How has your doll changed your life?

i noticed i spend alot more money buying clothes for my dolls rather than on myself~which sometimes aint a good thing as i really need some new jeans,but i carnt resist them damn lolita dresses for my girl,lol
i spend less money on crap and spend more money on my doll hobby,which i know i will get back in return if i ever have to sell one day,
i like taking pictures and using my camera alot more,photograpy using your dolls as inspiration is great
i like buying and selling stuff on doa,its nice to talk to lots of diffferent people all over the world who share the same hobby as me

 

Money is a big thing now. I've always been careless with money, but now I've really cut back on impulse buys, and I's selling off just about everything I own to make room for and pay for my dolls.

I'm trying to get a job now, when I was determined to make money my own way before, but it's not going so well... but I've also increaded productivity with my art and clothing, both human and doll size to being in more cash.

I'm more perticular about what I want now, and neater, as I like my girl- soon to be girls- to have a nice tidy place to sit.

I also get more insanely worked up every time I get an email that might possibly be a shipping notice! ANd when I hear the post man...

 

I think dolls have drastically changed my attitude in the past months. I've been suffering from a particular illness and recently had to go into treatment for it. After being released, I was left completely devastated and confused about myself and life in general. I have also had a lot of problems with depression, anxiety, and negativity. However, getting into dolls has really improved my attitude. I finally feel like my old self again. Instead of obsessing over myself and all my shortcomings, I obsess over dolls instead...which is a good thing...I hope.

I've never really had any hobbies outside of art and writing, so my parents are very happy for me as well. I think they're glad I'm finally expressing an interest in something.

Oh, and I also have to mention I am now part of a group of amazing, talented, and fascinating individuals who really inspire me every day. It feels good to belong! XD

 

I haven't even gotten my first doll yet and already I have changed. When I was a child I use to love dolls and enjoy making up stories for them, I loved using my imagination. But as I grew older I started to think about other things like my clothing and my hair and make-up, all my money went to those things and I look back now and see how shallow that was. Now my money goes to my dolls and their items and my imagination has once again started up and I'm making a background for my dolls. : 3

Sad thing though, don't really know how people make friends on here. I must be doing it wrong or something. >_>;;;

 

I got into dolls when I was 16 and I gotta say, this hobby has taught me how to manage my money very well. Before, I would get $20, go out and spend it. Dolls taught me how rewarding saving can be. I remember keeping a notebook and writing down every penny I spent and earned and estimating how long it would take to have enough for my first doll. I've gained a lot of financial responsibility that I would have never expected.

Dolls also fed my interest in photography in helped me improve a lot.

 

I haven't gotten my doll yet, But I can tell you I've changed. Just saving up for a doll has showed me to be patient, save money,and that you can't always depend on your parents. Its also made me more open, and I've developed a thick skin, as before If someone made fun of me, I'd hide what I'd love to do and I'd be private about it. Now, I don't even care a bit of what people have to say or think of me.

 

I forgot to add that ^^
I actually could get $5, and I'd have to find something, Just SOMETHING to spend it on, even if it was something I didn't even need or like.

 

I think most people are reffering to internet friends, which you make, in my case- (i assume its different for everyone!) mostly in the specific doll discussion. Your interest in dolls is shared even closer becasue you don't just share the common BJD hobby, you share the interedt in a specific company!

You make RL friends from here via meetups. If there isn't one in your area, organize one! They're not tricky, just time, place,date keeping it a central location that people can find, like a city CBD, with lots of public transport for those who can't drive.

Hope it helps!
And I added you to my contacts, so you have made a friend here

 

I know what you mean! Everyone seems to have both DOA friends and meetup friends. Personally i'm shy and eccentric, so that might be my problem- but I'm a bit at a loss as to how to make friends on here too o___o; I'm hoping meetups might be a good place to make friends.... *hope hope*

there must be a trick to it XD ehehehe
a secret password or summat : B

 

Oh, somehow I get the impression people thought I meant I have special friends on here because of the comment I made earlier about how great it is to be a part of this community.

In all honesty, I have no doll friends, or friends on DoA. I'm not sure myself how people make friends when you have to stay on topic all the time and private conversations are limited to PM. (not so sure I'm interested in doll meets yet either)

Even though I'm now a "doll person" I still don't really fit in anywhere, so I know what you guys mean. O__O Glad I'm not the only one.

 

my dolls do make me happier too actually. i love that they have such peaceful faces. and they inspire me to do all these things i am intersted in doing, like drawing, customization and sewing. i love all of that stuff. i know that if i didn't have my dolls i would prolly not do anything of these things i like.

 

Oh this hobby has had a great impact on me.

First off, (like many have said) I am happier. I honestly believe this can be one seriously postive hobby. It gets your imagination going, be it developing a character or just thinking of what you want your doll to look like...what wigs, eyes, face-up, dress...all that.

Secondly, its helped break a bad habit of mine...spending frivilously. I know there are those out there who can relate to this: for the past 6-7 years I have been in and out of hospitals. Some of the surgeries were scary while others not so much. Now even though I had lots of support and love from family and friends, when you go through something like that over a stretch of time you are still left feeling alone. A way I soothed myself was to go out and spend money...on anything, didn't matter. However, now I'm healthy (don't have to have an MRI for a whole year! Woo Hoo!) but the bad habit stayed. When I started saving for Annaleigh last year, I started to see just how much money I was wasting. It was hard at first but I can now go shopping and not fall to the impulse to buy things I don't need.

Third, (and this one connects with the second) because I bought soo many things I didn't need I had junk all over the place! Once I ordered Annaleigh I looked around and thought 'Theres no way I'm spending THAT kind of money on a beautiful doll just to place her amid junk". So, I started a decluttering process. Some I just threw out, some I still sell on Ebay but over all my place looks sooooooooo much nicer, I have more peace of mind, and Annaleigh isn't around any junk.

And lastly, (man, this got long!) its helped with my money management. I am a much more conscious spender than I use to be. If I find myself slipping into frivilous spending mode I just remind myself "your saving up for another doll" or "Don't buy needless things, you want to be able to buy that dress you like for Anna, right?"
LOL, I know it may sound like I've switch from spending money on needless things to dolls but since I got my Annaleigh I have actually been able to building my savings....not just my doll savings, my actual savings!

 

It has helped me to make new friends and be more social

 

Yes. Takes up a loooot of time. But emotionally. My dolls make me happier and actually helped a lot through hard times.

Especially Adéle. He's helped me and my friend so much.. My friend is struggling with AIDS, always admired these dolls. So we decided to get one and model him after my friend. Hes lost a lot of weight and doesn't look how he use too. But now since Adéle is almost complete hes more occupied on the doll and feels more secure that this BEAUTIFUL doll is him. So every time Adéle gets complimented My friend feels like they're complementing him. (not as weird as you think)

This Doll has helped so much surprisingly. And definitely made a huge change.

 

Perhaps I shouldn't but I'm going to get personal
here. I've lived with depression for most of my
life, & unnoticed by most everyone around me.
Even now I can't really express how I feel without
being made to feel worse for it, or sort of feeling
belittled, like it's just a passing thing (that I've had since 15!)

But since finding this hobby it has been easier to find
small moments of happiness, and when I'm feeling
down I come here to read threads/posts or see box opening
pics also seeing new doll releases and so forth.

Most recently I had to put my sweet cat Charlie
(see my lil pic) to sleep. He was 21 and Lived with
me since I was 9 when I bottlefed him.
I desperately wanted to find a doll that might "comfort"
me through his death, but money and the realization
that it wouldn't even be a bandaid stopped me.

Currently I'm awaiting the arrival of my first Soom
monthly dolls, and while the wait feels very long
I think it is actually helping me when it feels
(to me) that there's nothing to look forward to in my life.
Maybe thats sad, but true.
Also the excitement of what their next monthly release
will be is so much fun

So,
Please tell me what adversities or challenges you have faced
that your dolls or the hobby itself has helped you through!!
I would love to hear your stories!

edit: this was originally a thread I started but was merged
because it was a lot like this previous thread, a lot of what
I wrote here now seems "odd" (to me) but I'm keeping it
the same. I just felt the need to explain it's format.

 

I suffer from Bipolar Disorder II and severe depression along with several other disorders thanks to the abuse I suffered from my father. My pukipuki especially is great therapy for me. Whenever I'm feeling real down I pose her or play with her and then take pictures and edit them artfully. It's a little piece of art I can always get right no matter what. Even my bigger doll is a good anti-depressant because she's absolutely gorgeous and thinking of her backstory always makes me smile.

I think dolls should be prescribed for depression!

 

Yes!! Doll therapy for everyone!!
Thank you for sharing your story.

Best wishes and dolly *hugs*

 

Sorry for the double post! The page froze...

 

Doll therapy is a very good thing indeed ^-^. At best, it takes my mind from the darker thoughts and makes me focus on other, brighter things (sewing for my dolls is my therapy of choice - I´m hand-sewing, so it´s a one-step-at-a-time-thing).
And I´m sorry for the loss of your cat. I own two felines myself, and I consider them part of the family.

 

Thank you for the kind words

Yes it does help bring more cheerful
thoughts, or I think about a photostory
or go looking for wigs (even if none are bought!)

I wish I could sew! That must be very nice to
have the talent I enjoy imagining outfits
but it would be nice to see them created.

Thanx for sharing!