Barlow, Professor of Psychology at Boise State University, “Animals, live or stuffed, can aid therapy for both children and adults by providing a way to experience and express emotions, a feeling of unconditional support, and grounding.” She extends this to those who are healing from trauma resulting from childhood neglect or abuse.īunnies Are Your Best Friend, Indeed! Shop all stuffed bunnies today! 6. This can increase happiness and self-esteem in the trauma sufferer, and decrease feelings of self-loathing. Stuffed animals are used in some kinds of therapy! Stuffed animals can be useful in some kinds of “re-parenting,” in which a trauma survivor learns to care for and love the stuffed animal (and eventually themselves) to recover from traumatic experiences in childhood. You can grieve with a stuffed animal without worrying about judgement of censure, and they offer a constant source of comfort.ĥ. In fact, you can order Memory Bears, a stuffed teddy bear sewn with the clothing of your deceased friend or family member, in order to connect you more firmly to your memories of that person. Stuffed animals can represent a connection to a loved one that has passed, giving us a path through the grieving process and easing the feeling of loss that accompanies the death of someone close to us. recommended in psychotherapy and for people suffering from PTSD, bipolar and other mental disorders.” What an incredible gift! Being able to build secure emotional attachments can help people live richer, happier lives. Live animals have been gaining visibility as a therapeutic tool, but did you know that stuffed animals can help in a lot of the same ways that live animals do ? According to one study, stuffed animals helped patients with disorganized attachment styles form secure attachments and even rebuild impaired attachment bonds. Shop These beach-themed stuffed animals they are just the cutest! 3.

While stuffed animals cannot completely replace the social role that other humans play in our lives, they can help ease feelings of loneliness and alienation, helping us cope with the interconnected and lonely modern world.

Humans are social creatures, and we suffer without the company of others.

In fact, there’s evidence that even as we become more and more linked together by the internet, we may be getting lonelier. The modern world can feel lonely and alienating for adults, even when we’re surrounded by people. According to Margaret Van Ackeren, licensed therapist, “In most instances, adults sleep with childhood stuffed animals because it brings them a sense of security and reduces negative feelings, such as loneliness and anxiety.” That sense of security is important when things are in flux, helping us navigate change more successfully. These are referred to as “comfort objects,” or “transitional objects,” and they can help us feel a greater sense of security when moving from one life stage to another, or even from one job or one house to another. It’s probably not surprising that adults use stuffed animals and loveys in much the same way that children do they offer a sense of security during times of change. Stuffed Animals Bring a Sense of Security But what benefits do these stuffie friends offer their adult owners? 1. The most popular stuffed animal for adults is the time-honored teddy bear. We often think that stuffed animals are just for children, but if you can get them to admit it, many adults have stuffed animals too! A 2018 study shows that 43% of adults have a special stuffed friend, and 84% of men versus 77% of women admit to owning at least one.

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