Breaking the habit of a lifetime.

Former Member

Right, I figured this would go in here 'cause there's nowhere else really to put it.

Basically, when I was three I started sucking my thumb. I am now 19-nearly-20 and I am still doing it. Not only has this completely fucked up my teeth and made one of my thumbs shorter than the other, it's also highly embarrassing and I feel like a bit of a twat.

But I can't stop myself doing it . I usually do it when I'm in bed although I do have a tendency to do it when I'm bored. I've pretty much decided that it's a comfort thing, but that doesn't help, really.

Has anyone got any tips on how to stop? I reeeeeeally want to because I do feel really daft when I do it, even though Rich doesn't mind. Plus, no matter how long my other nails get, the one on that thumb will not grow past a certain point.

Former Member

Either put some of that nasty tasting stuff that people use to help them stop biting their nails or just don't think about stopping. For years when I wanted to stop biting my nails I thought about stopping but when I started not thinking about it I stopped.

Former Member

I should have remembered to point out that that stuff doesn't work . I just keep sucking until it goes away .

Former Member

get someone to slap you each time they see you do it
or forfit each time you catch yourself doing it - you'll learn.

Former Member

learn to love sucking your thumb, imagine what terrible habbit you'll end up replacing it with if you quit.

Former Member

katralla wrote: »

learn to love sucking your thumb, imagine what terrible habbit you'll end up replacing it with if you quit.

What, like smoking?

Oh, wait....

Thing is, I do want to quit before I have kids because I don't want my kids to see mummy doing it and them think it's ok then they'll have the same teeth problems I've got and stuff.

Former Member

I dunno, I think you find your own thumb rather than it being a learned behaviour. I suck my thumb but my daughter doesn't and neither does anyone else in my family that I know of.

Former Member

Really? I guess that's true, since my mum doesn't suck hers but my older sister used to suck her finger in a really bizarre way then I started sucking my thumb and my twin sucked her finger too. None of us did it the same though.

Awesome, maybe I won't bother then ;o.

Indrid Cold

All babies suck their thumbs at some time. It's just that most people stop doing it.

Former Member

Indrid Cold wrote: »

All babies suck their thumbs at some time.

hmmn, I don't think so actually, no more than they would suck their toes or other stuff that accidently got into their mouths. Some babies intentionally suck, like enjoy a dummy or suck their thumb, some don't even want to.

Franki, are you sure sucking your thumb did anything to your teeth that wouldn't have ahappened anyway? I thought that was an old wives tale. The thumb nail thing, now that I know from experience to be so.

Former Member

katralla wrote: »

hmmn, I don't think so actually, no more than they would suck their toes or other stuff that accidently got into their mouths. Some babies intentionally suck, like enjoy a dummy or suck their thumb, some don't even want to.

Franki, are you sure sucking your thumb did anything to your teeth that wouldn't have ahappened anyway? I thought that was an old wives tale. The thumb nail thing, now that I know from experience to be so.

I am absolutely sure. Between the front of my top teeth and the top of my bottom teeth there is a massive gap where I've pushed the top ones forwards and the bottom ones backwards.

Also, Indrid, I never started sucking my thumb til I was three, so I don't think all babies DO suck their thumbs .

Former Member

lacrymosa wrote: »

I used to be reallllllyyy bad with sucking my thumb. I ended up with braces for years cuz I had this massive gap inbetween my top two front teeth and could fit straws through it. My dentist suggested allsorts to try to get me to stop. It started by tying a sock on my hand at night but I somehow in my sleep, untied it and woke up with my thumb in mouth. THEN, the doctor suggested putting a cardboard tube on my arm so I couldn't bend it. This wasn't nice and it only stayed on a few hours as I was screaming . Thennnn, my Mum put mustard on my thumb to stop me sucking it. This worked because I hatehatehate mustard.

Maybe try putting something you hate on your thumb? It worked for me and it took me years to stop.

I can suck my thumb with disinfectant taste on my thumb and not stop. Mustard etc wouldn't work ;(.

When did you get braces? I have a huge gap too and I got told that braces couldn't help me ;(.

Former Member

Franki wrote: »

I should have remembered to point out that that stuff doesn't work . I just keep sucking until it goes away .

It didn't stop me biting my nails either

Former Member

my cousin still still sucks her thumb and she will be 18 this year. she also, has had braces in the past. somehow her nails survive.
i think its cute!!

Former Member

what about a glove? taped around your wrist so you cant move it?!

JsT

I never knew that.

I would try gloves etc and the simple stuff first though

Former Member

JsT wrote: »

I never knew that.

I would try gloves etc and the simple stuff first though

Never knew what?

I have tried gloves. I suck them and then when my mouth goes all clothy I take them off.

I'm really, really bad.

Former Member

I'm trying to think of something reeeeeally gross to dip your thumb in :chin:

Indrid Cold

Ballerina wrote: »

I'm trying to think of something reeeeeally gross to dip your thumb in :chin:

I can thing of a couple of things... And one of them is on her.

Former Member

Is there a food or something you really hate?

Former Member

Wrap it in elastoplast plaster strip stuff (the stuff that's tape rather than the plasters with lint and stuff) because that tastes pretty rank! It's uncomfortable to suck too.
My sister has messed up her teeth a bit from thumb sucking, she's always done it and still does now at almost 18 years. Her teeth kind of go up a bit in the middle and don't quite meet the bottom ones. They don't stick out or anything though.

Former Member

Ballerina wrote: »

Is there a food or something you really hate?

I dunno if there's anything I hate enough to not just keep it on there til it's all sucked off. Something HOT might work but I dunno if it will or not.

JsT

Franki wrote: »

Never knew what?
.

That Stace had braces, plus I'm sure you'd stopped thumb sucking too.

Nowt interesting.

Former Member

Dip your finger in chilli powder.

Former Member

apparently if you actually knew what kinda germs and shit get under your finger nails you;d never put them never ya mouth!!!

Former Member

Sikorah wrote: »

apparently if you actually knew what kinda germs and shit get under your finger nails you;d never put them never ya mouth!!!

Oh, I know! But I still do . Like, I currently have bleach remains on my thumb from cleaning my bathroom. Tastes NASTY and I'm still doing it .

Former Member

did you try the plasters thing yet?

Former Member

Knee High Stripy Socks wrote: »

did you try the plasters thing yet?

I've done it before and it never worked then . I might try it again but I don't have any plasters and haven't really got time to go out and buy more atm.

Former Member

Fair enough. I was just thinking, if you made it reeeally huge and bulky with plasters before you go to bed then you wouldn't be able to suck it!

Former Member

Haha I will try .

Former Member

awh franki. i know i sound patronising but that is really cute!

i can only really suggest will power. it will be hard but reward yourself when you go to suck your thumb and then don't.