Welcome to my 23rd post in the #AtoZChallenge. For the letter W, I choose to write about weighted blankets and other sensory equipment that can help you take good care of you.
I don’t own a wweighted blanket myself. At my old day activities, a staff member made one for use in the sensory room though. It wasn’t ideal, as the weighted compartments wouldn’t stay in place. I loved it though.
I remember clearly how I discovered the good deep pressure can do for me. I was at the first day center I went to after leaving the psych hospital in 2017 and the staff were talking deep pressure as it related to another client. I was at the time already struggling seriously at this day center and at a point where I was looking for another place, but the staff were still trying to be helpful. I asked them whether I could try some weighted products. They handed me a weighted turtoise soft toy. From then on, I’d often have it in my lap during mealtimes and when I was stressed.
Later, once already at my previous day center, I got a weighted unicorn soft toy for Christmas. It was probably originally intended as a door stopper that keeps a door from accidentally banging shut. This one is filled with sand rather than pebbles and it is not wide enough to cover my entire lap. However, it’s cool.
Other sensory products can help with stress relief too. I have a wobbly pad (not sure that’s the correct word) to sit on. I also have a fitness ball that I generally just sit or lie on.
A few months ago, I discovered fidget toys. I think the hype about them a few years ago was exaggerated, but they do help some.
There are tons of other sensory products that can help you calm down or relieve stress. I’m pretty sure I haven’t discovered all that is available.
A Multitude of Musings 
I think I’d probably like a weighted blanket, but I’m too cheap to actually buy one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes total sense. They’re pretty expensive. That’s why I have not bought one myself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Weighted blankets are great, and so are a lot of other sensory toys, they can be really helpful for stress indeed, and I find them also helpful with some things I collectively call sensory anxiety, which is a kind of weird thing that would be too lengthy to describe but which mostly evolves around auditory stimuli that sort of don’t agree with my brain, (but any kind of positive sensory input can help for it, it doesn’t have to be necessarily auditory) or which may happen regardless of any stimuli after I wake up from sleep paralysis and can sometimes go on for days. I don’t own many of such sensory toys or equipment but I was able to try out quite a few, including a weighted blanket. I have some fidgety stuff and a fitness ball, as well, also for improving balance and a lot of other things that aren’t strictly sensory toys but that provide some helpful sensory input for me. And Misha can be extremely helpful as well, and music too. One of my more wild and crazy dreams is that if I ever lived on my own and had some quite big house for myself and enough money to do that, I’d make a bit of a sensory place of one of the room so that I could spend time there when I’d have sensory anxiety, with all sorts of weighted blankets, some high quality audio equipment, maybe a water bed, lots of soothing things, lots of friendly tactile and auditory stimuli, just all sorts of calming and pleasant stuff to drown the anxiety in, haha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, I like that dream! My husband said that if he ever won the lottery (which won’t happen as he doesn’t play), he’d buy me a fully equipped sensory room. Thankfully we have a pretty good sensory room at the day center.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great idea, so too bad he doesn’t play the lottery haha, but it’s good you do have access to a sensory room.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Interesting! I could use several lately !
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh okay. Same for me really. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have seen several good things about weighted blankets and the hugs they provide.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. Yes, they work very well.
LikeLiked by 1 person