When I was younger, around 4-5, I begged my mom for a baby bottle and she finally relented just to get me to stop sucking my pointer finger which I still did until I was about 8.

Now I just suck my thumb, but do it all the time, which makes sense because my brain is always in turmoil at some level even when I'm "stable." That is one of my deepest, darkest secrets; there is no one in my life who knows that about me. At least, I don't think they do. I know I don't come off as someone who has it totally together 100% of the time, but most people find me to be reasonably strong, confident, and unafraid. Boy do I fool them, hey? I would be mortified if they knew I suck my thumb. If I spent the night with significant others and they found me sucking my thumb, I laughed it off and said it was a quirk, that it happened when I had nightmares...and then I found a way not to spend the whole night again.

Surprisingly, my teeth aren't as messed up as you'd think they'd be. They're crooked, but not bad at all. The only issue I've had is the power struggle I had with my dentist when he wanted me to wear a bite splint at night for grinding and I flat out refused (because how could I be grinding my teeth at night if I'm sucking my thumb? But I am not admitting that to him.) I conceded to buy the $50 temporary, wore it for two nights having terrible sleep and nightmares, refused to wear it again and canceled my appointment for the permanent splint. He never mentioned it again.