! Keep it up. It's a great coping tool.
I'm in my mid 30ies and I brought my teddybear to my bonemarrow biopsy. I was so afraid, I was literally out of my mind...so he helped me not to lose it even more. The nurse and surgeon didn't even question the teddybear at all...they told me that most people bring stuffed animals or good luck charms with them. 🤷🏻♀️
The staff was so kind, like the nurse was holding my hand through the procedure because I was in so much pain. 🥺
I just stumble over your Video. You speak out of my heart. I love stuffanimals and I am already 52. No I am not lonly or have a problem. I have a family a house a dog and a cat. But still I love them and everybody who loves me accept it. The other people I don't care anymore but in the past I felt of cause like it is my little secret.
But since I am very open with it I found out that many people have a stuffy
Thanks for this nice monkey show ; )
I too have a stuffed animal that really comforts me, and I see that very often people are contradictory to this, I'm Italian and I'm 17 I also have autism and I must say that there is a lot of rigidity in this country, very often if I carry it, it's inside a backpack, also because people look at you too badly afterwards here, there have been some calm and open people about the thing but they are really rare here, I very often feel even in my family there is this rigidity, for example mine father says that sooner or later he hopes that I will be able to overcome it, to be strong, and it is really oppressive to think that in order to be mature in my father's eyes I have to get rid of my teddy bear, and it also makes me sad that I always have to hide it when I am out , because otherwise there is too much shame in this, I think it is a beautiful thing, and I can enjoy my life better with this care for myself of appreciating my plush friend, so I hope that I will always and forever be able to don't listen to this rigidity and be free to express this side of me, and of my love towards this teddy bear. So I'm really reassured to know that I'm not the only one with this love for stuffed animals, I really feel better so thank you very much for sharing this experience!💗💙
honest to god this video came to me at just the right time- im about to start college and i often need something like a stuffy to keep me happy and grounded but i dont carry one for the sake of social norms and not being made fun of even more than i usually am- but i think i really am going to try and bring one of my stuffed friends with me most days because they bring me so much comfort and im tired of pretending that a hug from a human or being sat in a dark corner is going to help me when all i really need is to squeeze my build a bear alien. so thank you, so much, for being true to yourself and helping all of us to be ourselves, too
Oh, that makes me so glad! Yes, hug your cuddly alien buddy! And you never know, you being brave enough to bring your stuffy to college might help other people come out of the woodwork and bring their stuffies. You might have people tell you how cute your bear alien is, they might tell you about their stuffies, they might say how they wish they could bring theirs, and you'll be able to be the one to tell them there's no shame in it. And you might end up with some stuffy-loving friends ☺
Thank you. Thank you so, so much for this. I’m 24, and I was diagnosed with Autism last year. Outside of that even, I’ve always been ridiculed by people and even my parents for being “childish”, but I need them. They make me happy and give me the support I need to keep myself regulated and in a good mental state, and if that’s what I need, then so be it. I’m still scared of being perceived as childish, but your video has helped me feel more comfortable. 💚
That makes me so glad, this video was really just me wanting to overcome those feelings after realising that there was no basis to the people saying I was childish or that this was an unhealthy coping mechanism, and seeing how many people it has helped and encouraged is making me so grateful I sat down with my sweet stuffies and filmed it (and thankful that they didn't get camera-shy and refuse to be filmed 😆)
I went to second hand store and bought a fox stuffed animal and I absolutely adore it...I am 19 and I have all my favorite stuffed toys and they all sleep with me and I love them ❤
I love my soft toys too ❤ they bring sooo much comfort, I don't think your ever to old for them x
I absolutely agree!
I agree with you. I have a lot of stuffed animals. It brings me joy and comfort in my life ❤
I also wanted to share with you something i learned. Monkeys represent joyfulness. I felt on my heart that since you are drawn and feel a sense of security when you are with your monekys, that maybe the Lord is drawing you to his joy-fullness for strength. Sometimes there is a hidden message into the things we are drawn too. Theres a scripture that says the Joy of the Lord is your strength. I just felt on my heart that that was for you and that your monkeys could very well be a
reminder/representation that His Joy is your strength. I just share this to encourage when the going gets tough and you grab that monkey fr support. . Thank you again.
Aww, thank you so much for sharing that. I definitely feel like joy gives me strength. Joy is the second of the Fruit of the Spirit, right after love, and I think it's there for a reason. I feel like joy goes deeper than just happiness, you can be joyful even when you're sad, because it's deeper than the ups and downs of what makes you smile or laugh. And I definitely feel like monkeys have that way about them, just being joyful all the time, no matter what. Thank you for sharing, I really appreciate that xxx
I have a stuffed animal. She’s a Build-A-Bear and she has a strawberry sent in her and whenever I get anxious, I smell it and it makes me less anxious. It’s really cool that I can go to her whenever I start getting anxious. It helps when I’m really anxious too, like I can feel my heart pounding out of my chest and I smell that strawberry scent and I calm down immediately! It’s awesome!
Thank you for this video. I just found it and I am sixteen and still really like having my stuffed animals with me, but I fee embarrassed about it. It’s reassuring to know that there are adults who still really love their stuffed animals and that I don’t have to grow out of it because I don’t want to. Thank you.
Honestly, whatever works for you, you do it. I have two stuffies, there both bunnies, one is small, and there other is bigger. I sleep with the big one, and I can honestly say that I feel emotionally safe with them. I'm not embarrassed. If they, music and Journaling from time to time work for me for self therapy, then fine.
I never realized it, but I think I gravitated to stuffed bunnies because I had a blankie when I was a baby that had a huge rabbit on it, blue and white with a light ribbon going around it, and I had a life size stuffed rabbit, I called it Mr. Rabbit. Ironically, the blanket and the stuffed rabbit I had as a child I finally got rid of, because instead of bringing me comfort they brought me pain because it reminded me of my childhood. Then when I was 25-27 years old, one of my cats died, I had to put her down, I basically had a break down, went to Target and bought a little stuffed bunny, lost it, and kept the two I have with me now. I guess for me, subconsciously the bunny represents my childhood, innocence, safety, home, love, comfort, none judging love I craved as a child. After growing up, crap from school, dating so many people and now married, my mom passing away, I realized that no one sadly will, or can give me the comfort I crave, and so I have my two stuffies.
❤️💕
That little boy's parents probably told him that he can't have stuffies when he grows older. And, I agree, you can still have stuff toys, even as an adult, it isnt harming anyone, and it's like a comfort! I have plenty on my bed, and I sleep with them. And I have them, and still buy them, because my childhood was traumatic, and my parents never brought me any. So, yeah, I buy them to heal my inner child, and I love them, and I love to collect them! It's better than drinking, doing drugs, partying, like most "adults" do to take a break from life.
I was like that when I went for surgery I had to have my kitty Valerie with me! They asked me if Valerie wanted to be put under too. They kept her with me and woke up to her tucked under my chin. I love Valerie to pieces she is my best friend in the universe!