DD/LG vs. age regression?

[Bubbles_and_Feathers]

Are they the same thing? Someone pointed out that there's a difference, but I'm not sure.

 

I'm someone who uses age regression to cope with stress and anxiety. Going little helps me escape the bad feelings. Plus it's fun! In a relationship I would want a partner who understands that and can take care of me when I'm little, someone to share my littlespace with. I'm asexual, so it's not exactly a kink. But it's primarily for me, not what I want my relationship to look like.

 

So do you think age regression is a separate thing from DD/LG? Are they both "being little"?

Edited February 3, 2020 by Bubbles_and_Feathers

[EvieTheOne]

I age regress when I'm under lots of stress. We all do to some extent or the other. Regression as a term it has been coined by Freud, and he referred to it as a coping mechanism. Age regression has thus been used in therapy, to "send" patients into a mind space where they can offload and self soothe using various ways.

DDLG is a kink. It's usually sexual and when it's not, it's just good old age regression. That's my understanding of it all, but I'm looking forward to any other input from more experienced and knowledgeable members. x

[Guest Lavendar Bunni Wubbins]

For me I feel the differences are that age regression is typically used as a coping mechanism (sometimes without the person even knowing why) for mental illnesses (depression, anxiety, PTSD for examples), and that DDLG's little space is a kink & not used specifically as a coping mechanism, when you make the choice to because you enjoy it & want to be in that mindset.

 

Just my thoughts, though.

[SmolAetherr]

age regression is a coping mechanism

 

ageplay is used for fun/dynamics and sexytime

 

thats not to say the dont overlap but its preferable to seperate the two because we are all here for the same reasons but we get different things out of the lifestyle

[Lollipox]

Age Regression is regressing to an age in which you were a child. Often used as a coping mechanism like Aether said, but people also just do it for fun or because it's relaxing. Recreational or therapeutic. 

 

Ageplay is Roleplaying a younger age normally in regards to sexual scenarios. Sure, there are other instances but more often than not it's for sexytimes. 

 

Littles are adults with a naturally childlike or whimsical soul and/or personality. They do not have to age regress. 

It could be that they are: 

Very caring and kind

Shy or timid

Emotionally sensitive

Playful or cheeky

Naive or innocent

Submissive or people-pleasing.

It's also associated with the BDSM Community (Daddy Dom & Little Girl, and all other varieties).

and so on.

Being a Little is to maintain the childlike wonderment of the world. It's not an act you put on to feel cute or make a dude like you. It's just how you are at the core of your being. You never lost interest in Winnie the Pooh, and jumping in puddles is still just as exciting as it was however many years ago.

 

Years ago when I first entered the community it was A-Okay to be a sexual little and was as normal and acceptable as any adult having a libido.

Nowadays it feels taboo to be a sexual Little, and there's a strong misunderstanding about the differences between being a Little or an Age Regressor. 

But they are still adults, and age regressing is not hand-in-hand with being a Little.

 

 

Tldr; they're not the same thing. And I wish people would learn the differences from the very beginning, which is not a dig at anybody I just hate to see these terms being misused and losing all meaning by encompassing lots of things that they aren't.

[LittleTeacup]

Like everyone has said, they aren't the same.

 

Age regression is just about the one person. He or she regresses in order to cope with life or due to trauma or some other reason. Sometimes it's involuntary.

 

DDLG and variants are focused on the relationship between two (or more) people. It's under the BDSM umbrella with a dominant taking on a daddy or mommy role and a submissive taking on a little girl or boy role. Sometimes the little is more dominant and the daddy/mommy more submissive though. Of course, this also includes single people looking for this kind of relationship.

 

I think there's other categories too, like people who feel childlike but don't specifically age regress or want a d/s relationship. Or the flip side, people who are natural nurturing types who wish to care for a partner but don't necessarily want to command. I'm more in this group since I'm naturally childlike and mainly want a partner who understands and likes being gentle and caring, although mild d/s could be fun sometimes too.

[Guest TokidokiHelloKitty]

Hey, speaking of this subject, I have a question. Can it be DD/LG even if they never have sex while in Daddy/Little roles? Like can it be something their into, but not...sexually? I don't know if that makes any sense, sorry.

[Bubbles_and_Feathers]

Hey, speaking of this subject, I have a question. Can it be DD/LG even if they never have sex while in Daddy/Little roles? Like can it be something their into, but not...sexually? I don't know if that makes any sense, sorry.

There are plenty of asexual DD/LG couples out there, so I would imagine so.

[Bubbles_and_Feathers]

And for the record, I would also consider myself a little. It's just the way I am, even when I'm not regressed. I don't ever want to grow out of being a child at heart.

[LucyDolly]

I'm neither age regressing nor is being a little/middle in any possible way a kink for me.

 

I just feel at the deepest core of who i really am like a kid aged about 10-13 years.

 

I'm like an adult which has permanently the soul of its inner child and i was told by many people i met that it is a blessing to have my childlike wonder and my childlike innocence as an adult.  

 

I'm asexual but also panromantic at the same time which means i never have sexual feelings or the wish to have sex or the desire to masturbate but i can develop purely romantic feelings in the way of having a crush on somebody, independent on the biological sex of a person.  

Edited February 6, 2020 by LucyDolly

[Honeydadddy]

Thank you so much for posting this question! I’ve really appreciated reading the different perspectives on this topic. I have been feeling confused about this for awhile myself. Seems clear that age regression and ddlg can be separate or overlap depending on the person and relationship. So, are there ddlg relationships that don’t involve age regression? Are relationships that involve a form of caregiving and submission without age regression ddlg or just d/s relationships? Are relationships that involve age play kink exclusively in a sexual context ddlg? Just some questions that I’ve been struggling with as I read the wisdom from others in the forum. :-)

[Bubbles_and_Feathers]

Oh, I just saw the pinned explanation in the Resources section. That explains a lot.

If anyone wants to check it out:

https://www.ddlgforum.com/topic/44709-abdl-cglre-ap-ddlg-explained/

Thank you so much for posting this question! I’ve really appreciated reading the different perspectives on this topic. I have been feeling confused about this for awhile myself. Seems clear that age regression and ddlg can be separate or overlap depending on the person and relationship. So, are there ddlg relationships that don’t involve age regression? Are relationships that involve a form of caregiving and submission without age regression ddlg or just d/s relationships? Are relationships that involve age play kink exclusively in a sexual context ddlg? Just some questions that I’ve been struggling with as I read the wisdom from others in the forum. :-)