To think I can stop thumb sucking at 30?!

[MissBax]

I have sucked my thumb for 30 years. Am I ever going to be able to stop?! Has anyone managed to stop something similar?

I stopped around 27! I found having something in my hand (fidget toy, ribbon, anything like that) really helped.

I'd say if you're managing not to do it in public what's the harm anyway! But good luck if you try!

CaliforniaDream

It's more concern over my teeth than anything - I wouldn't say they've ever been bad, but there I've definitely noticed a change in the last few years

Yes! I stopped. It depends when you do it as to how you would approach it. I sucked mine to fall asleep so I wore socks on my hands to bed. I had a few sleepless nights but then it clicked. If you do it during the day how about that yucky nail biter stuff or getting a big thumb ring to “block” it fitting right.

Sexykitten2005

Amazing! How old were you when you broke the habit? I generally do it when watching TV in the evening rather than to fall asleep, it's when I'm relaxing with jist DH around! I've currently got masking take wrapped arohnd it, wondering how long I'll have to do this for haha

Finally stopped at 40! For the same reasons. Yes it can be done I just put a plaster on mine so I'd notice whenever I put it in my mouth. Changed the plaster as necessary and then after a few weeks I found I was okay. Still get he urge but don't do it 😆

I stopped at 17 when I got a serious boyfriend. I'm 41 now and it feels very odd if I try it.

...But I still miss the comfort of it. I'm sure it's why I'm fat now!

I'm 19 and still do - want to stop for the same reason but it's such a comfort. I do it to fall asleep and wake in the night and I'm not sucking and can fall asleep without sucking it. Sometimes I just lay on my front to sleep. So it's not comfy to suck my thumb. I do find the plaster or just a nasty paper cut from work will deter me though

Yes. But i definitely eat and drink more alcohol!

Incase anyone is interested I've now gone over 24 hours which is the longest in my life! I put a thin bobble arohnd my thumb.
I have bitten off all my nails though, which is very unpleasant and painful, but also making me think maybe it's more an oral fixation of sorts?!

I stopped in my thirties. I did it at night, so it was relatively easy, I just wore quite a scratchy glove. I wanted to correct a very noticeable overbite and it was pointless if I sucked my thumb. Stopped the thumb sucking, got my teeth fixed.

Meant to say, I know what you mean about oral fixation. I gave up smoking and now constantly have a pen stuck in my mouth and chew the lids. Ick.

Maelstrop

How did you correct the overbite? Braces?

I am 43 and still do it

Google thumb guard! Stopped my daughter in a week- hasn’t tried to suck it again ever!

I stopped at 17. It's why I still sleep with my hands under my pillows but it worked for me.

I found that only a fabric finger plaster worked - they are the butterfly shaped plasters that go over the end of your finger that come in a mixed pack of plasters. With plastic plasters or normal straight ones they come off too easily! Also it took about 3 days of having the plaster on. Good luck!

I’m 30 and still do it when no quite paying attention. I also bite my nails, oral fixation indeed. I’ve always rubbed/twiddled my ear at the same time as thumb sucking and managed to reduce the thumb sucking by focusing on the less obvious ear twiddling. Can you refocus on to something else?

I do ‘twiddle’ all the time though. But only time I really try and keep it in check is job interviews!

You probably could. I cut my thumb quite badly a few months ago and wore a bandage one it. After 3-4 days it was well enough that I had a conscious choice to make. I thought my teeth are fine and I'm not honestly bothered about stopping, but really it could have gone fine if I'd decided not to continue - I had no trouble getting to sleep or anything.

I stopped sucking my thumb in my mid thirties, the day I had my braces put on. It was the hardest thing I ever did, and it took months before I slept properly. I still miss it now, 3 years later, but don’t think it would actually do anything for me anymore. Spending thousands of my own money was literally the only thing that could motivate me to stop.

I stopped in my 20s when I got a serious boyfriend - My teeth are really badly shaped because of it :(
Just tried it and it feel really weird