Do you seek comfort from your dolls over friends?

Hmmm...I guess it depends on what it is that's going on, and what human people are around at the time. I do find my dolls comforting, and I find my dog comforting, and sometimes I feel better after talking to another person. If I'm really upset I might go to all three My relationships with the people in my life are fine and in no way threatened or harmed by my dolls -- in fact, this hobby has encouraged me to be more social, so I would say they have quite a positive effect.

As to how others handle things -- we're all different, and we cope with stress and anxiety in different ways. If cuddling a doll works for someone, then great! If they have have a human to talk things out with, and that's what they need then also great! As long as the outcome is good, then I don't see that there's really an issue here. Not everyone wants to be around other people when they're upset--that doesn't mean they are unhealthy or are placing their dolls above the humans in their lives. I wish people would be more willing to give others the benefit of the doubt rather than just automatically assuming the worst about someone.

 

I'd much rather talk to my friend about my problems instead of my doll.

 

Like almost everyone in this thread has said, it really does depend on the situation for me. I mean, it's sort of complicated. If I'm in a really bad mood, I often don't feel like talking to anyone about what's wrong, either because it feels too threatening to myself, or it just doesn't feel safe to talk about. So instead of just wallowing in a potentially dangerous bad mood where I could slip back into bad coping habits, I'll go seek comfort from my doll, Kadin. While I know it's not as good as talking to a real, living person, sometimes I'm just not ready to talk to real, living people about what's bothering me. So I'll play with Kadin and have little telepathic conversations with him (haha, I must sound like a lunatic!). And yeah, I'm aware that he dosen't talk back. :P And that it's just my imagination. But wow, I usually feel so much better afterward. Well, better enough to talk about these unsafe feelings I have. So after seeking comfort from my doll, I'll feel ready enough to seek comfort from someone real. Does that make sense to anyone?

However, if it's just a minor bad mood, I'll just go straight to talking to someone, because I don't feel like it's threatening to talk about.

As for my relationships with people? It doesn't affect them negatively at all. I mean, people know that when I'm in a horrendously bad mood that I most likely will not talk to them no matter what. And if they force me to talk about it, I start lashing out because I feel threatened. So my doll creates a safe "cool down" period for me. And hey, the people who matter to me understand that.

But yeah, while at times I do seek comfort from my doll over my friends, it's only because I personally cannot handle what I'm feeling in that present moment in time. But in the end, I almost always go to my friends and family.

 

*reading the comments from that FML post made me RAGE lol, not many of them actually consider WHY...but yeah.* I don't have close friends that I can confide in that live NEAR me, and talking online just isn't effective....I'm usually left home with just my sister *who is usually the one that gets me upset haha* so I end up turning to my dolls...really, I can't stand letting people see me cry, I prefer my dolls sometimes...

 

I would never do that and never have. I saw that sentence last time I went to FML and I laughed but the comments were pretty rude xP
I would not go to my dolls for comfort because they are not living and I would rather go to a plushy or something more soft and cuddly then a hard/cold doll =P

And anyway... I am not the kind to go for comfort from someone else, when I am not feeling right most of the time I like to be alone, so it may be a problem if I was in a relationship, but it would not be because of my dolls.

Sometimes people should understand that when someone does not want to see anyone, you are included too.

 

Well if a human wants to talk to me its all good but for me a doll cant talk back of judge me for whatever is making me upset. So either is fine but dolls are good for when you cant talk to a person about something~

 

Hear, hear for the pets! Cat on top, get over it quick, as it were.

Given that most of my friends live in different *states* than I do, it's often hours (not often more than that) before I can raise one of them for a rant or whine session. I unfortunately whine at my co-workers much more often than I ought. But the dolls are a ready source of ... yes, I think "distraction" is the right word. Give my right brain something visual and tactile to do for awhile and my left brain will shut up for a second. (Yes, I know. It's a rare but wonderful thing!)

In that sense, the dolls ARE comforting. But not in the sense that I think the OP was getting at.

 

I have to admit, I sometimes prefer to confide in Freya/in a stuffed animal/in my dog than in my friends/family. (Don't have a boyfriend to confide in, so can't list that.) There are some issues I just don't want to worry people with, because as much as they bother me, some really aren't a big deal, and I don't want to trouble them.

It probably doesn't help that when I get upset I don't want to confide in anyone at all, just sit down and read a book to calm myself down. xD; (That's the only thing that absolutely always works for me.)

 

I tend to hold my problems in, even more so now, than let the people around me know I have them. Because I hate to talk about them. They have their own to worry about. So I wait until I'm alone with my children to take care of 'their' problems (which is why I rescue) and in that way I am dealing with my own.

By not dealing with my own.

When I'm hurting or sad or upset, I talk to them more than other people. I can't stand to be looked at with either 'rolled eyes', 'disbelief', 'boredom', or 'pity'. So instead I stay where I know I'm needed. Even if it is a little strange.

Human emotions I can't understand. I don't want to understand them if people can't extend to me the same courtesy I extend to them by being there when they need me. So if I'm going to be ignored anyway, why not just have fun while being alone?

Besides, I don't feel ignored when with my dolls. They're my muses.

I should also add, I'm extremely religious, so when I really need someone, I have my angels and God to talk to, as well.

 

When I am feeling bad, I prefer not to talk...so yes, I will go open my doll boxes and look at them, or arrange thier clothes and wigs drawers...anything doll related will make me feel better. Just coming to this forum and opening it up and browsing helps tremenedously. When I am "over it" I then will call my sister or get a big fat hug from my dog or cat

 

Yeah... dolls listen better!

And while I love friends, when I'm down or upset i dont WANT to be comforted because pity and comfort make me feel worse... sometimes all i need is a silent listener. And dolls are a great distraction.... sometimes if i'm feeling dumpy I'll do a dolly make-over and pull out my little bins of wigs and eyes and just go to town.

One of my dogs gets really distressed if i'm crying especially. Like he tries to sit on me (all 90 pounds of him) lick me, bring me his bones. So I try not to cry around him because his level of stress when i'm upset just skyrockets.

 

I always thought folks who cuddle up with their dolls like with puppies are a bit kookie, until last month I had some serious fever, to the point where all I could do was curl up on the couch. Guess who I curled up with... I was just compelled to grab him. My dear resin boy, big and cumbersome as he is - all 80cm of him - folded around me in the most comforting way, cool to the touch, bringing immediate relief. I was laughing at myself, yet the resin magic worked. Go figure!

 

Oh, they're especially wonderful to lay next to in bed. Just be careful when sick not to fall asleep with them right on you. I wake up with fever sweats and I would hate for them to be all wet like me. So I have a spot in the bed for them with their own pillow so that I don't touch them with my cootie wetness.

 

Well if there was a person there who wanted to comfort me, I'd probably go to them.
I might talk to my doll friends online, but if I was alone and upset I'd probably hang out with one of my dolls. Just play with them dress them, pose them, whatever. Maybe talk to them. Dolls can be friends, especially when you know their character.

 

Sorry, but this made me laugh. so. hard.

I see implications that.. he wasn't even worth confiding in LOL.

 

I agree, ahyu! I get the feeling that she didn't want to be comforted by a human, so she went to her dollie, instead. It's sad that her partner couldn't understand that.

Anyway, to answer the actual question:
No, I don't usually confide in my dolls. I go to my mom or someone else I'm very close to when I'm upset and in need of comfort. I've never actually confided in my dolls (like, talked to them about something I'm upset/angry about) ^^; But I do play with them sometimes just to get my mind off of things that are upsetting me.

On a side-note, I don't think there's anything wrong with confiding in one's dolls. There are a lot of ways that people cope with their emotions, and talking to dolls/plushies is one of them. Just sayin'...

 

When I get upset or moody, I don't want to be around anyone or anything, really. I came from a family where talking about an issue would only cause another fight or turn in to a 1up battle, and I ditched most of my friends years ago due to their heavy drug abuse, so I find that I get the most comfort from being alone and working things through by myself. A basic rule of thumb for me is if I'm talking about an issue with a person, it isn't an issue that bothers me too much.

 

to talk with, usually i'll find my friends. dolls can never start agreeing with you and adding their two-cents in when you need them to. and if i'm in a bad mood to start ranting, friends are definitely better, because they can understand.

that being said, there's also times when i just want to be left alone, and though i won't say i confide in my doll (i don't really talk to him, except for hellos and whatnot), playing with him offers me comfort, in the sense that i don't have to think about what upsetted me.

 

my dolls are my only friends

 

Hahaha I love the quote from FML I mostly seek comfort from myself, if that doesn't work I'll probably reach for one of my dolls but if my boyfreind's around I'd definitely go to him. Because he can hug me and talk back (which can sometimes make all the difference :P)