#comfort items

[moosekleenex]

Does anyone else have 5-10 comfort items they need with them at all times?

[germplush]

normalize bringing plushies in public no matter your age

if it comforts and supports you and it hurts no one let us be

[catucino]

𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬 𝐩𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐭 🐈

[essa-blog-dog]

🤡⭐️ - PLUSHIE STIMBOARDS! 🖍️🌈

- Mr Hank Honk! My newest plushie! And emotional support!

[crazycatsiren]

Infantilization happens when disabled people are treated like children or "less than" non-disabled people because we are disabled, not when disabled people take comfort in things that society tends to associate with "childish", such as toys, plushies, cartoons, games, picture books, coloring books, young adult literature.

[psychwardkitten]

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

Easily Overlooked Autistic Traits

Situational Mutism

Special interests

Comfort items

Missing social cues

Sensory issues

Executive function problems

Lil Penguin Studios/Autism Happy Place

[itsaspectrumcomic]

Hi, I’m an autistic young adult and I recently lost my main comfort item. Do you have any advice on how to adapt/cope? It feels like my ability to handle and process everything else in my life has been reduced by 25%

I'm so sorry about that 😞 do you have any other comfort items or activities that help you? Obviously it's not the same, but they could still help you cope. If you can't think of anything, here are some things I do if my main comfort items aren't available:

- hugging a different toy with a similar texture/squeezing a pillow

- putting on a silly video from YouTube or a TV show I like

- eating a food I find comforting (for me that's pasta)

Also, allow yourself to feel whatever you're feeling about losing your item. Don't try to suppress it for other people's comfort or tell yourself it shouldn't feel like as big a deal as it does. It's OK to feel your emotions even if they don't necessarily make sense to everyone else. It might help to have a little 'ceremony' acknowledging the item - like a moment of silence, drawing a picture of it, writing a letter - whatever feels right for you.

I hope this helps and I hope you feel better soon ❤️