“why do you use that stuff?”
if someone irl has just found some of your regression items, but you aren’t ready to tell them you regress, here are some reasons you can give.
(cw: mention of panic attacks, mention of smoking / vaping, mention of portion sizes)
💗 “it helps me stop biting my nails / chewing on my lips / chewing on the inside of my mouth”
💗 “i use it to stop myself from snoring at night”
💗 “i tend to breathe through my mouth when i sleep, a pacifier forces me to breathe through my nose”
💗 “it gives me something to chew on / orally stim with”
💗 “when i have panic attacks, it helps me remember to focus on my breathing”
💗 “it’s not mine, it’s my baby cousin’s” (this one may only work if it’s a baby pacifier)
💗 “i’m trying to quit smoking / vaping, this helps satisfy my urge to have something in my mouth”
sippy cups / baby bottles
🍼 “i have fine motor issues and struggle drinking from open-mouthed cups”
🍼 “i’m clumsy and tend to knock over my drinks easily, these are spill-proof”
🍼 “it’s not mine, it’s my baby cousin’s” (again, this may only work if it’s clearly meant for babies)
🍼 “i need a straw to drink, but i don’t want to use plastic ones, and other reusable alternatives all have drawbacks”
🍼 “i tend to drink too fast and it makes me sick, these force me to drink slower”
🥣 “it helps me control my portion sizes”
🥣 “i don’t like it when my food touches each other, this plate has walls that keeps my food apart” (this one only works if it’s a sectioned plate)
🥣 “this character / design is really nostalgic for me”
🥣 “it’s not mine, it’s my baby cousin’s”
🥣 “i tend to take too-big bites, these utensils force me to slow down and take smaller ones”
🥣 “i prefer smaller utensils, and these are the only ones i could find”
🖍️ “i need to color to calm myself down from anxiety sometimes, and these are more exciting than adult ones”
🖍️ “this show / these characters are really nostalgic for me”
🖍️ “i babysit, and i need something to help entertain the kids”
🖍️ “i have fine motor issues and it’s easier for me to stay in the lines with coloring books meant for kids”
🖍️ “oh, that was mine when i was a kid, but i thought it was cute so i didn’t throw it away” (this one only works if it’s an older coloring book)
