Comfort items

A comfort item?

  At least £100 in my wallet.  Cash I can touch seems more real than numbers in a bank account. 

Awww they're so cute!!!

You could look up different stims and give some a try, see what you like, what works for you etc.

I've struggled to find new healthier stims but I'm always looking for new ones that are better for me. When I was little I would sit on the floor and clap my hands repetitively, didn't know I was autistic then but it was something I did all the time... sadly grew out of it.

Thank you so much for the link!

I think this will be helpful for me. It's amazing they do non smelling versions, I'm hyper sensitive to smells so that's something I am always having to consider when purchasing stuff.

Hi everyone, thanks so much for all your replies. It’s so nice to read all the different things that bring you comfort. I thought I might be the only one as no one in my family needs comfort items… so glad I found this community. It’s nice to be a part of a community that really understands and gets how I’m feeling and why I’m the way I am.

In my queen sized bed, I have 40 teddy bears and my best friend is my beloved Paddington Bear - we met on the the supermarket shelves and I paid his ransom a long time ago and we have been together ever since - he may be an English teddy bear but he’s found a loving Irish home with me - he’s so handsome and we fall asleep in each others arms, keeping each other warm and safe with our love for each other and wake up in each other’s arms and we talk to each other all the time via love and cuddles 

Hi yes I have a squishmallow called cookie when I’m away from home I take her with me and sleep with her. I had an MRI scan a few weeks back and I took her with me which was a huge help as it was a stressful time for me.

I too bite the inside of my lips and the skin around my fingernails. It would be good to find a stim that doesn’t involve devouring myself. 
would be interesting if anyone has any recommendations please? 

I have quite few toys in my bag. They support me emotionally. These two little dolls go everywhere with me in this little bag, and Jasmine from Disney cartoon with these two little plushies also live permanently in my bag. They are also good for stimming. I like touching the plushies or the doll’s hair and hands. The plushies are actually key chains, so that little ring is also good for stimming. 

Yeah I do have a comfort item whenever im feeling anxious at night I hug onto my squish-mellow plushie and it really helps with my anxiety 

The bike chain one is almost perfect for me because I used to pick the skin of my fingers with a finger on the same hand, and I can put this on a finger to sort of intercept the motion. So, I still do the same thing but not on my finger skin. Also I can just twirl it or squidge it into shapes for fun too.

If you are in the UK, then this is a link on Amazon to the better non-smelly version:

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08Q3CJP2Z

I'm glad you found these + they work for you! I might give them a try to because I'm constantly biting my fingers and also my lips and tongue which can result in really painful sores. I use to have a chewable necklace when I was like twelve.... I found that really helpful at the time.

If fidget toys count, then yes. Since being diagnosed this year, I have gone from wrecking my own fingers by picking the skin to using several stim toys.

My favourite is these. I don't go anywhere without one. But beware the cheaper ones that smell metallic and leave a metallic smell and taste on your hands. An ex-member here recommended it, and I am eternally greatful.

I also have one of these which is quite fun, but this 'lives' on my desk.