The Worry Doll: The Comfort Object You Need to Solve Your Problems

As soon as we enter middle school, we’re told to leave our comfort objects behind. The reason? We’re growing up! Yet, these stuffed animals and soft items have helped us sleep and calm down for years. So why give them up? In my research on the topic, I came across a centuries-old South American tradition that could make our troubles disappear overnight: the worry doll. What if it became the new comfort objects for adults?

What is a Worry Doll?

Basic Definition

A worry doll is used to ease anxieties. Much like a stuffed animal, a friend, or a therapist, you simply talk to it to unload your worries and, supposedly, feel better. Symbolically, they serve as a channel from the negative to the positive, from sorrow to joy.

What Does a Worry Doll Look Like?

A worry doll is often handmade by artisans or its owner. It’s a small figure, usually a few centimeters tall, made from fabric and/or wool. Typically, they are very colorful and cheerful.

Origin and Legend

If you’re looking for a worry doll, you’ll need to head to Guatemala. This small Central American country is where they originate. The legend says they are given to children to talk about their problems, and the doll will solve them overnight. By morning, the worry is supposed to be gone.

But in our increasingly stressful society, they might also serve adults. We are constantly bombarded with tasks and expected to suppress our emotions. Although seeing a psychologist is becoming more accepted, it’s still difficult to speak to someone or a friend without feeling judged. Through its symbolism, the worry doll can help the more reserved open up about their emotions. Moreover, because of their magical nature, worry dolls can solve problems. They thus become a support on which it’s good to rest to feel better.

How Does a Worry Doll Work?

Express Yourself

We all know it’s not easy to share the worries we carry. Talking out loud to an inanimate object can help you feel better, lighter. By speaking, you shape your thoughts and find the right words. This can be very helpful in understanding yourself better.

Separate from the Worry

A worry doll helps put some distance between us and our problems. By entrusting them to another entity, we move them away from our body/mind and onto another support. This helps us distance ourselves from them, understand them better, rather than constantly ruminating. By taking our problems outside ourselves, we understand and put them in perspective.

Let Go

By sharing our thoughts with someone else, we share our pain. Just by speaking, we can feel a sense of release. This divides our mental and emotional load, as someone else takes care of them.

In the end, the worry doll is small but it holds a lot!

Why Use a Worry Doll?

It’s obvious, but a reminder never hurts! Using a worry doll offers several psychological and emotional benefits.

Reduce Stress

Every day, we anticipate, ruminate, think about the past, future, and present. All at once, and it’s great for our stress levels! Putting words to our problems, sharing them, and feeling free will make you feel lighter and less stressed. And when we stress less, we enjoy more! There are other ways to lighten stress, like running…

Sleep Better

Traditionally, Guatemalan children share their concerns with their worry dolls before going to bed. And it’s no coincidence! It’s often at bedtime that we think the most about our problems, which can prevent us from falling asleep. And when we don’t sleep well, we don’t rest, which leads to a bad day, which leads to more rumination, which leads to poor sleep, and so on. It’s a vicious cycle! By giving your worries to a doll, you can find the peace needed to sleep and feel rested and light in the morning.

Understand Yourself

As mentioned earlier, expressing your concerns is already a step toward understanding and distancing them. Just like when we visit a therapist, reflecting on our issues helps us find solutions. This introspective process can be a step toward solving the problems. After all, worry dolls aren’t magical beings that make your problems disappear and transport you to a world of happiness—they help you do it yourself.

How to Create Your Own Worry Doll?

Want to try out the worry doll experience but not sure how to get one? It’s very easy to make one that fits your taste! Plus, it lets you create it in your own image, making you feel close to it.

Materials

• Wood
• Fabric
• Threads of various thicknesses and textures
• Beads

How To

Take the piece of wood (or just a strong thread) and wrap the threads around it. As you wind the threads, you’ll begin to form the clothes and face of your worry doll. You can add hair, arms, and a custom outfit. It’s your choice!

Ritual

Once done, your doll can immediately start receiving your worries. You can give it a name, introduce yourself, and tell it what’s bothering you. It’s up to you to define your relationship and rituals.

You can try this method!

Worry Dolls Aren’t the Only Ones Taking Our Troubles

Currently, South Korea is facing an epidemic of loneliness, and another form of comfort object is making a comeback: the pet rock. Created in 1975 as a joke by its creator Gary Dahl, the pet rock is yet another form of worry doll. Young Koreans (and others) adopt pet rocks every day and talk to them. They become friends on which they can lean. To understand the phenomenon, we’ve written a full article on the subject.

The Worry Doll as a Symbolic Healing Tool

Worry dolls are simple yet powerful objects that help free the mind from daily troubles. Their simple and universal use demonstrates their effectiveness as a psychological tool. Whether for children struggling to fall asleep or adults seeking mental peace, the worry doll offers a soothing way to transform worries into inner calm.