In the awesome world of ABDL, let's tackle a big question that I have often heard: "Am I like, totally regressing in life? Is it okay to dive littlespacing into the past? Is this just a weird way to escape reality and then feel super bummed when you come back to adulting? Does it even mean anything?"
These are the kinda questions I often get from my emotional support clients. Alongside all the shame and guilt, the idea of escapism keeps popping up like a catchy tune you can't get out of their head.
I get it, really. Some folks think that little space is just a way to dodge the stress and boring stuff of adult life. It's like a holiday from responsibilities and bills.
But underneath all this, there's a whole world of feelings and thoughts we're only starting to explore. Many ABs stress about getting stuck in the past, mixed with some guilt for feeling like they can't adult properly. It's like a mental tug-of-war, wondering if regressing is just a crutch, a way to avoid growing up.
But what if we flipped the script on this whole regression thing? What if we saw it as a tool for personal growth and fixing some of our emotional issues? Instead of fearing it, we could embrace it to understand ourselves better and therefore move forward in life, not really backwards.
We all have our own unique history, a treasure chest of memories, feelings, and experiences that made us who we are. Regressing can be like a treasure hunt, finding memories we've tucked away deep in our brains. It could be a special memory, a feeling we've forgotten, or an emotion buried under a mountain of adulting stress. Going back in time helps us reconnect with the kid inside us and discover hidden parts of ourselves.
It's not just about reliving memories, it's about exploring new sides of ourselves. When we regress, we can tap into parts of our personality that usually stay hidden. It's like a secret adventure where you get to play, experiment, and hang out with your carer and those cool, buried parts of yourself. When we bring these discoveries into our daily lives, these side can actually complete us.
I've seen some of my clients use regression as a sort of therapy, swapping out painful memories for awesome ones. Imagine if you had a not-so-great parent – and regression can help you create new memories with a loving and caring caregiver. It doesn't erase the past, but it gives you a chance to create happy memories, body sensations, and that warm, fuzzy feeling of being safe. These caregiver moments become a way to heal, a comforting ritual, and your safe haven of calm and strength. It's like a magical experience that regular talk therapy can't quite match.
Through my work and the experiences of many of my clients, I’ve witnessed how the embodiment of these experiences and healthy interactions with a trusted carer can revitalize and reconnect individuals with parts of themselves that have been neglected or suppressed. It is, in essence, a journey toward self-acceptance, self-esteem, and inner freedom, and it has the potential to move people forward in their personal growth and emotional healing.
So we can go backwards… to rest, and take impulse to move… forward! 🚀