BJDs as therapy...

I can definitely see where people come from. I guess I could kind of look towards a doll as a cure for loneliness too. My parents live in a different country and my relationship is 'long distance'. He only lives an hour and a half away, but in a country where any form of transport is expensive it results in only getting to see him about two weekends a month.
And while I dont have a problem making friends, I have a problem finding people I REALLY want to spend my time with. It sounds snobby but really its just more antisocial ish. I want someone it really clicks with and where you dont have to have any sort of facade up, but I dont really have any friends like that.

 

My dolls are definitley comforting to me when I'm going through a rough patch because they give me something positive to concentrate on. I do have a tendency of buying dolls during the difficult phases of my life. I suppose in a way they do alliviate loneliness too because of their life like characteristics. One of the things I'm most looking fowards too right now is being able to mod my incoming doll after all of my work is finished.

 

With the, utter upheaval in my life in the last year, i know my dolls are part of the only thing keeping me sane. I was diagnosed with lupus, then i was very suddenly, a single mother. Then a nasty custody battle happened, then i had, 4 dolls stolen, because of that battle. Half the time, i just curled up with one of my dolls, and cried all night. Just so i could get up int eh morning and fight some more. I know, if i had not, had them, it would have been infinatly harder. I lost everything i owned but what i could fit into two duffle bags... and almost all of that was my daughters. So all i could get.. were my dolls. 28 years old.. and i lost everything....but my dolls. My daughter might be my world.. but my dolls, keep me sane.

 

I can easily see how our dolls are a great form of therapy. I started collecting bjds while I was quite unwell with a dizzyness/balance disorder and have got heaps of enjoyment from them. They are something I can enjoy even when I am to unwell to go out. I have talked to others who got into the hobby while they were unwell too. I know even if I'm feeling down about being ill or frustrated because I can't go where I want I can look at their beautiful faces and they cheer me up.

 

I have an anxiety disorder, and my dolls definitely help as a form of therapy. Back in high school when I wasn't able to spend the night in a room with a roommate or in a room with my boyfriend, I often had trouble keeping the anxiety away. Having one of my girls in the bed helped calm me down, they gave me something more tangible and human-like to hold as I slept. But even just collecting them helps. If the anxiety is particularly bad, I'll sit down and watch a movie with one of my dolls there with me, or even just sit them beside me while doing homework, and it always helps reduce stress. Last semester, back in October, I fell down the stairs and ended up in the ER that night. I had to spend the next week and a half or more mostly bed-ridden, it was very upsetting and frustrating for me as my friends all got to goof off together and play board games, while my pain medication rendered me constantly exhausted/sleeping. I kept one of my MSDs, Chii, with me near constantly and it really helped me through that because when I'd be alone for hours and hours, she'd be there.

 

I absolutely think these dolls can be therapeutic.

Funny enough, I started this hobby right after being laid off from a pretty stressful job of nearly 10 years. It was a rough period personally but more importantly for the first time in ages I had tons of time to devote to being creative. I begin crafting, sewing and writing again for example. So the hobby helped to definitely inspire me during a low period. And it has most certainly been a distraction from the stressful task of job search.

 

I have fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and irritable bowel. I graduated from uni nearly two years ago, it was a good uni and I got a 2:1 despite working through pain. I haven't had a single interview despite sending hundreds of CVs and application forms off. I now suffer with depression and high anxiety, I feel like a failure.
When I'm working on an outfit for my doll I feel content, I know I can sew and making her an outfit that looks good leaves me feeling good about myself.
Saving up for two more dolls to add to my doll family gives me something to look forward to, one is a boy so I'll get to make boy clothes and one is a more vivacious girl so she wears a different style of clothing. Just thinking about it makes me smile.

 

BJDs are definitely therapeutic for me. I have some of the same problems everyone else here discussed,anxiety,depression,chronic fatigue. I guess my dolls are my way of escaping to a perfect fantasy world. It's very interesting how this hobby attracts so many people with the same issues,but I'm happy to know other people are finding relief and an escape with BJDs.

 

I don't know about the dolls themselves, but sewing for my dolls makes me feel productive, and that's therapeutic to me. I've started cuddling Evra when I get lonely (he doesn't have eyelashes that could potentially get squished the way Darren does) which does make me feel better. And I tend to chatter at Dean while I sew. My girlfriend has expressed concern that my dolls might be "the only thing making me happy" but I don't think that's true. They are, however, one of the main things making me happy.

 

I get a "high" from treasuring the creativity expressed through bjd customization, and the mold sculpting variety. Definitely added new excitement to my life. Plus I needed to work on re-connecting with people. I have pushed beyond on-line friendships into activites by helping with planning and attending all that I can. Now I need help with self-discipline, like a bjd anonymous group. But I don't want to stop. Hope I don't have to hit a doll bottom. >_< ~ But my hopes for getting on with all the projects I've only been dreaming about would replace my questionable habits with carousing all the marketing avenues. Overall I'm so grateful to have this much enthusiasm for anything. Keeps me out of depression's numbness.

 

I couldn't find my original post....but after 4 years of being in this hobby...I've really grown a lot. As an artist...and as a bjd hobbiest.

I have a lot of problems that are difficult to work with...however...I find that having something to "play with" and constantly tinker with, makes things better. I found that I have become so much more "social" through having my dolls. I've become a very quiet and to myself person, yet when it comes to my dolls (and art) I just explode with creativity.

I'm really getting involved now, with my dolls and talking to people here on the forums.

Talking about my dolls, and the things I make for them is rewarding...it may be silly to others at first...but when I show them photos of my resin kids, and the things I made for them, it's amazing to see such a positive reaction. (Not to mention, I make the same things just as well for humans too!)

It just...gives me something to look forward to, and the few people I talk to irl make this hobby worthwhile. Eventually I'll make it to a meetup, and get into photostories and doing face-ups myself. It's been a real positive influence to me as well as a creative outlet.

I do plan on talking about my dolls, or bringing Nicky with me to when I go to my psychiatrist. If just for the company. xD

 

I really feel like they comfort and soothe their owners. They're a great way to relieve stress and get your mind in a better place. I've suffered from anxiety/depression and whenever I get nervous before going out with friends or something of that sort I take a moment to play with my dolls and I feel so much better. If only I could get my insurance to pay for them... haha!

 

I've suffered with depression and anxiety for a long time now and over the past couple of years it's been at the stage where it seriously impacts on things I do, not being able to hold a job or remain in courses at university or polytech and ruining relationships. But when I got into the BJD hobby it gave me a distraction, while I was at home it took my mind off everything else that was going on.

And now that I own 3 of my own it makes me feel better to get them on a bad day and work with them and handle them. When I was especially lonely it was a great comfort to know that I had my own little resin person on the way and the sheer inanimate nature of them is also comforting.

I also like that they are physical embodiments of characters in my head and are like reservoir for my creativity and places to vent to. So they are probably the best kind of therapy I've had other than my fur children.

 

I think having a BJD might be a good hobby and give some relief through other connected outlets, like sewing, photography, design, writing, etc. Still, in the long run, I'm personally afraid that the owner and doll might get 'too' attached in a negative way, and perhaps the person in question might lose any and all will to deal with the real world.

I don't know, I don't have a BJD yet and am not fully immersed in the hobby because of, but I can definitely see the downside of over-attachment.

 

I definitely identify with a lot of the posts on this thread. I'm diagnosed with...well, a bunch of things, mental and physical. It's been really hard for many years. A lot of the time I'm in mental pain, or physical pain, or both.

Working on my BJDs is really therapeutic for me; it's relaxing, centering, just something to do with my hands. It lets me be creative, and it doesn't cause much stress - and when I've got physical pain, I can work on it without having to stand up or move much.

The hobby has also helped me meet new people, which is really hard for me to do normally. But when I've gone to doll meetups, I always feel welcomed and I meet really cool people. ^_^

 

I don't know about anyone else, but my BJDs help me so much. I have had depression/anxiety for as long as I remember and I have never learnt how to cope. Until last year, when I bought Jasmine. She seemed to just help by being around me. Whenever I feel down about something, I just get my dolls and change their outfit, sort their hair out or take photographs of them and instantly I have forgot why I was down and I am happy again.

 

I have a few anxiety disorders and i definitely find myself going to my dolls for comfort more often than not

 

I think BJDs are a great way of therapy. Bonding with one would be helpful for lonely times when you can't express to anyone. I know children already do this with their own stuffed animals and toys when their in a bad mood or something.

 

For someone who are non dollphobic, I think BJDs are dolls which can soothe one's heart from a stressful day.

Before I had any BJDs, it was a bit hard for me to go home, whether from school or from a vacation. Every day I went home, I felt incredibly lonely because I have no siblings, and I just literally had no one to talk to when it comes to matters I feel uncomfy to talk about with my parents, and only had my phone and the computer to talk to a very close irl friend if needed. But since Hizuru and Charles came to my house, I felt less lonely, and perhaps, I don't feel lonely anymore because there is a being near me which I can kinda talk to, and feel better with.

 

I'm bipolar, I have anxiety, and many phobias and "things" regarding my OCD. As a child I also experienced abuse and the rough life that comes with divorced parents and hopping from one home to the other. Back then, stuffed animals were my therapy because they were something I could love and could pretend loved me back, unconditionally.

BJDs are pretty much that for me now. They're a safe way of expressing myself positively and just about the only thing I can care for (besides my cats, all whom I love dearly) without going into bouts of stress, depression, or anything else that might hurt me or something else. Many times when I can't talk to my therapist right then I talk to them even though I know they can't respond. But they're an ear and they're patient so if I'm mad they can wait it out, if I'm sad they let me hold them, and when I'm happy they take part too. I also have a joint disorder and arthritis so they're also one of my few hobbies I can keep up with during bad days. For about a year I couldn't use my left hand too well because of my arthritis but I could still pick up my (then only) doll, a 4" Puki, and hold her, pose her, and even dress her. And it helped me get through that time, knowing I could still hold her and just look at her, make her dance or sit or play with one of her own toys and it didn't hurt me.

They're also great because my best friend now lives roughly 3 hours away from me. They're not a replacement for people, but when I can't see her or talk to her right then I have them. Plus I've always found that just going to the doll sites and looking at the dolls (window shopping, basically) puts me in a better mood because I'm so caught up in their beauty and grace that it's calming and helps me take my mind off of things.