Weighted Blanket. What Do You Do When You Don't Have It With You?

[Nomoneywoman]

I spent the night at someone else's house a few months ago. I didn't have my weighted blanket but thought it would be ok. I didn't want to discuss it at the time with him. I woke up at 3:00 am from a recurring nightmare from being stalked. I didn't have my weighted blanket to help me calm down. I freaked, I got up & bolted home like lightning without explaining.

When having my blanket with me I sleep much better. I have learned to immediately be grounded and safe when I wake from this recurring nightmare.

What would you do? Suggestions?

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I don't have a weighted blanket but I have my dog. It is the entire premise of deep pressure therapy and why it works.

So, if the person has a dog. Even if it's not a big dog. I have seen small dogs do DPT. Not sure how well it would work as the entire thing is about weight but if they do have a dog, ask it to sleep on you.

If not, maybe lay things across you that are weighted? Always have something with you that is weighted or you can weight with somethibg like water?

Just throwing stuff out there.

 

[Friday]

- Compression Gear (UnderArmor in the US, Skinz in the AU)

- Pressure Points (tying a bandana around my wrist for ongoing passive pressure, or massage.)

- Using your own weight (crossing my legs, leaning on one arm, laying on a hard surface, etc)

- Self Pressure (tongue to the roof of your mouth, press your lips together, curl your toes, clench your fists, novena a rosary or mala some sandalwood beads) <<< You'll notice these are all highly enervated places; fingertips, mouth, toes, etc. It just works better for calming the nervous system to have AS MANY NERVES AS POSSIBLE sending the information to the brain. Which is part of why blankets -or compression garments- work, because they're covering a large surface area of skin/muscle. When self soothing, try to do large areas -or- small areas with lots and lots of nerves. Does NOT need to be all of them. One alone will usually do it.

- Rock & Hard Place (push up against a wall, car, or similar object that won't move no matter how hard you push, and try and push it over).

- Change your orientation. For some reason being upside down tends to work just as well for most sensory people, as pressure or weight. No idea why. Whether doing a full body hand stand, or watching TV with your legs in the air against back of the couch/wall, body flat, and head upside down.

- Baths

 

[Deleted member 28740]

From Temple Grandin author autistic. She created her own squeeze chute to give that feeling of being held close. Before that also as a child she would get between the pillows on a couch (the one you sit on) for the weighted effect. Or put the back pillows over you.

 

[Lucycat]

I am away from home just now and missing my weighted blanket.

I read all the suggestions above but none of them would give the same comfort in my opinion. In someone else's house I would be very uncomfortable to go into the living room in the middle of the night and start dismantling the sofa or doing handstands or even running a bath. All do -able at home, but not as guests.

I can understand why you ran home before @Nomoneywoman and wonder if a simpler solution would be to take the blanket with you - perhaps keep it in a bag, but have it so you can get it if needed - just for reassurance. If it is there perhaps it will not feel quite so important and you will not need to use it?

 

[Deleted member 541]

Is it possible that you could ask for more blankets???? I need to have weight on me when I'm sleeping. Just makes me feel more protected. Just a thought.....

 

[J'qel]

What about safety pins with weights on them? They'd be small enough you could take them with you and then you could use them to weight the corners of blankets when you're away. You should be able to find things with loops that you can thread a safety pin through. If the safety pins are small enough you could thread them through the weave and rub out any pinpricks left behind.

Or maybe a duvet cover with small beanbags sewn in the corners? Slip it on over a blanket for the added weight.

Binder clips with weights? If you're really concerned about the pin holes in blankets. Then you could even tie weights in the loop handles of the clips, so you could use anything for the weight, you'd just need some string to attach it. Also means you could buy multi packs and do both sides of the blanket if you needed more weight.

A friend of mine love weighted blankets but has income problems, so we've brainstormed cheaper ways for her to get the same effect without having to buy a specially made blanket.

 

[Nomoneywoman]

Thank you all for some really great ideas.

What about safety pins with weights on them? They'd be small enough you could take them with you and then...

Your idea of a duvet cover would work good for me. I already have an extra duvet cover. I think I'll just sew some weight in the corners & sides. Then keep it in the trunk of my car. Thank you.

 

[J'qel]

You are most welcome! I think that the friend I was discussing solutions with would be rather irritated if I didn't share the ideas with someone else in need :)

 

[katz]

I have always wanted to have lots of blankets on me. I knew that it was for the weight of the blankets that I liked--but I never associated it with my PTSD. Hmmm. Thanks. I don't feel so odd now.

(I have been absolutely amazed to find out that there are so many things about me and my life that are all due to the traumas of my past. It's almost like it takes the blame off me -by me. )

 

[Crow]

My blanket on my bed is 25lbs. Obviously can't bring that to an overnight. And how do you explain it to a date that you need this monstrous heavy blanket? I bought a 5lb small weighted blanket and also have a weighted shoulder thing. I put the small blanket in my overnight bag if I happen to be staying at someone's house or if I'm traveling. I'm still not sure how to explain the need of the blanket to someone if I'm not ready to share the realities of CPTSD but I have it with me in case I wake up and I'm freaking. I can pull it out of my bag and snuggle for a bit to calm down.

The shoulder thing is great when I'm driving or at work. I just say it's physical therapy if anyone asks when I have it on my shoulders.

 

[J'qel]

You can always say that it's difficult to get a good night's sleep in a new place, and that the blanket helps. Or just that you use the weighted blanket for a better night's sleep.

There are people who simply like heavier blankets for sleeping, and a lot of folks have problems trying to sleep in a new place-bringing a blanket is a practical workaround.

No need to mention your CPTSD at all.