Thumb Sucking Habit

[Silver Shadow]

I have a rather embarrassing habit... I'm 16 years old and for as long as I can remember, I have sucked my thumb. It happens frequently, and sometimes I don't realize it fully until one of my family members point it out. It has already had a bad effect on my front teeth, and I'm not sure what to do about it anymore.... I've tried pepper (spicy seasonings) Dawn, and other stuff. I was unsure where to put this topic, so I put it here... Any suggestions on how to break this Habit?

Edited April 24, 2007 by Silver Shadow

[KeilanS]

Maybe if you put a bandaid on the thumb but put it on wierd so that it pricked you or felt strange when you put it in your mouth. That way you'd know right away you were doing it.

And this only works when you're mostly alone (so you don't have to worry about grossing people out if you shake their hands) but you could try coating your thumb in something that you won't want in your mouth. See if you can try drying baking soda on it, or dipping it in lemon juice.

God Bless,

Keilan

[anthem]

i had that problem too!!!!!! and i know the feeling! it used to be so embarassing at school - i had the same problem and didnt actually realise i was doing it most of the time!... i guess the main question is why do you actually do it? - eg i sucked my thumb because id always done it, and it was a comfort thing and also it had turned into a habit - i felt empty without it!... well, if this is any help at all, i kinda bullyed myself into stopping it - i decided one day that that was it, i wouldnt do it again, and if i ever got tempted i just squeezed my hands tight till it stopped, and of course pray about it... im not gonna lie - its really hard to stop! but its well worth it in the end ! i hope that was useful

[Marnie]

Maybe if you put a bandaid on the thumb but put it on wierd so that it pricked you or felt strange when you put it in your mouth. That way you'd know right away you were doing it.

And this only works when you're mostly alone (so you don't have to worry about grossing people out if you shake their hands) but you could try coating your thumb in something that you won't want in your mouth. See if you can try drying baking soda on it, or dipping it in lemon juice.

God Bless,

Keilan

Omigosh, you are right! Rumor has it I was notorious thumb sucker, and dad wrapped my thumb up in a big wad of gauze. Dad said it looked ridiculous, my thumb was a big as my head...cured that habit, though.

[Silver Shadow]

Maybe if you put a bandaid on the thumb but put it on wierd so that it pricked you or felt strange when you put it in your mouth. That way you'd know right away you were doing it.

And this only works when you're mostly alone (so you don't have to worry about grossing people out if you shake their hands) but you could try coating your thumb in something that you won't want in your mouth. See if you can try drying baking soda on it, or dipping it in lemon juice.

God Bless,

Keilan

Omigosh, you are right! Rumor has it I was notorious thumb sucker, and dad wrapped my thumb up in a big wad of gauze. Dad said it looked ridiculous, my thumb was a big as my head...cured that habit, though.

There is a draw-back to that, I have to go to work and that means my fingers must be free to make subs...

[Silver Shadow]

i had that problem too!!!!!! and i know the feeling! it used to be so embarassing at school - i had the same problem and didnt actually realise i was doing it most of the time!... i guess the main question is why do you actually do it? - eg i sucked my thumb because id always done it, and it was a comfort thing and also it had turned into a habit - i felt empty without it!... well, if this is any help at all, i kinda bullyed myself into stopping it - i decided one day that that was it, i wouldnt do it again, and if i ever got tempted i just squeezed my hands tight till it stopped, and of course pray about it... im not gonna lie - its really hard to stop! but its well worth it in the end ! i hope that was useful

To be honest, I have no clue as to why I do it... and I don't know how to force myself to stop... Sucking my thumb helps when I feel a little stressed, when I feel extremely hungry, and in the car when I feel sick...

[anthem]

i had that problem too!!!!!! and i know the feeling! it used to be so embarassing at school - i had the same problem and didnt actually realise i was doing it most of the time!... i guess the main question is why do you actually do it? - eg i sucked my thumb because id always done it, and it was a comfort thing and also it had turned into a habit - i felt empty without it!... well, if this is any help at all, i kinda bullyed myself into stopping it - i decided one day that that was it, i wouldnt do it again, and if i ever got tempted i just squeezed my hands tight till it stopped, and of course pray about it... im not gonna lie - its really hard to stop! but its well worth it in the end ! i hope that was useful

To be honest, I have no clue as to why I do it... and I don't know how to force myself to stop... Sucking my thumb helps when I feel a little stressed, when I feel extremely hungry, and in the car when I feel sick...

well you obviously want to actually stop!... is seems like you do it when you feel like your not in control? does that seem to fit? - if so try to make sure the first thing you do when you feel like that is to think over the situation? see if that works?

[Akiko]

The Band-Aid suggestion is a good idea. While you're at work, you could wear nail polish-- sucking your thumb may cause flakes of nail polish to come off, and that's not a pleasant taste.

Above all, pray! Good luck.

~Akiko

[Silver Shadow]

The Band-Aid suggestion is a good idea. While you're at work, you could wear nail polish-- sucking your thumb may cause flakes of nail polish to come off, and that's not a pleasant taste.

Above all, pray! Good luck.

~Akiko

I've done the Nail polish thing before when I was 11 years old... And I pretty much sucked it clean O.o I'll try the band-aid thing

Edited April 25, 2007 by Silver Shadow

[Silver Shadow]

i had that problem too!!!!!! and i know the feeling! it used to be so embarassing at school - i had the same problem and didnt actually realise i was doing it most of the time!... i guess the main question is why do you actually do it? - eg i sucked my thumb because id always done it, and it was a comfort thing and also it had turned into a habit - i felt empty without it!... well, if this is any help at all, i kinda bullyed myself into stopping it - i decided one day that that was it, i wouldnt do it again, and if i ever got tempted i just squeezed my hands tight till it stopped, and of course pray about it... im not gonna lie - its really hard to stop! but its well worth it in the end ! i hope that was useful

To be honest, I have no clue as to why I do it... and I don't know how to force myself to stop... Sucking my thumb helps when I feel a little stressed, when I feel extremely hungry, and in the car when I feel sick...

well you obviously want to actually stop!... is seems like you do it when you feel like your not in control? does that seem to fit? - if so try to make sure the first thing you do when you feel like that is to think over the situation? see if that works?

I do it when I'm just doing my normal routines... I'll be reading or with my horses and suddenly I start for no reason... I think it might be a insecurity thing... but I dunno....

Edited April 25, 2007 by Silver Shadow