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Vivela, age 39, from Washington D.C., has sucked her right thumb all her life. Her teeth are crooked and she has a thumb callus. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading, driving, and when with her immediate family. He parents spanked her. She does it for comfort, it feels good and gives her a sense of security. She places her finger over her nose and “I love to cuddle a nice soft pillow and suck my thumb while I sleep.” She wasn’t breast fed, did use a pacifier, is a smoker, has know other ATSers, her mother and her mom’s twin sister. “Although my mother claims to have quit in 1972, I believe she is a closet thumb sucker because she covers her head while she sleeps and she still cradles her security blanket. An ex-boyfriend hadn’t sucked his thumb in 20 years, but, being around me, he would often suck his thumb while he fell off to sleep.” She is college educated, overweight, Black, heterosexual and heard about this site from the TV show, “Extra”.

“Well, I was in my office when someone barged in. I pretended to have injured my thumb and even went as far as to bandage it.

“I’d simply like to say that it feels good to know that I am not alone in this.

“I have a rule associated with sucking my thumb and that is: I don’t force it on anyone except in my own house where you either get over it or leave. I won’t do it at someone else’s house if they object to it. I am not ashamed of it, so I have no problem admitting that I do it, and of all my family and friends that know I do it, I will not do it in front of my dad. If anyone ever told him that I still do it, I’d kill them.”


MJ, age 25, from Canada, has sucked both of her thumbs until age 19. Her teeth are severely bucked and her thumbnail is worn or with marks. She would indulge to sleep. Her parents scolded, used bitter solutions and told people. For her it was a habit that felt good, giving her a sense of security. She placed a finger over her nose and, when she was a child, had a blanket. After her mother through the blanket out, she started to use her bed comforter, while sleeping. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, was college educated, is overweight, white, an only child, heterosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.

“I will tell you why and how I stopped. When I was growing up, my parents grilled it into my head that what I was doing was wrong! So, then I started hiding it from them, and just sucked my thumb when I was alone. Sometimes they would still catch me, when I was sleeping, and make me feel like I just did something unspeakable. I thought I was never going to be able to stop, and I so wanted to stop and be what I thought was normal. It wasn’t until I had my first adult relationship that I stopped. I was so scared that my boyfriend was going to find out that I would not go to sleep until after he did and I couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer. The less I went to sleep with my thumb in my mouth, the easier it became to keep it out. Later, I got married and my husband still has no clue that I was a thumb sucker until I was in my late teens. I’m not sure what he would say and I don’t really want to find out. So, until now, I have not told anyone.”


Harriet, age 40, from New Jersey, has sucked her left thumb all her life. She needed braces and has a thumb callus. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV and while reading. Her parents scolded, spanked, teased and used bitter solutions. It’s a habit that feels good and imparts security. She places a finger over her nose and, “I started with a stuffed rabbit, fur animals, and now use a rabbit pelt like a security blanket. I rub it under my nose and smell it’s scent, which is my own since I sleep with it and carry it around with me. With my other hand I pet the soft fur and rub it between my fingers. This is as important to me as the thumb. I have to replace it every few years because of wear. I put the new one inside my pillow case, to get the chemical smell out of it, for a few months and then replace the old one when it’s time.” She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a smoker, is high school educated, just right in weight, white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard about this site from the show “Extra.”

“I quit for a year because I had a boyfriend that I moved in with (my first) and I didn’t want him to know. [Then, after this year], for Xmas, my mother sent me a pair of rabbit fur slippers and I would leave them at the side of the bed so I could sneak my hand down and pet them while I sucked my thumb [after quitting]. I got away with this for 2 years until we broke up. He never knew.

“I’ve lived with 3 men since then and I had to break the news to each one. It was like a rite of passage for them. The first I told loved it and brought out his little security blanket and happily rubbed it with me. The last two both hated it and teased me constantly.

“It was great fun telling my mother that she started me sucking my thumb again after I had successfully quit. She has now given up and accepts me.

“I’m so glad I found you!”


Heddie, age 23, from New York, has sucked both her thumbs all her life. She needed braces though her teeth are now mildly bucked and she has a thumb callus. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading and only when alone. Her parents were understanding and didn’t care. It’s a habit that feels good. She places a finger over her nose and, “can only fall asleep if I suck my thumb using a satin material. If there is no satin around the blanket, I won’t fall asleep. I take a piece of a blanket with me whenever I sleep away.” She used a pacifier, never smoked, has known of other ATSers, is college educated, underweight, white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.

“We wonder if it is genetics. My younger sister sucked her thumb till the age of 12 and my cousin sucks her thumb as an adult her whole life also.”


Samantha, age 23, from Scranton, Pennsylvania, has sucked her left thumb all her life. She needed braces and her thumb looks different. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV and while reading. Her parents scolded, teased, used bitter solutions, told people and finally understood. To her it’s a habit that feels good. She places a finger over her nose and uses a blanket, “that I have had for many years. I don’t get a good night’s sleep unless I have this blanket. I try to take it with me on overnight trips.” She wasn’t breast fed, did use a pacifier, is a smoker, is college educated, is overweight, white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.

“I try to hide my thumb sucking from my fiancé. I am afraid to tell him that I suck my thumb. There has been numerous times when he has caught me in the middle of the night. I just pretend that I don’t know I’m doing it.”


Anonymous male, age unknown (“old enough”), from Texas, has sucked his right thumb all his life. His teeth are severely bucked, sticking out, and his thumbnail is worn or with marks on it. He indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading, driving, with family and during sex and masturbation. His parents told people, scolded, spanked, grounded and used bitter solutions. To him it’s a habit tat is erotic and gives him a feeling of security. He places a finger over his nose. He was breast fed, used a pacifier, never smoked, has an advanced degree beyond college, is just right in weight, white, born 2nd of 2, is homosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.

“When I was masturbating, my mother asked me why and I told her it reminded me of my, then, lover.”


mkendell@hotmail.com

Martin, age 22, from Canada, has sucked his right thumb since after age 3. His teeth are crooked with no affect on his thumb. He indulges to sleep and while watching TV. His parents teased and used bitter solutions but finally understood. For him it’s a habit that feels good, is erotic and gives him a sense of security. He was breast fed, used a pacifier, never smoked, is college educated, just right in weight, white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.


Tanya, age 23, from Washington state, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She never needed braces but her thumb has a callus and looks different. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV and only when alone. Her parents scolded, teased and used bitter solutions. To her it’s a habit that feels good. She has used the same blanket that she has had since childhood. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, is college educated, very overweight, white, an only child, is heterosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.


Kate, age 21, from Oklahoma, has sucked her fingers all her life. She needed braces and has calluses, red marks and fingernails that show wear or marks on them. She indulges while watching TV, reading, driving and with her family. Her parents scolded, spanked, grounded, used bitter solutions and told people. To her, it’s a habit that feels good and imparts security and is related to trauma. She uses an old soft “sleep shirt”. She was breast fed, used a pacifier, never smoked, is college educated, overweight, white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.

“My parents made my childhood a living hell whenever they caught me or would hear me in the night. My dad put nasty tasting stuff on my fingers and I even had a metal cage cemented to the roof of my mouth.

“My husband accepts this and thinks it’s cute. “I wish I could stop but it makes me feel better.”


Lori, age 21, from New York, has sucked both her thumbs all her life. She never needed braces but her thumb looks different. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV and with her family. Her parents scolded and teased. For her, it’s a habit that feels good, imparting security. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, is college educated, just right in weight, white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.


Tim, age 26, from Iowa, has sucked his left thumb all his life. His teeth are mildly bucked and he has a thumb callus. He indulges while watching TV, while masturbating and only when alone. His parents were understanding. To him, it’s a habit that feels good. He places a finger over his nose. He was breast fed, isn’t a smoker, is college educated, just right in weight, is white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard of this site from someone he knows.


Denise, age 36, from California, has sucked her left thumb all her life. She needed braces and has a thumb callus. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV, reading and only when alone. Her parents were understanding. To her, it’s a habit that feels good. She was breast fed, is a smoker, has an advanced degree beyond college, is just right in weight, is white, born 2nd of 3, and is bisexual.

“I’m glad that there are other adults out there like me! “A few years ago, I was concerned about the unattractive callus on my thumb, so I stopped sucking my thumb, and went out and bought several types of pacifiers to try. I sucked on a pacifier for about a year and found it also gave me comfort. But then, I went back to sucking my thumb again. for those who are concerned about their buck teeth, which I am happy to say that I don’t have, or their calluses, they should try a pacifier. [editor’s note, pacifiers can affect teeth equally to thumbs. The reason they have the reputation of not doing equal movement is because, usually, the pacifier habit ceases well before the permanent dentition erupts. This is true even with the, so called, dentally safe pacifiers.] They come in several shapes and sizes. Has anyone else out there tried this? Curious to know.”


Bailey, age 32, from Illinois, has sucked his left thumb his whole life. His teeth are severely bucked, sticking out over his lips, and his thumb looks different. He indulges to sleep, while watching TV and while reading. His parents scolded, teased, used bitter solutions and told people. To him, it’s a habit that feels good. He places a finger over his nose and uses a blue blanket with silk ends. He used a pacifier, is a smoker, is high school educated, underweight, white, born 10th of 13, is homosexual and heard of this site from the show “Extra”.

“At work, I claimed to be picking my back teeth.”


Terry, age 51, from Massachusetts, has sucked his right thumb all his life. His teeth are crooked and he has a thumb callus. He indulges while asleep. His parents didn’t care. He was breast fed, used a pacifier, never smoked, has an advanced degree beyond college, is very overweight, is white, born 1st of 4, is heterosexual, heard about this site via a search engine and later saw it on the show “Extra”.

“I am unconscious of it as I only do it IN my sleep. If I awake in the night, I find myself with thumb inserted.”

“Past lovers and my wife tell me I woke them up with furious sucking noises.

“I would like to know WHY, as adults, we persist in this unconsciously.”


Susu, age 44, from Montreal, Canada, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She never needed braces but her thumbnail looks worn or has marks on it. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV and with her family. Her parents teased and used bitter solution. To her it feels good. She tickles her nose with tissue paper while thumb sucking. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a former smoker, has known another ATSer, is high school educated, very overweight, white, born 4th of 4, is heterosexual and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.

“It is total relaxation. When coming home from work, it just drains me of all stress.” “When I was small it was with a stuffed animal, usually the ears or tail. Now I use a Kleenex tissue. It has to be folded just right and I tickle my nose and lips.

“I try very hard not to get caught, especially by my children’s friends. But my most unusual experience is when I am dating and I am getting close with someone. I have to confess to him that I do suck my thumb and then have to show him how to fold my ‘tickle’.

“I was very glad to see that thumbsucking is more common then I thought and I feel that there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It is just a form of relaxation and it is nothing to be ashamed of.

“My sister was also an [adult] thumb sucker."


Carmen, age 33, from Upper Michigan has sucked her fingers all her life. [Editor, that’s two Carmens age 33 who suck their fingers. Huh!] Her teeth never needed braces and there’s no affect on her digits. She indulges while watching TV, with her family and only when alone. Her parents teased, told people and eventually didn’t care. To her, it’s a habit that imparts security. She was breast fed (till 3 months), was college educated, is just right in weight, Latino, 2nd born of 4, is heterosexual and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.

“I relate sucking my fingers to relaxing.

“I used to have a blankie until I was seven and my mother threw it out. My mother blames herself for me sucking my fingers because she says that she took me off the breast too early, 3 months, because she was sick. She says that my need to suck was still too great. She used a cup from about three months on. This truly is probably why I started sucking my fingers.


Lynde, age unknown, from Connecticut, has sucked his left thumb all his life. He needed braces and his thumb looks different. He indulges to sleep and while masturbating. His parents scolded him. To him, it’s a habit that feels good. He wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a smoker, is college educated, overweight, white, born 4th of 4, is homosexual, and heard of this site from someone he knows.

“My best friend and I both sucked our thumbs. We became sexual as teenage boys and both openly sucked our thumbs during sexual encounters.”


Anonymous female, age 21, from Canada, has sucked her left thumb all her life. She never needed braces though her thumb looks different. She indulges to sleep and while watching TV. Her parents scolded, teased, used bitter solutions and told people. To her, it’s a habit the feels good, imparting security. She places a finger over her nose and wraps a piece of hair around her finger. She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, has known another ATS, “I noticed the teeth marks on his thumb.” She is college educated, just right in weight, white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.


Lori, age 29, from Wisconsin, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She’s never had braces and there’s been no affect on her thumb. She indulges to sleep. Her parents teased her and told people. For her, it’s just a habit she can’t quit. She places a finger over her nose. She is a smoker, is college educated, overweight, white, born 2nd of 3, is heterosexual and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.

“My brother took a picture of me and showed it to his friends, embarrassing! “I’m glad to know I’m not the only one.”


Pat, age 52, from Missouri, has sucked her left thumb all her life. Her teeth are mildly bucked with no affect on her thumb. She indulges to sleep and only when alone. To her, it’s a habit that gives her security. She places a finger over her nose. She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a former smoker, has known other ATSers, was college educated, is just right in weight, is black and was born 1st of 3.

When my first husband and I were dating, I found out his brother, my age, sucked his thumb and his mother sucked her forefinger. I felt right at home.

“My friends used to tease me as a child but it really didn’t bother me. I stopped sucking my thumb in public when I was about 10 years old.”


Karen, age 36, from Wyoming, started sucking both her thumbs since after age 3. She never needed braces but her thumb has a callus. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV, reading, driving, during sex and masturbation, and with her family. Her parents used bitter solutions but finally understood. To her it feels good and imparts feelings of security. She places a finger over her nose. She was breast fed, used a pacifier, is a smoker, was high school educated, is overweight, white and was born 1st of 2.

“My mother told me that I began sucking my thumb in earnest when my bottle was taken away from me.”


Melissa, age 19, from New York, has sucked her left thumb all her life. Her teeth are mildly bucked and there’s been no affect on her thumb. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading, driving, during sex or masturbation, anywhere, even in public. Her parents scolded, teased but eventually understood. To her it’s a habit that feels good and imparts security. She places a finger over her nose and, “I hold the same stuffed animal when I suck my thumb at night since I was a baby.” She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, was college educated, is just right in weight, white, and born 1st of 2.


Chris, age 32, from California, has sucked his right thumb all his life. His teeth are crooked and he has a thumb callus. He indulges to sleep, while watching TV and only when alone. His parents scolded, used bitter solution and told people. To him it feels good, is associated with trauma and imparts a feeling of security. He places a finger over his nose. He wasn’t breast fed, used a pacifier, is a smoker, has known another ATSer, is college educated, is just right in weight, is white and was born 1st of 2.

“I noticed a callus on the thumb of a co-worker.”


Sue, age 45, from New York, has sucked her right thumb all her life. Her teeth are mildly bucked with no affect on her thumb. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading but only when alone. Her parents scolded and used bitter solutions. For her, it’s a habit that feels good. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a former smoker, is college educated, just right in weight, white and born 3rd of 4. “Am I ever glad to know there are others and even a WEBSITE.”


Sharon, age 27, from New York, has sucked her left thumb all her life. She never needed braces and her thumb looks different. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV and while reading. Her parents didn’t care. For her, it feels good and imparts security. She places a finger over her nose and, “I still hold my infant blanket, my woobie, and rub it gently while sucking my thumb.” She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a former smoker, has known another ATSer, is college educated, overweight, white, and born 5th of 5.

“One of my friends openly sucks her finger.

“When I moved in with my boyfriend, I confessed my little secret and he accepted it without a thought. He is the only person outside my family to know. That’s when I knew he was the one. We are now engaged.

“I was so happy to see that I’m not alone in this world. I’ve always known this habit wasn’t perverted or wrong, it’s just comforting. Thank you for this site."


Shauna, age 24, from Arizona, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She needed braces and her thumb looks different as well as having a thumb callus. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading, driving, with friends and family, anywhere, even in public. Her parents used bitter solutions, told people but finally understood. To her it’s a habit that feels good, imparts security. She usually sucks her thumb when “hungry, bored, tired and when feeling uneasy. She places a finger over her nose. She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, is college educated, is just right in weight, is white, is an only child, is gay and both heard of this site from someone she knows and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.

“I just want to add that I’m glad this site’s around so maybe I can find out the answers to why I still suck my thumb.”


Anonymous female, age 32, from Maryland, has sucked both her thumbs all her life. She never needed braces and there’s no affect on her thumb. She indulges to sleep and while watching TV. Her parents scolded and used bitter solutions. To her, it’s a habit that feels good, imparting security. She places a finger over her nose. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, was high school educated, is overweight, white born 2nd of 2, is gay and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.


I8monkey@aol.com

Lisa, age 21, from California, has sucked both her thumbs all her life. Her teeth are mildly bucked with no affect on her thumb. She indulges while studying, watching TV, reading, during sex and masturbation and with her family present. Her parents teased, used bitter solutions, told people and finally understood and didn’t care. To her, it’s a habit that feels good, imparting security. She places a finger over her nose and “I take a piece of hair and twirl it with my fingers.” She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a smoker, had a high school education, is white, an only child, is bisexual and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.


ADDED QUESTIONS BELOW, INCLUDES TSING TIME/DAY and EFFECTS ON RELATIONSHIP!


K, age 31, from California, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She needed braces and there are red marks on her thumb. She indulges 2-3 hours/day, to sleep, while watching TV, while masturbating and only when alone. Her parents scolded, spanked and teased her. To her, it’s a habit that feels good and is erotic. She places a finger over her nose and, “I have a blanket that I have had since childhood that I like to hold under my nose while sucking my thumb.” She wasn’t breast fed, is a former smoker, is college educated, overweight, is white, born 3rd of 3, is heterosexual, single, never married, thinks that her habit makes it difficult to have a relationship, “I never let them know.” She heard of this site from a search engine.


erinmils22@yahoo.com

Erin, age 22, from England, has sucked her left thumb all her life. She indulges more than 10 hours/day, to sleep, while studying, reading, and watching TV. Her parents understood. To her, it’s just a habit she can’t quit. She places a finger over her nose. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a smoker, has an advanced degree beyond college, is underweight, is white, born 2nd of 2, is single, never married, doesn’t believe that tsing makes it difficult to have a relationship and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.


K, age 35, from New York, has sucked her left thumb all her life. She needed braces and there’s no affect on her thumb. She indulges 2-3 hours/day, while watching TV, reading and studying. Her parents understood. To her, it feels good. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, has known of another ATSer, “We happened to be talking about it and it just kind of came out.” She is college educated, just right in weight, is white, born 1st of 3, is heterosexual, heard about this site from someone she knows and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.


Nicole, age 17, from Florida, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She never needed braces though she has a thumb callus. She indulges only when alone, more than 10 hours each day. Her parents didn’t care. For her, it feels good. She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a smoker, is single, has an elementary school education, is heterosexual, born 2nd of 2, doesn’t believe that thumb sucking would make it difficult to have a relationship and heard about this site from the show “Extra”.

“In 5th grade, I went on a 5 day trip to D.C. and had to stay the night with three other girls in a hotel. The next day they all woke up before me and I was still sucking my thumb. I told them during the night I ate a fireball and I was licking the candy off my fingers and fell asleep. They believed me. Well, I guess that they did, there were no rumors the next week.”


Cathy, age 21, from New England, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She never needed braces and there’s been no affect on her thumb. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV, only when alone, 2-3 hours/day. Her parents understood. To her, it’s a habit that feels good, imparting security. She places a finger over her nose and, “I kind of do something weird. As I suck my thumb, I take the corner of my pillowcase and suck on it for a second and then I rub my nose, mouth, and finger on the wet corner of the pillowcase.” She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, has known of another ATSer, is in college now (7/99), is just right in weight, is white, born 3rd of 4, is heterosexual, single with a boyfriend, believes that tsing makes it difficult to have a relationship and heard of this site from a search engine.

“Up until a few months ago, I didn’t know anyone else who sucked their thumb. I was just talking with a friend of a friend and she mentioned that she sucked her thumb. I wish I was brave enough to admit it also.

“All my friends, including my siblings and my boyfriend know that I used to suck my thumb until I was 12. Well, that’s what I tell people. Why, I do not know. I know they have all seen me do it when I’m alone and they walk into the room. I just pretend I’m biting my finger nail. They pretend they don’t see it. I do tell most people that I suck on my pillow case corner and rub it with my fingers. For some reason I’m not embarrassed to say that. Does anyone else do this with their pillow case while sucking their thumb?

“I used to think that no one else did this. I took a child psychology course and the prof told us that most children stop by the time they’re 5. If not, they will stop by the time they’re a teenager.

“I am so glad that now I know of so many other people with this same habit. It’s not a bad thing. It’s actually quite soothing.”


M, age 37, from California, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She never had braces and her thumb looks different. She indulges to sleep, while watching TV, only when alone, for 2-3 hours/day. Her parents told people. For her, it’s a habit that feels good and imparts security. She places her finger over her nose. She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, is high school educated, overweight, is white, born 1st of 2, is heterosexual, is married, doesn’t believe that tsing makes it difficult to have a relationship and heard of this site from a search engine.

“When I was a teenager, I was sucking my thumb while watching TV. Unbeknownst to me, my mother took a picture of me doing this and thought it was the ‘funniest’ thing. She showed it to many people at that time, much to my dismay.

“My husband catches me occasionally and asks me if ‘I’m enjoying myself’ and I quickly take my thumb out of my mouth. I never do it in front of my husband, although he knows I go in the bathroom to do this and tells me I ‘slurp’ while asleep.”


Jake, age 25, from Illinois, has sucked both his thumbs all his life. His teeth are mildly bucked and he has a thumb callus. He indulges to sleep, while watching TV, reading, with family, and for 4-7 hours/day. His parents didn’t care. For him, it feels good. He has “used a baby blanket my entire life, while sucking my thumb. I keep my baby blankets until they become old rags. Thank God that I have only had two blankets in the last 24 years. They are difficult to ‘break in’ properly. I use the hand of the thumb I suck to hold a corner of my baby blanket over my nose. I then use the opposite hand to tickle my knuckles or either ear lobe, whichever one is cooler to the touch.” He wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, has known of other ATSers, was college educated, is very overweight, is white, born 5th of 5, is bisexual and heard of this site from someone he knows.

“Three of my four older brothers are also adult thumb suckers.”


Greg, age 43, from Australia, has sucked his right thumb all his life. He never needed braces and his thumb looks different. He indulges to sleep and spends 1-2 hours/day tsing. His parents scolded, spanked and used bitter solutions. To him, it’s a habit that feels good. He places a finger over his nose. He wasn’t breast fed, used a pacifier, never smoked, has known other ATSers, is college educated, overweight, is white, born 1st of 4, is heterosexual, married, doesn’t believe that tsing makes it difficult to have a relationship and heard of this site from a search engine.

[I’ve known other ATSers because] I had been “caught by them and sharing. [My wife] “doesn’t like it but ignores it.”


sheckyk@mindspring.com

Suzy, age 33, from Atlanta, Georgia, has sucked her fingers all her life. Her teeth are crooked and there’s been no affect on her fingers. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading, driving, during sex and masturbation, but only when alone, more than 10 hours/day. Her parents didn’t care. To her, it’s a habit that’s erotic, feels good and imparts security. “I have a specific, soft T-shirt. I definitely have to have my T-shirt to make it work.” She wasn’t breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, never smoked, is college educated, just right in weight, is white, born 3rd of 3, is heterosexual, single, doesn’t feel that it makes it difficult to have a relationship and heard of this site from another place on the Net.

“It is common knowledge in my immediate family that I suck my fingers. “I have a new niece who is starting to suck her fingers. I have been ‘lovingly’ blamed for passing the trait.

“I am truly amazed to have stumbled onto this site.

“The olfactory component is integral. I find it to be truly meditative.

“Once I had a very powerful ‘womb-flashback’ because of a particular smell while sucking my fingers. My mom has always told me that I was sucking my fingers when I was born. Regarding significant others:

“I don’t typically tell them despite the fact that it continues and is necessary for me to sleep.”


Baily, age 24, from Arizona, has sucked her right thumb all her life. She needed braces and her thumb looks different. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading, driving, with friends and family, anywhere, even in public, for more than 10 hours/day. Her parents used bitter solution, told people, but ultimately understood. To her, if feels good, imparting security. She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is college educated, just right in weight, is white, born 3rd of 3, is gay and single, doesn’t think tsing make it difficult to have a relationship and heard about this site from someone she knows.

“I seem to suck my thumb most when I drive, also when I’m tired, hungry, thinking and/or bored.

“I do have a slight indentation on my thumbnail where my lower teeth hit it. I don’t even think that nail grows anymore.

“My relations have never looked at me strangely. They have just known that that is just part of me, a way for me to relax. Everyone, though, relation, friend and family has seemed to notify me when I am sucking my thumb, kind of a reminder to me, to make me conscious of the fact that I am sucking my thumb.”


Denise, age 32, from Canada, has sucked her left thumb all her life. Her teeth are mildly bucked and her thumb has red marks on it while looking different. She indulges In bed, as I go to sleep, spending 4-7 hours tsing each day. Her parents didn't care. Just a habit I can't quit. It feels good. She places her fingers over her nose. “I like to pick at a pillow or blanket with my fingers.” She is a smoker, is college educated, just right in weight, is White, born 7 of 8 children, heterosexual, married, doesn’t feel that thumb sucking makes it difficult to have a relationship and heard about this site from a search engine.

“Well, I'm 32 and have been married for 8 years. I told my husband about my habit before we were married. I don't think he thought of it too much then but, when he actually slept with me and heard my thumb noises at night he got annoyed. He still bothers me about it because he works afternoons and apparently I keep him awake at night. I'm not even aware that I'm sucking my thumb at night, I guess it's just automatic to me. He calls me immature and tells me to grow up. I tell him that if I knew that I was sucking my thumb and I had control of my nighttime habit that I would not do it. I really wish I could stop.

“I'm a mother of two little boys who do not know of my nighttime habit. They do not suck their thumbs which I am grateful of because it has been such a burden to me. To all that suck their thumbs and are comfortable with it, that's great, but, I'm not, not because of my husbands reaction but, because of my own.

“I have read your comments and stories. What I don't understand is all these people saying that they felt that they were the only ones who sucked their thumbs. Well I knew that I was not alone in this habit but, I also knew that I was alone in my life.

“No one else can live my life and understand my life like I can. I feel if I could stop this I would because I think in some small part that I am relying on a thumb to comfort me when I should be relying on my husband or family. I'm tired of being a loner.

“Like I mentioned above my husband sometimes doesn't mind but when he is trying to sleep it really bothers him. For example on some occasions I woke up with a sock on my hand or he has woke me up and told me to stop sucking my thumb because I'm driving him crazy.”


Jolene, age 22, from California, has sucked both her thumbs all her life. “I was born with red rings on my thumb and the doctor told my mom, ‘you’ve got a thumb sucker’. Her teeth are crooked and she has a thumb callus as well as a thumb that looks different. She indulges to sleep, while studying, watching TV, reading, driving, with friends, family, during sex and masturbation, anywhere, even in public. Her parents teased, used bitter solutions but finally understood. For her, it’s a habit that feels good, imparting security. She places a finger over her nose. “I like to smell different odors on my finger.” She was breast fed, didn’t use a pacifier, is a smoker, has known of other ATSers, is college educated, just right in weight, is white, born 1st of 3, is heterosexual and heard of this site from someone she knows.

“I saw a mother of four on the freeway sucking her thumb while driving. that was the first adult I had ever seen sucking her thumb. I’ve had a few of my friends tell me that they have an aunt or someone in their family that sucks their thumb. so I never really felt like a total freak.

“I have never felt embarrassed or that I shouldn’t do it. It has always been part of my life, and all my friends and family accept it.

“I do run into funny experiences when new people, friends and co-workers see me doing it. But everyone accepts that it’s just me and something I do.

“I like the pictures [at the site].”