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What began as a niche wellness trend has moved into mainstream conversation. Adult sized pacifiers are being marketed and used as stress relief tools, with proponents pointing to oral stimulation as a way to engage the parasympathetic nervous system, the same calming mechanism behind chewing gum and deep breathing. Mental health professionals note that oral self soothing is a recognized response to anxiety, and similar tools are already used by occupational therapists for adults with sensory processing differences.