When can adult thumb sucking become a problem?
Like any other habit, there is moderation and there is overdoing it. When do you think thumb sucking can be bad for you? Many adults don’t have any consequences from their thumb sucking, but some develop crooked or bucked teeth. Some people may damage the skin on their thumbs.
So what are your thoughts?
What is the difference between healthy and unhealthy thumb sucking in adults?
I have been sucking my thumb since i can remembered. Everybody told me how bad was for me. In fact my teeth are ok, and no big side effects about my thumb. I do think there is a big taboo out there about adult thumbsucking, people think you are retarded, inmature or nerd, and we are none of those things. Since 1999 that i have found othr thumbsuckers and talked to them, i have been more secure about my habit and do it in places i normally never did, like movies or while in the car. I particularry think there is nothing wrong with it, is like smoking but less harmfull, is like chewing your nails, without destroying your fingers, is like chewing a pen, is like any other oral habit.
So im glad t read this and hope we can all come out of the closet and suck our thumbs where ever and when ever we want.
Pami
I’m a 35 yr old married man with family in a heavy blue collar job and I have a secret vice. – I suck my thumb.
I’ve done it since childhood and maybe its like a comfort blanket at times and other times I know I do it for my own gratification. The hardest part was to stop doing it when I go to bed. I’ve managed that part but everyday the urge is too great to resist and when I have a moment alone I suck my thumb.
I don’t smoke, I don’t take drugs or abuse solvents. I just suck my thumb.
I’m actually not a thumb sucker but my girlfriend is. She’s really self-conscious about it, but I don’t think it’s a problem. Her teeth are fine and so is her thumb, so what’s wrong with a harmless habit? I’m a regular smoker, and I’d trade that oral fixation for thumb sucking anytime!
Yes I am an adult thumbsucker too. I like it and I hate it! I like when it soothes me, but I hate the urge when I am around other people. I am a very successful mom, own my own biz.and a loving husband too, and though I have everything I long for I am constatntly fighting this habit. I have a large family and other than my husband they are all oblivious to my thumbsucking. That means that most of the time I am around my kids or other people and can’t suck my thumb. Its torturous! I wish this urge would go away. I constantly find myself placing my finger near my mouth just catching myself in time. I am always afraid that I will get caught and embarras myself. Although my husband knows most of the time I hide it from him too, he is very accepting but I feel humiliated when he catches me doing it. But the hardest part is when I am in public, I do a lot of oral speaking, am quite popular, can you imagine being caught sucking my thumb? I know that it is stress that is causing it, but the more popular I become and the more busier I get running a large household the problem worsens. And yes I tried busying myself with other stuff I love doing like, playing the piano, drawing, painting, writing, it helps, but as my workload increases I get less patient and only want to hide under my thumb. Does anyone here have a solution to my dillema? Any good suggestion will be appreciated. Please don’t tell me to put some foul tasting thing on my finger as not this is my problem. I successfuly weaned several times and then when a stressful period comes along it hits back full force. Its not an addiction its a natural soother I just wish I can substitute with something else less embarrasing. I was also recently caught sucking my thumb by my housekeeper and since then I am living in anxiety that it will happen again which as you guessed triggers more thumbsucking attacks. So please someone help me as I am at my wits end, and will never share my silly problem with somebody proffessional as my popularity has reached to far already and it will only humilate me and my family.
Hi Kathy,
Your inner anxiety is far larger than the issue is worth. In fact, if you simply let a little of it out by tsing more openly but reacting as though it’s not much of a big deal, most people will just think of it as a particular quirk of yours, especially those that know you.
There’s a lot on this subject at thumbsuckingadults.com
Kathy-
I am also an adult thumbsucker, and I completely relate to your post. I used to be ashamed about sucking my thumb until I visited thumbsuckingadults.com. Although I still hide my habit from my friends and family, this site helped me to realize that I’m not the only one and it made me feel a little better. Also, I recently found lifesucker.com. It is a company that sells an “adult pacifier” but it does not look like what they use for small children. You put it on the end of a pen or pencil and suck it while you are stressed. Many people suck on the end of pens, so I would think that people would accept this form of stress relief. I have not personally tried it, but I wanted to pass on the information. Hope it helps :)
Hi there, well after reading your post, i was very very very familiar with each and every word you posted, because i have the same problem, i am an executive woman i do a lot of oral speaking and coaching, i work with a lot of people and only my very good friend and secretary know about my habit.,, i suck my thumb every chance i have, in the bathrrom, car, everywhere i feel that nooone can see me. I ve bee caught and has been embarrasing, but i wont quit. Glad to hear they are others.
By the way, my teeth are perfect despite what everyone said when i was growing up, the only side effect is the red marks i get on my thumb and the lil callus i have below my joint and that sometimes people stare at it (wondering what could be ha ha).
Cheers to everyone
Pami
I’m 45 years old, a successful professional with undergrad and doctoral degrees from two prestigious universities — married with a wonderful husband and two sons. I’m not a neurotic whack-job (or at least I hope I’m not!!!) , but I must confess that I’ve been a closet thumb sucker daily since childhood. If people get that same relaxing feeling from a double martini or popping a couple of Xanax, then I guess I understand how they can become alcoholics or drug addicts…
Like pretty much everyone else who I’ve seen write about this topic, my mother told me I popped my thumb into my mouth immediately after birth. My husband either has no idea of my addiction or, if he’s caught me in the middle of the night, has been kind enough to never mention it….
My teeth are perfectly straight and my right thumb (the better one!) is a bit flatter than my left, and my thumbnail on that hand tends to be “softer” and breaks more easily. Other than that, I’ve had no ill effects from the habit.
My personal opinion is that — hey — it is not illegal, immoral, or fattening. It doesn’t cause cancer or coronary artery disease. You don’t need an expensive perscription to get it — and for your “relaxation bang for the buck” there is no comparison with the cost of a spa weekend.
So fellow thumb suckers — Find yourself a nize, cozy private place at home where you can put up your feet, get over the guilt, pop in the thumb, relax, and unwind — Better than Club Med :)
I’m a Child Protection caseworker in a large state government department. I have always sucked my thumb, with no adverse health consequence. Thumb sucking is effective for handling the stress and anxiety that comes along with the job. It is an effective way to bond with and comfort small children that I have removed from their parents and it is healthy for them to suck their thumbs so that they may soothe their own anxiety, however, I do have to be mindful of the social stigma and be conscious not to suck my thumb in front of the adult clients. I also have the issue of management critiquing the habit and bringing it up formally in supervision, as a consequence I need to take thumb sucking breaks as the smokers have their little breaks. It is a question of managing the stigma rather than any health issue.
I think the habbit is healthy for adults. I decided to check my blood pressure and heart rate while indulging and found that both dropped and remained lower while I was enjoying the thumb.
What about a 60 yr old woman whom still sucks her thumb and talks like a 3 yr to gain attention. She retired as an assist principal
I am an 47 year old woman who sucks her finger I did stop at one point in my life but after my husband died for some reason i started back and cant stop Its like i get the urge and i want to suck my finger even while driving.
I have sucked my thumb for as long as i can remember. I am now 23 yrs old. I try and hide it from my family although they know I still do. It is just that fear that they will judge me. I have a wonderful son and boyfriend. He has seen me and I become extremely embarassed but can do nothing about it. I understand that urge to suck your thumb when in a stressful situation. I am constantly catching myself when I am around others, and will go to a room where no one is just to calm down. I feel like I am dirty and hiding something. i hate the feeling when someone says something to me about it but that just makes me want to suck my thumb more. it is comforting. one fear that I have is that my son will start the same thing. I don’t want him to have the same fears I have about sucking my thumb. I have tryed to stop several times but go right back to it when the first sign of stress hits. thanks for listening this is the first time i have said anything about sucking my thumb hopefully it will get easier to deal with.
Wow. For years I always thought I was the only one who sucked my thumb. My cousin did to up until age 12 but she soon stopped and I never did. I am now 17 and the only people who know ( at least to my knowledge) are my family. Even tho I am not as old as alot of the other people who have commented I feel so much better now.
Especially being in high school I get the urge in class and catch myself right before I put my thumb to my lips. I don’t get the urge while driving but I do while reading, watching tv, or even on the computer.
I manage to fight the urge in public but I still do it. My family I think is realizing I am still a normal person, I just suck my thumb is all.
I don’t think sucking your thumb isn’t healthy. Not that it is healthy but it sure as heck beats some of the other habits out there.
hi, i have sucked my thumb since i was born, i’m 16 now, and i want to drop the habit, i have very bad theeth i’m wearing braces and it’s the second time i have to, my mum always complains coz the treatment is very expensive. however it’s a quite usefull stress reliever, and what’s more curious is that i only feel the necessity of sucking my thumb at my home. i never do it when i’m traveling or at a friends house, or while camping. so i really want to quit this habit :(
I am a 45-yr-old female and have sucked my thumb since my father left when I was 3. I can’t quit. My children don’t know, but my ex-husband and my current husband know and don’t care. My teeth are fine and I see no permanent problems caused by this. I don’t in public at all. I only suck while watching TV or while sleeping. My husband finds me no less attractive because of it. My right thumb isn’t very attractive, but I don’t see any repercussions from sucking my thumb. It’s very comforting to know that there are other adults who suck their thumbs also. I used to smoke (probably from the oral fixation), but quit on 1/4/10 and just celebrated my 1st anniversary yesterday. I smoked for 26 years. I have definitely sucked my thumb more since, but that’s not harmful to my health. Thanks guys for sharing!!
hello everyone. i have been sucking my thumb since i was 5 – i am now 42. prior to sucking my lovely thumb, i had a dummy. mum threw that away and told me to suck my thumb instead because you ‘can never lose that!’ (i was always losing my dummy!)
i got married 5 years ago – my husband knew i sucked my thumb – i showed him about 2 wks after we met and he thought it was cute. Now, 5 years later, we sleep in seperate rooms – me on the sofa downstairs and him in our double bed upstairs. he says me sucking my thumb causes me to snore really loudly which keeps him awake. I sleep in our marital bed on a friday and saturday night when he doesn’t have to get up for work the next mornings. even then he will wake up and sleep on the sofa downstairs. sucking my thumb is ruining our marriage. but i cant stop. is it a case of loving my thumb more than my husband?! my thumb or my husband??
Hey guys, well, I’m eighteen and I still suck my thumb. I’ve never really cared what my friends thought about it, though it is humiliating when my parents bring it up, especially as my 13 year old sister quit just last year. I’ve never had any desire to stop though; it feels good, and it’s the only thing that’ll put me to sleep. It’s also taken the boredom out of a lot of long car drives, and as it has caused only very minor damage to my teeth (anterior open bite, though not more than a few milimetres of shifting) I see no reason why I should quit. I watch all my high school friends stoop to smoking, boys, and sex, and I’m grateful that my vice is relatively harmless.
Hi everyone,
How nice to hear about other adult thumb suckers! I started sucking my thumb at 7 and haven’t been able to stop since!I’m now 26 and have a good career like many people on here! I’ve always sucked my thumb in front of family and friends and my fiance says it seems like a form of meditation for me so not to stop unless I have a good reason! I find it hard to relax but when I suck my thumb I am completely relaxed. I even suck my thumb at work in front of everyone else which no ones picked up on or said anything about! I agree with all of you who say its one of the healthiest habits you can have! My only issue with it is I can get abit distracted with it-its so relaxing I do it if revising for an exam or reading something for work and I end up not taking much in. I do hope as I get older I’ll do it less and less-my sister is ten yrs older and has slowly sucked her thumb less since childhood. I do feel my teeth are starting to move now-it may be paranoia but after yrs of no affect on my teeth, does anyone know if thumb sucking can alter teeth in adulthood?
I have sucked my thumb since i was a baby. I can relate to everything that everyone has written on this page. I get so embarassed about sucking my thumb..i try to hide it from people, even my family. I get so embarassed when anyone catches me. I can’t go to sleep with out my thumb! It relaxes me and soothes me i also rub my ear while i do it. I hate it i wish i could stop but i never actually end up. It has caused me to have a bad overbite and they fixed it with braces but since i never stoped it came back once they were off. I wish i knew what to do to stop this fixation i have!
Hi, I am a 30 year old male and have been sucking my thumb since I can remember. I’m educated have a good degree and brought up in a good family. Reading all these posts I knew adults sucked their thumbs but I didn’t realize it was this prominent. I know my dad and my fiancee have caught me and I’m ashamed every time it happens. My fiancee gets extremely frustrated with me cause she wants me to quit. I feel like she looks down on me but she swears she doesn’t, just wants me to stop. Every time she catches me I get defensive cause I’m embarrased and her mom has actually caught me once which was unexplainably embarrasing! I’ve been unemployed for over a year and have seen an increase in frequency, mostly because I’m by myself more now. I’ve vowed I’m going to go talk to someone about it after I get employed and can afford it to see why I am still doing it and hopefully kick the habbit. Its tiresome to keep hiding it, I just want to stop. Does anyone have any success stories about being able to stop?
my niece moved in with me when he parents past away when she was 2, shes now 12 going to 13 and she still needs a paci or her thumb, mostly her paci, i dont encourage her thumb. though, ow can i help her stop. Ive tried the nail polish, but she cried the whole night through and i cant stand it no more. its either, she gets go sleep which being given her bottle orshe gets her paci and sleep. but her thumb when we go on flights and tours, i find it terribly difficult to keep her still with her bottle. What can i do? Im affriad thumbsucking will effect her thumbs growth.
Please help me ?
I was an adult thumbsucker. I did it throughout childhood and adolescence. I even continued throughout college. From about the age of 6-7 I started doing it in secret. Never at school and never at a friends houses. My only “safe havens” were my home and hiding in the backseat of my mom’s car. My entire family knew, but that was it.
When I was 14 I “stopped”. I went about 2 months without sucking and my parents jumped at that opportunity to get me braces. My teeth were in extremely bad shape. They had no insurance for braces and paid totally out of pocket, a huge expense for our family of 6. But about 2 months in I started again. I felt shame. I couldn’t stop, I was wasting my parents money. Every month when I had an orthodontic appt I would stop for a few days before. I would double up on my rubber bands to force my teeth in place. I thought I was fooling everyone – at least I was trying. I was so embarrased that I did not have the personal self control to quit a habit most people quit when they are 4 years old.
I don’t judge anyone who continues their habit of thumbsucking, but at age 22 I decided I wanted to stop. there wasn’t really a reason why. But I thought I was out of college and needed to distance myself from perceived childhood habits. I decided to kick a pretty bad nail biting habit concerrently. Man was it hard, but I did have my mind set, and that was what gave me the strength to do it.
So for any adult thumbsuckers feeling like they really want to quit – here’s how I did it. I trimmed my nail nice and neat (at least the best I could which my nail biting habit) and painted it clear. I never had painted nails (paint didn’t last on my wet thumb) so there was a distinct “different” feeling. Then I wrapped a single bandaid around the base near my knuckle, but not to impede movement. I changed this bandaid every day. In front of the tv, computer and at night in bed were my real triggers. For the first 2-3 weeks I had to actually put my hand under my leg or body during these activities so I didn’t unconciously insert my thumb.
Many times during that first 6 months I would find myself placing my thumb in my mouth without knowing it. When I did this I would make a mental note and shove my hand in my pocket or sit on it.
After about 8 weeks I stopped wearing the bandaid. After some time the unconcious urge ebbed. I am now 31 years old. I do not have the urge anymore. I’m over it.
But I believe it is true that one habit can be easily replaced by another. During the time I quit sucking, I started eating much more. I put on weight that required another bad and much more difficult habit to break and fix.
Some may say that thumbsucking doesn’t hurt anyone, that the habit of overeating is worse. They are right but in my opinion thumbsucking was also a bad habit and I am glad I had the personal fortitude to quit when I decided I wanted to. Looking back now it was just a sloppy disgusting thing. I had a wet thumb all the time, which of course meant I was spreading my germs around when I touched stuff. Even if I “wiped it off”, it was still spreading germs. LOL, since popping my thumb in my mouth was so ingrained and so uncontrolable just thinking about the MASSIVE amount of germs I put into my body without second thought is pretty darn nasty. I touched everything and all that was a mainline right into my mouth and body. Really – there are nasty things out there. Ugh. And last, this is what I am most regretful about – I wasted my parents money. That was a real sacrifice for them, and they made it for me. I did not value that as I shoud have – my thumb meant more at the time. They never made me feel like a let them down, but I knew it.
My teeth are still messed up, but definitely not as they were before. I have a permanent lower retainer in my mouth that keeps my lower teeth in line. My upper teeth are shifted but really its only noticeable to me. Its obvious I do not have a “perfect” bite – but who does, right?
I have a 25 year old sister who continues to thumbsuck. I’ve never mentioned it to her or chastised her. LOL my parents must have learned their lesson through me, no braces for her! Her decision to continue to suck is hers and I do not think any more or less or her because she does. I’m sure people felt the same way about me as an adult thumbsucker – but as I said the decision to quit came from only within me. It is the only reason I was successful in quitting.
One last thing. When I was finally able to say to myself I had broken the habit I did feel great pride in myself. That was a 22 year old habit. And I did it! I do think though that if any of my children develop the habit I will cut it off right away. I know what it felt like to be a thumbsucker late in life. Right or wrong, it made me embarrassed and affected my self esteem. i don’t want that for my kids. My parents tried the “nasty tasting nailpolish stuff” but by the time they used it, I was old enough to know how to remove it. I also just ignored the horrible tast long enough until it went away. It may seem mean, but if my children develop the habit, sometime between 18mos and 2 years I will stop it by covering their hand and working to distract them. I think had that been done to me at that early age, it would have saved me 20 years of headache.
Good luck to you all, thumbsucking or not.
I am not a thumb sucker but have recently found my 52 year old partner sucking his thumb whilst asleep. My only issue with it is that I thought there must be a reason why. For instance, that he is suffering from stress, depression, or something more sinister that has followed him from childhood. After reading all of your posts I feel so much better. I wll add that he was a smoker and gave up just after we met 2 years ago. I have not brought it up with him and have decided to let it rest. Just a message to Jennie 25th. Jan 2011. I don’t think that sucking your thumb is the cause of your snoring. If I were you I would talk to my doctor about it. He/she may refer you to either a sleep therapist of an Ear Nose and Throat specialist. It may cost you a few dollars but wouldn’t it be worth it if it saves your marriage.
Hi guys i am 27 & I have sucked my thumb since inside the womb, my mom has an ultrasound of me doing it, I think that a lack of attention from 2 young inexperienced parents may have made me grow up with some insecurities and maybe thats why i have continued this…. Actually i have managed to quit twice once even for a 5 year period, its not that hard for me to stop it, if i constantly wear bandaids on both thumbs for about 2 weeks. But all it takes is for me to do it again for one day, perhaps during a time in life that i am under a lot of pressure ie uni exams, then i will again develop the desire to do it all the time…my teeth are fine, i just dont like that the more i do it the more i get the urge even to do it in public. I kind of have to do it all the time or not at all.
When i suck my thumb i like to twiddle a strand of my hair rubbing it on the back of my finger nails (which is what i used to do on the silky edge of my blanket when i was a baby)…… I have tried sucking my husbands thumb and twiddling my hair and let him suck my thumb but the sensation is only about 20% as nice. haha i probably sound like a weirdo but actually it fascinated me to hear that thumbsucking releases oxytocin in the brain which is what causes the nice relaxation and comfort so i wanted to see if it would work. I am wondering if periods of increased oxytocin in the brain due to thumb sucking could have some health benefits? I know i feel like doing it more in times of stress as it provides relief. But does this relief have long term benefits i wonder….
Ive sucked my thumb my entire life. I turned 21 this yr. I try to quit all the time; I tell myself ill be done before my next birthday. My immediate family knows, maybe some relatives, I don’t think those relatives would ever confront me but i would never do it in front of anyone but my mom, dad, & 2 brothers. I wish I could stop, I’ve had dental work multiple times and thumbsucking is slowly undoing it. Its starting to give me an overbite like the one I had as a kid. In a perfect world I wouldn’t feel bad about it if only it didn’t affect my teeth even though that’s vain. My older bro sucked both of his thumbs (i suck my left) but quit before he was out of elementary school. When I ask him how he did it he said he didn’t want to get made fun of. Whatever, I wish that would do it for me. My mom sucked her two first fingers but quit young too. I immediately feel pacified (literally) when I do it, followed by shame. I would feel less retarded for it if it didn’t affect my teeth, but slowly it definitely does. It is sooo comforting. I even tried to swap it for smoking in high school, I couldnt really get addicted, I actually just decided about 5 months ago that smoking is a gross alternative and it didn’t do its job to replace my thumb at all. Its like being addicted to heroin and always having it available and on you. I have tried bitter stuff, spicy stuff, thick gloves at night, wearing a gaudy thumb ring to get in the way, hypnotherapy, those little prongs the dentist put it when I was 11. Nothing worked for me. I find myself doing it driving, watching movies, around my parents and both my brothers (one is 22, the other14) I feel ashamed. My dad and mom try to gently remind me or brush it out of my face but that just makes me feel mad, or pathetic. I have never told a boyfriend. My ex actually noticed me sleeping and I denied it vehemently. Im sure he knew better, but I either hid behind something while watching a movie or under the sheets at night. I don’t know if my current bf knows, but I know I always fall asleep with it in my mouth. It usually falls out once im asleep. I want to quit. I want to feel like a woman not a baby. I don’t want my teeth to change. As soon as I hear something that makes me anxious or uneasy my hand goes toward my face or when I least expect it my thumb is cocked. I don’t like feeling like I need anything to be ok. I feel like handicapped or strange. :( I don’t feel ok with being a thumbsucker. I don’t want to be a lifer.
I have sucked my thumb since I was little I often just like most won’t to hide it because of what other say but I don’t cause its what comfort me but behind clothes doors I suck a paci n it is so comforting my fiance accept both of them n also my son sucked his thumb since day one out the womb
Hello friends,
I will be turning 25 yrs in 4 days and I still suck my thumb!! I have been sucking it since the age of 5!! My parents have try many methods from placing chick Shxt on my thumb to buying a $600 mouth retainer.. I have the perfect set of teeth ever!! I tends to suck my thumb whenever I am bored, frustrated, or angry.. My boyfriend who I have been dating for 4 years knows about my strange habit. He really doesn’t have a problem with it and if he did OH WELL ! lol.. Oh yeah, I forgot mention that I am an eight grade science teacher in ALABAMA!!
I am 19 years old and I suck my thumb every chance I get. I have ever since I was little, and it has caused me to have a bit of an overbite, which isn’t helped by the fact that I have a small lower jaw. I have braces now, and the treatment is going very well. I am afraid that if I continue to suck my thumb, I will ruin everything these wonderful braces have done to make my smile pretty. I’ve been trying to pay more attention to how hard I suck and to take it easy, but at night when I fall asleep I’m helpless. I wake up with this little calloused place just above my joint aching and I know I’ve been pressing my thumb on my teeth, just like I don’t want to! But I must admit that I have no intention of stopping because it’s just so soothing. I also have a kind of fixation on soft things that goes hand-in-hand with the thumb sucking. I’m holding my favorite pillow as I type this, and am alternating between sucking and typing haha. It helps me concentrate a lot. My mother has tried everything to get me to quit, but as I grew older she got fed up and took to just smacking my arm/hand away and yelling at me. I still keep it a bit of a secret because of how my mother has treated it as a bad thing and got on me about it every day, and I don’t want to encounter any more teasing or hard times. A few of my friends have seen me do it once or twice, and I refuse to lie about who I am. Yeah you saw it. Oh well. I have had two boyfriends who knew I did it pretty early on in our relationship, and they thought it was adorable, which made me embarrassed from time to time. Now I feel comfortable doing it around my current partner just as I would if I were alone (until he comments on it! >_<) The few who have found out about it have accepted that it's part of me, just a little quirk, and they don't bug me about it when they catch me on the computer or during a movie. Even though I hide it from the general public, I am a proud thumbsucker in my own mind. It makes me feel comforted, and I don't–I won't give it up any time soon. Seeing this forum and all of your experiences has made me feel better about my habit, and it's nice to know that I"m not alone. I remember the first time I saw it in a movie, it lifted my heart so. Even more-so the second time in Wristcutters: A Love Story because it showed me how cute it can seem to others.
i am 24 yrs old and I’ve been sucking my thumb ever since I can remember. I still have my ” mr. blankie” as well. For years I thought that there must be something wrong with me, I was the only person I knew that still sucked her thumb. my family thought I stopped and I always felt ashamed when they would catch me. I never knew there where other adult thumbsuckers out there. Sure I heard of stories of 13& 15 yr olds who had finally quit but never anyone older. I have a wonderful fiancee, with beautiful soon to be step daughters and a job in the medical field. for the longest time I had hide my blankie and my thumb sucking from my fiancee. Then he slowly started to notice everytime I feel asleep and shortly after he would catch me when we would cuddle and watch tv. At first I was very embaressed and ashamed when he would catch me. He would always pull my thumb out of my mouth. After a while of constantly catching me aand doing some of his own research he has embraced that fact that I am an adult thumbsucker, and he couldnt love me more. I cherish him for that and as a result I am comfortable with myself, that after a hard day at work I walk through the door, grab mr blankie and relax with my thumb in my mouth. If it wasnt for him telling me about his readings I would have never researched myself and found out im not alone. I feel very relieve to know that there are others out there just like me and to know there is nothin wrong with thumb sucking. As far as the dangers of it ive got a little over and under bite with my teeth ( noyhing major about that) and I seemed to have worn off my left thumb print ( again nothing wrong with that). Thank you everyone with all your stories, they really helped me come to be proud of my thumb sucking. :)
Hi fellow thumb-suckers
I’m liz, 23 and I am a thumbsucker. I am the only adult I know in my community who is an adult thumbsucker. Growing up I have been teased about it when my idiot cousin told everyone in school. Yes it was emmbarassing to have the whole school laughing at you. But all in all, I have managed to keep my head up and down and got through it without being a pshyco. . .well errrr. . . .
Now I am a college student, and I still do it and I am struggling to. . . Well I am not planning to stop, it just that I am worried that I won’t find a guy who will accept me as a 23 year old thumb-sucker. It’s hard to feel comfortable with myself when thumbsucking is viewed negatively by most people, especially within my family. So it’s nice to listen the stories in here and relate to them and know that divided we fall, united we stand. . . lol it sounds corny but power to the thumb. . .or other fingers that are used. . .yeah
Hi everybody. i feel so much better now that i know im not the only one who sucks my thumb. im 16 and i dont feel that theres anything wrong with thumb sucking. i love doing it becasue it soothes me and ive had a pretty rough life so far. the only problem i have is my little sister (5 yr) is starting to do it because she copies everything i do. i dont have urges to suck my thumb at school or anything just at home.
I’m 29 year old female and I have tried for many years to stop sucking my thumb and playing with my hair. As a baby my mom would pin socks to the shoulders of my pj’s, she said to this day she doesn’t have a clue how I got out of the socks to suck my thumb. From the time I was 3-6 I willingly taped mitts to my hands by morning they were off and I would wake to me sucking my thumb and playing with my hair. As a child I was made fun of, yelled at and teased for my habit. I don’t mean to do it, I go to sleep and when I wake in the morning my thumb is in my mouth. My family has no clue I still do it and if they do, they have never said anything. I have been so embarrassed by this my whole life, I always make sure my bedroom door is closed or locked, for fear someone will see me. I have never walked around sucking thumb it’s only when I’m asleep or just about to fall asleep. I have slept with gloves on and by morning they somehow end up across the room… I have used the stuff called stop and grow for people who bite their nails but I just wake in the morning with a bad taste in my mouth. I have grown out my nails so that it would hurt the top of my mouth but find that my thumb nail is soft and chips, then I would put fake nails on but within a few days that nail falls off. No one in my life knows, I have told no one until today. I so badly want to stop, I have been doing research on it and still have found no help. I really just want to stop sucking my thumb and playing with my hair… I play with my hair all the time and it is starting to fall out and it makes me sick to know I’m causing this. I am a very stressed and playing with my hair relaxes me but I need a new outlet. If there is any good advice out there please share it with all of us who want to stop, I don’t find it cute, I’m 29 years old and will not even consider a romantic relationship with anyone, until this habit its beat… Idon’t want anyone to know. So Please if there is anyone out there that can help, please give it
I’m 18 years old and have just recently quit my life-long thumb sucking habit. Since I sucked my thumb any chance I had, even in front of friends and family (I hid it under blankets), my teeth were really messed up. I had an open bite as well as a cross bite. They were very crooked and misshapen, as well. I decided to get braces earlier this year because it was a big source of embarassment for me. My teeth are looking much better now, and so is my thumb which was flat and the nail was disfigured. I haven’t sucked my thumb in three months and I hope that number continues to grow.
First, please excuse my English, I’m not coming from an English speaking country but I hope you’ll understand.
I’m 42 and I too have the thumb sucking habit. I was very happy to find this blog and read it.
As all of you do, I find it the most relaxing and comforting habit. However, I have some health concerns about it.
As well as it impacts teethes and the thumb itself, it is logical to expect that it can influence also the mouth, tongue and lips. I assume that prolonged habit can actually cause some deformations also there (pathological or not, that’s the question). Since no reliable statistic exists about the thumb-suckers we can’t know about any linkage between this habit and some diseases of mouth or tongue.
I’m 18 years old and have been sucking my thumb since I was 15. I started because of stress; I was having medical problems. At 16 I convinced my mother to let me use a pacifier, which I call a ”charmy.” Sometimes I’ll also suck a finger. I use the charmy as I go to sleep and sometimes during the day. Sometimes I suck during the day with my stuffed horse Garreth, although he’s not a requirement. However I do need him at night along with some other security objects, but I’ve been using them before my sucking habit started. I have no real interest in stopping- I’m quite happy as an adult thumb- and pacifier sucker! Luckily my parents don’t mind my habit- my mother has known almost all along; I told my father last year. However, I still feel a little uncomfortable using a charmy around my father. I should state that when I told my penpal about the pacifier, soon after she quit writing- even though she’d revealed that she had sucked her thumb until the age of 12! I don’t do it in public, although I have sucked my thumb/finger in the car after dark/ dusk, while lying down, or with a hat over my head. I’ve learned that my habit isn’t really all that uncommom, although it seems that pacifier users are still a small minority. PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME ANY ANY ANY EMAILS, I SHARE AN ACCOUNT AND DON’T WANT MY FATHER READING ANY THUMBSUCKING STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One more thing- I recently got an ear infection- quite annoying- and now I worry my charmy will cause me to get another!
Hi, I am 23 years old and I have sucked my thumb my whole life until last night. As of recently my thumb has been chaffing it’s been red and oozing and skin has been flaking off of it so i am really trying to quit my teeth are quite crooked as well. I made a thumb snuggie as i call it like a glove but just on my thumb haha I know i’m strange, but it seems to be helping cause a lot of my problem was was that most the time i didnt even realize i was doing it (until my husband would point it out he wants me to quit he has to pay for my teeth to be fixed) and when the cloth hits my lips of course i then realize what i was about to do and stop. I think some of it has to do with when i was a young child probably like 3 or 4 and someone dropped a bowling ball on my thumb I think that’s when i started sucking it ALL the time. I even remember one time my dad putting Tabasco sauce on it i hated that but it didnt stop me nooo and i am not trying to accuse people in my life for them being the reason i still suck my thumb but i also think maybe as a result of my mother weening me too soon or too abruptly cuz as i am aware she went off to the army when i was just a baby i am not sure these are just my theories as to maybe why i have done this for so long but my thumb hurts sooo badly these days that i’m just gunna wrap it up and do my best to stop it once and for all
In response to Logans July 16th 2011 post:
Don’t be ashamed of doing it, do what makes you feel comfortable!
I am a 28 year old male, who has sucked his thumb all his life. When I was younger my parents tried to make me stop by putting a spicy, peppery tasting substance on my thumb just before I went to bed, in the hopes I would stop. I never stopped and continue to this day. I suck my thumb nightly as a ritual to go to sleep, and even find myself doing it reading, watching tv, or on the computer. I really dont “suck” my thumb, but simply place it against the roof of my mouth and go into a calming, almost trance like state. I have never told anyone about this, not even my parents, and has always prevented me from getting close to girlfriends. I mean, that’s what true live is, knowing and understanding your partner 100% right? Perhaps this is the reason why im still single. As I’m getting older, I’m coming to the realization that I will never stop, and can not hide my seceret habit forever. I need to meet others like me, and build friendships. Before tonight, I have never looked up any literature on thumb sucking, and have learned immense details about it. Apparently, 2/3 are female and 1/3 are males? I guess thats good odds in my favor then. Lol It’s very comforting to know I’m not alone, and there are other adults out there that suck their thumb still like i do. I am an intelligent, athletic, and worldly travelled adult male in the aviation business and will check this blog regulary, as I didn’t even know anything like this existed.
I’m looking for pen pals to talk with and have even set up a private email to chat. Tropical.Vision@yahoo.com look forward to hearing from everyone!
Thomas
Where do I start? I never liked pacifiers from what my mother has told me. I was the first born, so I was the test child… My mother wanted to shut me up, cause I was a wailer. The pacifier was always on the floor, out of my mouth or on the other side of the crib, so she just stuck my thumb in my mouth and I was hooked. I have had several bad habits throughout my 24 almost 25 year lifespan; Sucking my thumb, bottle drinking and insomnia. I got rid of the bottle drinking at 11, but I got rid of it… The insomnia is actually cured by the thumb sucking and for the majority of the day I don’t need it. I wish my teeth were perfect, cause then I wouldn’t have the guilt. My parents believe that I have stopped, others don’t know and my hubby knows and doesn’t stop me. I have tried stopping multiple times, but my biggest problem is I can’t sleep. I prefer having all these dental problems to losing sleep, my tongue is a bit bigger than normal, the roof of my mouth is higher than normal, plus the overbite… I’ve slept with gloves, my hands tied, my mouth covered up, my parents made me sleep with stinky socks on my hands, but the longest I have ever lasted was 3 weeks, but my grades, mood and overall quality of life suffered.
I don’t have mental traumas, I’m not stressed to the point of insanity, I can stop or start anything I put my mind too, but this accursed addiction. I love the soothing feeling, I love the feeling of my thumb in my mouth, and when I don’t suck my thumb I’m rubbing my tongue against the roof of my mouth. I’m ashamed, I’m tormented and I really wish I had the capacity to stop this, but I cannot. It just makes me feel so much better to know that I am not alone, but it really does stink to want to stop something that causes you harm, but allows your body to sleep.
I’m 25 yrs old and I have sucked my thumb for as long as I can remember. I hid it when I started going to school and I’ve struggled with it ever since.
I’ve always felt like such a freak doing it. My immediate family knows, and my brother still does it. I actually just recently found out that my cousin who’s my age also sucks her thumb, too. I sort of stopped doing it for awhile when I moved out of my parents house, mostly due to lack of privacy. Although I think I may have been caught a few times (luckily she never brought it up). I’ve always been so embarrassed by my habit and I thought that I was this huge freak for doing it. My cousin does it in front of her boyfriend and sometimes her other friends, and she doesn’t seem to be embarrassed at all. I was shocked the first time I saw her sucking her thumb in front of her boyfriend. I was kind of jealous of how at ease she was about it. My habit has a lot to do with stress and when I’m tired, or just trying to relax. I’ve caught myself doing it in the car without realizing it. It’s kind of horrifying when I do it sub consciously like that. I’m always afraid it’s going to happen at work or around people.
I had braces when I was younger, and since then, I haven’t had any trouble with my teeth except maybe having a slight overbite. The only problem with my thumb that I’ve noticed is I have a bump on it and I think the nail is thinner on that thumb (I only suck the left one, I don’t think I’ve ever sucked my right one). I haven’t noticed any health problems. I wash my hands a lot, so that might help.
This is the first time I’ve ever looked up anything on this subject. I think I was kind of afraid of what I was going to find, like some kind of confirmation that I’m a total freak. I can’t tell you how much better I feel about myself now that I’ve read all of these stories. People in my family have such a problem with addiction. I smoke cigarettes and suck my thumb. Hey, at least I’m not popping pills or drinking alone. I’m starting to feel like my habit isn’t the worst thing in the world.
I am a 28 year old male and I still suck my thumb. My good friend/ Ex Girlfriend just gave me an hour long lecture on how unmanly it is that I still suck my thumb. She has lectured me a zillion times about this. Tonight just happened to resonate a lot more for some reason.
I’ve been doing it since I was in the womb. I have 3 siblings and each of them have sucked their thumbs as babies. I believe in part because my mother did not purchase pacifiers. She believed that we would develop “pacifier lips.” Two of them stopped at an early age, but my oldest sister is 40 and still sucks her two middle fingers. As an 8 or 9 year old, my parents made me get in the “prayer line” at church to be delivered from my thumb sucking. So much for that. On the ride home, I was sucking my thumb again. Also, I flip my ear. They go together like cake and ice cream. My teeth has minimal damage as a result and my thumb has a small callous. That’s about it!
It is the most relaxing thing ever! I can’t explain it. I do it subconsciously and don’t even give it much thought. My thumb sucking/ear flipping has increased during the last year as I have shifted to working from home. I’m by myself for long stretches and am free from the potential shame of others seeing me. Prior to working from home, I generally was able to refrain during the day. However, I would indulge when by myself for longs stretches at work in the comforts of my cubical, office, or rest room during highly stressful times. My best thinking occurs as I suck my thumb.
I suck my thumb around close family and friends. It a sign that I really trust a person to let my guard down. They all ridicule me in a playful manner and then go on to accept it. It’s a stark contrast to what they would expect of me for several reasons. Initially, as kids and adults, all of my male friends (That know I have this habit) take to calling me homophobic names. As one that is comfortable with my heterosexuality, that doesn’t faze me at all. They try to use those terms as motivating factor to get me to stop but they are wasting their time.
As crazy as it sounds, I’ve been giving some thought to stopping Since I’ve been working from home, it seems to be getting a little un healthy. Also, as I actively date and look to settle down, I am nervous that such a disclosure would be a turn off to a potential Mrs. I was challenged tonight as to what would make me stop. The only thing I could think of is my future kids. I wouldn’t want them to have this habit or see their dad indulging in such a thing. I’m a very competitive person and am looking forward to the challenge. I plan on trying the band aide method and will buy a bulk pack tomorrow.
I’ll keep this blog posted on my success…or failure.
Im just so happy to know im not z only one in this whole world who sucks her thumb. Im 20 years old. I`ve been sucking my thumb since childhood. Also im a lefty.
I rarely feel z urge to sucks my thumb when its day maybe because im scared that someone might caught me. Only my parents knew abt it. I only suck my thumb when i sleep. I feel more relaxed. There are times when i can not sleep until I suck my thumb. I tried so many times to quit it because it was embarassing. My parents finds it funny and they always keep telling me it will looks too funny to see me one with my kids while we all be sucking our thumbs and watch cartoons(i watch too much of cartoons too…love it XD) they try everything to make me stop it when i was a kid but nothing works so they give up. Last week my dad came early in my room while i was sleeping soundly and took a photo of me sucking my thumb in my sleep and when i woke up he show me and my mom. Somewhere they find it really cute but it was such an embarrasing moment for me. Today after reading this blog I got the courage to talk to my bf abt it. I was actually beating around z bush and then he said ‘Don`t tell me u suck your thumb?’ i was like you guess right. He was surprised first but then he said he finds it cute and after that he started calling me baby doll which he never did before. My teeth are perfectly alright. Only my thumb isn`t attractive. Im honestly not sure if i be able to quit this habit.
I love that I stumbled across this!! Yes all my life I have heard ” your teeth will be messed up” or ” Think of all those germs” but I’m 21 I’m a mother and whenever or whenever I have the urge I pop my thumb in my mouth and relax, I have never done drugs but I explain to nonthumbsuckers that it’s just like people crave a smoke or crave their own addiction I crave my thumb!! I HAVE HEARD ALL THE OPINIONS and I don’t care I’m not hurting anyone and I still make friends I will suck my thumb around complete strangers and not think twice, it’s my comfort and it helps me relax, I say do what makes you feel good we aren’t harming anyone . Trust me the people in your life that really matter won’t care as long as you are happy, and even the ones who say something will eventually realize they are preaching to the choir and leave you be
OMG it is so good to know that i’m not alone in this. I have been sucking my thumb for as long as i remember. I’ve always hid it from my family, but they knew. Weather they still know i do it, i have no idea. They don’t say or ask me. I would naturally deny it anyways. All my partners don’t know. Although i have nearly been caught out on many occasions haha :) Im just waiting for they day they catch me and leave me :(
Im 32 years old and I hope to one day stop, however i don’t think i will. I did for a while by making myself concious of it and sitting on my hand or putting it under my pillow, But went back into it again.
I only do it at night though when im tired. Tend to twist my hair too lol :)
It’s just so good to know that i’m not alone in this and that there are others out there too.
I only hope i have helped others to feel as though they are not alone.
I’m a 24 year old female & I have sucked my thumb for as long as I can remember. My ex boyfriend new about my habit & had no problem with it. I felt comfortable sucking my thumb around him. Thankfully my husband also doesn’t mind my habit. It’s second nature to me to suck my thumb when I’m tired. He never says a word about it. The only problem he has is not understanding me if I try to talk. It’s been many years that we’ve been together you’d think he would understand my thumb talk lol! I enjoy it & dont plan on quitting! My left thumb has a callus & that’s my only issue. I don’t suck my thumb around anyone but my husband. I always make sure to wash my hands b4! The thought of sticking my dirty thumb in my mouth grosses me out! I don’t see a problem with the habit & there are many accepting spouses out there! There are worse habits out there!
@Thomas, if you’re still checking this site, I’d love to talk to you. It seems we have alot in common.
I’m so happy to have found this website. I finally feel like I’m not alone. I’m 27, and I want to stop so bad. I lost my job recently, and since I’m home alone I’ve been sucking my fingers much more. I don’t have the urge when other people are around, so I try to get friends to come over after work just because I know I won’t do it. I tried smoking because I thought it would help me quit and it’s more socially acceptable for an adult, but I don’t like cigarettes. I’m doing it all day every day now, so much that my two front teeth are starting to hurt from the pressure. I hate it, but it feels like an addiction. I might try the band aid method this weekend. I have an overbite but I’m afraid to get orthodontic care becasue I don’t want to waste the money if I can’t stop. I do feel good knowing this site is here, because at least I’m not alone.
No need to use that language dude.
I’m a 29 year old chronic thumbsucker. I did it as a young child but stopped around age 5. A few years later, I started up again, I have no clue why. I now have buck teeth, my front right tooth is pushed slightly more to the right then the other side. I also have a large, blister like bump on my left thumb. normally, I only get to sneak in a few minutes or so at a time, but when I’m home alone, I do it more often. When this happens, I get pain and discomfort in my gums and sometimes my teeth feel loose.
I’m married and a mother of a thumb sucking 8 year old. I haven’t told my husband but I wouldn’t be surprised if he has seen me in my sleep or while I was curled up on the couch. My son as caught me and I always come up with some stupid excuse. Right now it’s seems like it’s working but one day, he’ll catch on. Im so ashamed of doing it, but it’s an urge that I can’t help. It’s becoming hard for me to tell my son to stop, when I do it.
I always thought that adult thumb sucking was some form of mental illness or extreme stress. I was actually shocked to see that I couldn’t find anything about it online. I never looked it up before because I was always afraid to see what I find. I feel a lot better having read many of your stories.
^Jennie, your husband sounds like a douche bag. He’s rude for expecting you to sleep on the couch just because you snore. I snore extremely loudly because of my thumbsucking and my husband and I sleep together every night. He got used to the snoring and it rarely bothers him now. Your husband needs to suck it up and learn to deal with it.