Loving something you can’t stand?

Kids love to sleep with their teddy bears right? Not me, really. It took me time to realize that ”sleeping with your teddy bear” meant ”hugging your teddy bear” when sleeping. I just put my teddy bear next to me, but never touched it when sleeping. I tried it many times, to sleep while hugging a teddy bear, but it never worked. I felt uneasy and weird. I disliked it with great passion.

But I have always loved my all stuffed toys and animals, but I don’t really like touching them. Sometimes, rarely, I do touch my stuffed animals, but I only press them against my cheek and I like the softness. But everything else is no no. Like hugging it or just holding it feels...horrible.

My stuffed animals are really important to me and I still love to buy new ones. It feels weird to love something I can’t stand to touch.

Am I alone?

I still hug my stuff animal.

I am a male and we are conditioned in my country that we should not be hugging stuffed animals when we are grown. Part of the macho, tough-guy culture that does so much damage, IMO.

I don't have a pet currently. My ex or whatever she is (???) took the dog. Not sure if I can manage one on my own, as I do get psychotic and that could make dog care tough. Could also help, though, so...

Anyway, I have thought about a stuffed animal because of this and because I struggle so. There is no embarrassment issue because no one comes here. I do get asked out by women with some degree of regularity (absolutely no idea why), but I always have said no. I don't know if I'll ever be ready and I am not interested in casual sex, which a surprising number of women are interested in. I never knew.

So anyway, I thought maybe an Eeyore might be good. He's my favorite and he's a lot like me in some ways, esp. when I am in my down pole. I think Eeyore has BP1 or 2 and spends all his time in the down region. So, I might ask for one for Christmas. I think my 11 year-old daughter might like that.

Animal can give you relaxation feelings when you touch them. I'm not quite sure is that a medical thing, but it really works for me.

I have two Eeyore pillow stuffed animals. You can unhook the velcro to make it a pillow or velcro around the tummy to make him a stuffed animal. I sleep with both of them. They make me feel better. I hope you get an Eeyore @bpcyclist

I’m just gonna say sleep and cuddling while asleep doesn’t relate to love so much as personal preference. Even though I’m a heavy sleeper if someone touches me while asleep I wake bolt upright. I enjoy cuddling both people and stuffed animals awake but asleep no thanks.