Teddy bears can be your best companion while you are growing up…
But once you start adulting, are you supposed to simply toss your precious Theodore aside and handle life totally on your own?!
Well, obviously, that’s up to you…
But as for myself, I’m hanging on tight to my beloved BlueBonnet and will continue sleeping with her just as long as I want…with no feelings of guilt or shame.
Actually, there are several benefits to cuddling up with your favorite plush friend for just as long as possible.
Companionship: Teddy bears can help alleviate feelings of loneliness, Teddy bears offer a sense of companionship that can help you feel more comfortable around other people also.
Relaxation: Teddy bears are one option in creating a more comfortable and positive sleeping environment. After all, aren’t we all looking for anything and everything to help us fall asleep faster and more easily…
Nightly bedtime routines can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep. Stuffed animals can often be a perfectly normal and healthy part of that all-important, calming nightly bedtime routine (more on this later)…
Stress Management: Just having a stuffed animal that is a familiar presence can be a source of comfort and security in this crazy, stressful world…. especially if you’ve had that stuffed animal for a while (or like me, since birth)…
Stuffed animals can help your body hormones – serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin – that promote relaxation and help reduce stress.
Stuffed animals are often used as a resource for working with individuals suffering from autism or insomnia. They have the ability to provide a soothing presence during challenging moments.
Transition: Finally, teddy bears and other stuffed animals can bring back positive childhood emotions and memories…and help bridge that gap between childhood memories and adult life.
So don’t leave your favorite stuffed animals at your mom’s house for the next 40 years…or allow it to hibernate in your attic forever.
It needs a good hug…
And most likely you do too…