It's like a hug...
September 11, 2011 9:39 PM   Subscribe

I keep seeing commercials for the Thundershirt, which is supposed to be like a "hug' for anxious animals. Does something like this work for people?

I am looking for ways to deal with anxiety and I wonder if there's a "thundershirt" for people that works along the same principles...I've heard there's vests like this for autistic children, but what about adults who need to go about their day without anything too obstructive on? I've tried Shapewear type stuff but it doesn't seem to be the same.
posted by sweetkid to Health & Fitness (17 answers total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
Often Autistics who have anxiety attacks find that weighted blankets work--i wonder if this might be useful?
posted by PinkMoose at 9:43 PM on September 11, 2011


Temple Grandin invented a hug machine for herself. That could be worth a google. Starting here.
posted by taff at 9:48 PM on September 11, 2011


Response by poster: Yeah, the Temple Grandin link is truly awesome but not great for my purposes.
posted by sweetkid at 9:54 PM on September 11, 2011


Well, swaddling a baby is supposed to make it stop crying, so I think there might be something to the theory. I'm not sure that there's a product out there, but it seems to be a fairly accepted belief that a little bit of a squeeze can relieve anxiety.
posted by Gilbert at 10:00 PM on September 11, 2011


Compression garments aimed at autism spectrum kids exist. The science on it looks mixed. For adults, I don't see anything far outside the Shapewear type stuff you've tried, but there are about a zillion companies making tight athletic wear under the keyword 'compression.'
posted by Monsieur Caution at 10:01 PM on September 11, 2011


I have never seen it, but I would suggest asking at the WrongPlanet.net forums since there are parents who probably have at least considered it and Autistic/Aspergic folk who have also looked for something similar.
posted by Bodrik at 10:17 PM on September 11, 2011


It's basically swaddling, which only seems to truly work in a thundershirt way with very tiny humans who are still operating primarily on instinct? I don't find compression garments soothing, I've tried.

But I will attest to the calming power of even a light wrap/hoodie/sweater in a fabric that makes the tactile-seeking part of my brain happy. I have some circulation issues and get cold easily, but I'm also pretty sure that some of what I perceive as "cold" is want of a sort of self-soothing snuggling.
posted by desuetude at 10:28 PM on September 11, 2011


Response by poster: Yeah, I've worn hoodies with the hood up at work and find it calming, but I get sooo many comments about how weird it is that I have a hood on. Interesting thought though.
posted by sweetkid at 10:32 PM on September 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


Have you thought about get a snug jacket and sewing fishing weights into the lining?

I used to be responsible, as a caregiver, for laundering someone's weighted blanket. It had pockets sewn in where you inserted mesh bags of similar weights. (I did a cursory search for an example but they seem to be higher tech now with plastic filling)
posted by dchrssyr at 10:34 PM on September 11, 2011


Best answer: Weighted Wearables says they make things for adults.

Sensory Critters makes weighted hoodies for adults.
posted by wowbobwow at 11:42 PM on September 11, 2011


Also: thinking of heavy garments reminds me of those leaded vests you get during x-rays. They make some snazzy looking protective aprons (but not sure how heavy they are) for radiology technicians, which might fill the bill.
posted by wowbobwow at 11:51 PM on September 11, 2011 [1 favorite]


I believe it was shown in Gray's Anatomy. Sandra Oh's character (sorry, I've only seen 1 or 2 episodes) has a panic attack and has a couple of the other doctors hug her very very tightly for a while.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:20 AM on September 12, 2011


Sports compression clothing might be helpful in not being too obtrusive. I have a couple of Under Armor tops I use for skiing that I picked up in sales and they seem to have a tighter fit than say a more traditional Helly Hansen top or thermals. Of course, this might lead to overheating issues in the summer, but it could be a good first step to see if the approach works for you.
posted by arcticseal at 12:55 AM on September 12, 2011


If you're interested in more about why this works for some people, one of the terms to look for is "sensory processing disorder", which is one of the disorders for which weighted items are recommended. It has to do with providing sensory input (deep pressure). (Autism/Aspergers frequently involve some degree of sensory processing disorder, which is why they're the first thing most people think of when they think of weighted blankets.)

I am not aware of whether they've done work on whether deep pressure (weighted blankets, hug machines, etc.) works well on forms of anxiety that aren't related to sensory issues. But that's where I'd start looking.
posted by pie ninja at 4:13 AM on September 12, 2011


Best answer: Oh man, this just connected so many dots for me.

Anyway, I achieve a very similar thing with a pashmina type wrap. I bring it around my shoulders and kind of clutch the ends. I usually only do it in colder rooms, but sometimes find myself needing to be hugged.

I often find myself out and about with a knitted wrap, which doesn't work nearly as well. Too stretchy, but if I drape it just the right way....maybe it's the distraction inherent in spending all that energy fiddling?

The woven wrap has the benefit of being very portable, and available in lots of colors at several price points, also, the more anxious I am the tighter I can hold it.

(I knew I had trouble with loud noises, crazy lights, and some textures, but it never occurred to me that this is, um, a thing.)
posted by bilabial at 4:57 AM on September 12, 2011 [3 favorites]


re. the chap's suggestion about sewing fishing weights into clothing - careful, fishing weights are often made of lead, are they not?
posted by victory_laser at 5:07 AM on September 12, 2011


Some sort of wrap, like a shawl, or even just draping a throw rug over your shoulders. When I've had a hard day I like to climb into bed and wrap myself up in my comforter like a cocoon (my husband calls it my burrito baby look) I find it very self soothing it has to come up over my head with just my nose and mouth peeking out to breath.

Could you wear a baseball hat in the office instead of a hoody, its not quite the same but if you duck your head you'd get a bit of that whole cut off and alone feeling without looking as anti social. My husband wears big old honking headphones at work just to get the same feeling.
posted by wwax at 7:01 AM on September 12, 2011


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