Why Autistic Adults Still Have Stuffed Animals

Video Description

They’re throwing away our plushies again… and we need to talk about it. Why do autistic adults — and plenty of allistic folks too — keep plushies, Squishmallows, or comfort items? Why do so many people call them “childish,” when science says they’re actually powerful tools for emotional regulation? Join the Autisti-Cat Community and get extra content, Discord, and more: https://www.patreon.com/autisticaf Videos mentioned: ▶️ Redditor Hides Autistic Daughter's Favorite Toy #aita https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvu05Tt0VyU 🦆 Sid Batty & Quack 🦆 https://www.instagram.com/sidbatty/?hl=en YT: @sidbatty 'I travel with a stuffed duck to feel less alone' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy7536l7dkzo Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/1ggitoj/aita_for_allowing_my_friend_to_bring_her_stuffed/ https://www.reddit.com/r/squishmallow/comments/155bs4n/aita_for_throwing_away_my_wifes_squishmallows/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Autism_Parenting/comments/1o2ci37/trying_to_explain_to_my_boyfriend_that_its_ok_for/ On 'Transitional Objects': 1953: https://pep-web.org/browse/document/ZBK.017.0001A.P2?page=P0001 1986: https://chhd.media.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3087/2024/06/Developmental-Niche-1986.pdf 2024: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11720695/ The Complex Sensory Experiences of Autistic Adults (2021). Frontiers in Psychology https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9213348/ On the Trans/Queer/Autism Overlap: How the Ikea Shark became a trans icon https://www.newsweek.com/how-ikea-shark-became-trans-icon-1753400 2020: (Elevated rates of autism, other neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diagnoses, and autistic traits in transgender and gender-diverse individuals) https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17794-1 2024: (A Systematic Review of Gender Dysphoria Measures in Autistic Samples) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11335965/ 2024: (A comparison of gender diversity in transgender young people with and without autistic traits from the Trans 20 cohort study): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11127512/ 2025: (Gender on the Spectrum: Prevalence of Gender Diversity in Autism Spectrum Disorder—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis): https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/aut.2024.0202 📌 Stay Connected: Stim the notification bell and subscription button to be notified when I release new content. 📸 I'm now on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autisticafter40/ 👩🏼‍💻 And the web: https://www.autisticafter40.com 👨‍⚖️ Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional or psychotherapist. If you are watching this and feel that you need immediate mental health support, please see the list of mental health helplines at [HelpGuide.org](http://helpguide.org/) here: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm If you have met one autistic (and or ADHD) person, you have met one person. This is a spectrum condition, and many traits may be different, or have alternative explanations for your symptoms. If in doubt, refer to a psychologist, and not a YouTuber. Self-diagnosis is valid (because: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwKP60CMaGM) 0:00 IKEA mission & the Blåhaj 0:50 Sid Batty & Quack 🦆 1:39 Reddit’s AITA: “She can’t bring her stuffed frog to my wedding!” 03:47 WTF? 6:07 The science of comfort items 10:40 Plushie collections from the Autisticats community