I Rely on Stuffed Animals and That's Okay

I'm a grown adult. I'm also a person who sometimes needs the support of a stuffed animal. Those two facts are not mutually exclusive, and I want to break down the stigma! There's no shame in needing a cuddly little friend to get you through tough times, there's no need to 'grow out' of wanting a teddy near you when you're anxious. It's a gentle coping mechanism that doesn't harm anyone and that can really help.

#stuffedanimals #stuffiestoys #stuffies

[warninghonestyahead]

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

[stoneagedjp]

Stuffed animals love you unconditionally. And they are darling and adorable. Too many stories to tell here, but I treasure them all.

[imbewitchingyou]

I'm 54 and just started a plushie collection because of my depression and c-ptsd symptoms. It's been very helpful 🥰

[marilyngreenblatt]

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".

[lioness]

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💖

[truthonwheels]

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?

[amymccollom]

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.

[theredtheatre]

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.

[anonymous]

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

[dirtpietai]

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 💗

[DJNightcoreHD]

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.

[carissaa]

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! 🥰

[AD-polf]

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.

[camianeurodivergentperson]

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.

[tatertotsnatcher]

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!!

[nightfurylastshadow]

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.

[AkaneKageno]

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.

[kanatapaw]

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.

[zalah]

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!

[FarahTaouil-qc]

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!