Interesting commentary. My first thought was exactly how I am with my doll that reminds me of someone who passed away. Before their death, I never had attachments to anything, I mean I had a favorite pillow I slept with, but this doll is more akin to Annie’s blanket. I am sure that Caleb’s death has a lot to do with the attachment. I didn’t watch the earlier episodes before his death, well I did but not like in depth pr study her behavior before and afterwards. I would say that annie does have unnatural attachments to people which is why anyone in their right mind should have screamed absolutely not in regards to fabricating a fake relationship using her when she already displayed unhealthy attachments to people. Her parents should know by now that hugging people for extra long or being an almost teenager and holding daddy’s hand or hugging him extra long or snuggling with him is not healthy. I mean idk what a normal relationship with a preteen and her father would look like because I didn’t have a good relationship with my dad ever in my life, but I don’t think that being 10,11,12 and still snuggling with daddy is really very healthy. Not too mention how she was with Katie when she was just gonna see her again in the morning. Part of me assumed it was an act that she put on because Mommy Katie thought it was just oh so precious how much they “loved” each other. Oddly enough, we don’t see Katie doing that with her friends now but Annie is still hanging all over Jayden like they are dating and calling each other besties and making best friend bucket lists and talking like they are gonna run off together in a few years. Idk it’s just interesting to see how different Katie D is now to how Annie is. There’s a very clear difference in maturity. I’m not sure either if this is something having to do with just who they are and how much is due to their upbringing? There’s a very clear family dynamic in Katie D’s family compared to Annie’s where Katie’s parents are very clear the parents and Annie’s mommy is still trying to be a teenager herself and be like her daughter which is going to prevent Annie from being able to mature.waterynames wrote:I don't think it's lack of comforting as a child. Now we see Katie as a less than ideal mother, but before Caleb passed I think she was a good mother that cared a lot for her kids, so I don't think Annie lacked comfort, especially given that she's always been the golden child. Actually, I don't recall Annie using that blanket as often as she does now; she basically used it at night. She started to use it all the time after Caleb passed, and I think she would have given it up completely by now had that not happened. Losing her brother was something that she obviously didn't know how to handle so she became attached to the things that she found comforting at the time. After that, when her life was getting back on track, she said she'd only use it in her room and, as I remember, for a while it seemed as if she was starting to not depend on it as much. The problem now, I think, is that her life's changed so much that the only thing that's remained constant is that blanket; it's the only thing that brings her back home, to where everything was familiar and her brother was still with her. I also think that the fact that she doesn't mind being filmed with it is an indication of how much she depends on it. Her stress levels must be so high that she really feels she needs it and that need is superior to every other feeling, including embarrassment.Lisatheacrobat wrote:Interesting that the blanket sniffing topic was brought back up. So I asked my friend who also has a degree in psychology what might be the reason she does that. Actually her sister who is 21 does a similar thing. So she said that it’s due to a lack of comforting as a child that you grow attached to other things. Like as kids we know the smell of our moms and it’s comforting. Though many kids have blankets as little kids we give them up naturally because we get comfort from our parents. But attachments like Annie’s stem from that lack of comfort. Basically, her parents didn’t give her enough comfort and support as a kid so she grew an attachment to that blanket and now it’s become a habit and source of comfort for her to sniff that blanket. Are we shocked by this discovery that katie and Billy didn’t give Annie enough comfort? But then again, neither Hayley or Caleb had any type of comfort blanket attachment. Hayley has basically teased Annie by saying she doesn’t need a baby blanket to sleep with in like a mockery of Annie cause she does. What do you guys think?
I also think she's always had a predisposition to this kind of compulsive behaviour because she's a very anxious person. For her, sniffing that blanket is like biting your nails, or emotional eating. I think for her to give up the blanket she'd have to have a stable life, and a comfortable environment where she felt safe and confident. As long as she's insecure, she'll need reassurance. And maybe now it's true she doesn't get that from her parents because they're only interested in keeping their luxurious life going no matter what she feels. Has anybody told Annie she can still go back to her old life if she wants to? That it's totally OK and nobody is going to think any less of her if she does. I don't think she has anyone with whom to talk sincerely and without pressures. Everyone that surrounds her is somehow interested in her continuing to do what she's doing. This family has lost all ability to communicate truthfully amongst themselves and with others and so, in one way or another, I think none of them is truly happy with the life they're leading. It's sad.
Also while we here are rooting for her to find some normalcy, if Annie gave up acting and singing and moved back to Maryland to be a normal girl, you know for a fact all the children fans would be having coronary heart attacks and attacking her for that. It would not go over well.
