I know several people that suck their thumb and/or smell their hair to relax. It is surprisingly common habit.

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I.. DO THIS TOO.

It helps when I'm super tired...

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Someone else does this, too!?

Seriously, it's like instant Alpha state calmness. :D

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My girl does this CONSTANTLY. It's adorable. :3

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I'm a headscratcher personally. And a "front-shirt" chewer.

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Frontshirtchewers REPRESENT! It's calming to chew on the collar of my shirt

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I wiggle my toes. Resting each big toe on neighboring toe is "mmm". Instant calm.

Edited at 2009-08-13 12:18 am (UTC)

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even when sparkling clean, i cannot stand the taste of my own fingers. BLECH. alas, i am a knuckle-cracker.

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Same here

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My son does this and it is so insanely cute. With the finger hooked over the nose. It makes perfect sense as a calming technique as it is one of the first self-soothing devices we can learn.

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That is adorable. I personally pull out my hair when stressed (which doesn't actually make me calm, so I should probably try thumbsucking instead).

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Hey! I'm a hair puller too. :)

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Heh. It kind of sucks: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichotillomania

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It does suck. I do it with eyelashes.

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oh and also, I love the transformation into a child with the thumb sucking... adorable

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Same here!

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This one is definitely WIN.

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I'm a head-scratcher/face picker when I'm stressed or concentrating. The second is a hard habit to break.

I was never much of a thumbsucker, even as a kid. Mostly a nail-biter.

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Teehee... cute!

I'm surprised I don't suck my thumb when overtired, because I sure do revert to a sulky kid. ^__^

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I love how you express the different emotions in your comic. This is adorable. :)

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At least you don't pull your facial hair like some of us maniacs! Seriously, it's under control now, but every now and then, under (really) stresfull situations, I just can't help it.

Anyway, I loved this strip. I like how the proportions are more life like, and a itsy bit more detailed than usual. And your face in the fourth panel is just adorable.

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I rub my head/face like a cartoon character when I get stressed out. It almost feels contrived except I don't always even notice that I'm doing it.

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also your figures and linework are looking insanely effortless and equally great these days

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jaja, same here :P

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hahahaha love this one! =]

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I was a thumbsucker until my early teens, when, faced with the prospect of school camps, I forced myself out of it.

Very occasionally, as an adult, I find it helps me sleep on a bad night.

I still chew pens to bits. I've often thought of getting a pipe: not to smoke it, but so that I can have the pleasure of something in mouth, without people thinking I'm an infant.

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I bite my nails a lot, even when I'm not feeling particularly anything O.o

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I absolutely BRUTALIZE my scalp when anxious.

The ladyfriend is getting on me about it, because (for some reason) she thinks that the scalp blood under my fingernails is a little creepy.

Thumbsucking sounds like a low-impact alternative! I'll have to give it a shot...

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Ah, headscratching. Right up there with cuticle picking and fingernail chewing for its ability to focus nervous energy. Love the illustrations - they totally capture your inner regression as you "sneak" your stress-reducer.

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cuticle picking- that's me. It's pretty brutal, and I'd gladly adopt another neurotic habit to replace it. So far nothing has worked :(

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haha I love this! i love how little you is so relaxed youre wall eyed
I rub my eyes when im nervous. its apperantly not good and can cause wrinkles! yeep! but it makes me feel better.
Oh i also will rip up peices of paper as small as i can in a big pile. On the plus side if the thing im worried about turns out to be okay, i have confetti to celebrate with!

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Your linework looks different here.
I like it.
^.^

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I never sucked my thumb, but my brother used to suck his two middle fingers, which was pretty funny looking. I scratch my head (nice to know I'm not the only one). I learned to macrame some years ago, I find knot-tying incredibly relaxing (so much so I have a ton of hemp necklaces up in my store), it's like I'm tying up my stress. Unfortunately, it isn't something I can do while I'm doing anything else involving my hands.

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Love the regressing shrink! Very clever!

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AHAHA brilliant! Ever seen the film Thumbsucker? That's about a 17 year old boy that sucks his thumb :P

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I do this too. Especially in the car (driving stresses me out) My boyfriend also teases me for it. I tell him it's better than smoking.

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I mess around with my sideburns/beard. I dont even notice I'm doing it. Also I do the face rubbing thing too. Basically I have my hands on my face all the time.

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What a great comic! I love the mini-lucy's expressions.

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I've always envied people that carry over thumbsucking from childhood -- I was a thumbsucker but stopped on my own when I was three, which is really weird considering I have always been an EXTREMELY nervous person. I typically turn to nail biting (they're all down to the quick), picking at my face, plucking my eyebrows, bouncing my legs while sitting, shaking my feet while laying down...oy, I'm a nervous wreck! lol I'm currently exploring more artistic methods of relaxation, although I may have to give thumbsucking another shot! My nails and skin would definitely appreciate the break!

LOVE this post, btw.

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the 7th panel might be my favorite single comic panel
of comics

Maybe.

Do more puppet videos please

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Ha ha! The little Lucy totally cracks me up.

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This strip just makes me smile

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