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Corsets as Deep Pressure Therapy & Relaxation (for Autism, Anxiety, ADHD, Somatosensory Disorders)

Last updated on April 2nd, 2021 at 08:47 pm

This article covers another area in how corsets can affect us positively in a physical, mental and emotional manner, except instead of discussing how corsets affect our confidence through posture, I hope to show you how the deep touch pressure of a corset can induce a calming effect on some wearers. Once again this  has less to do with what your figure looks like or how many inches you can cinch down – tightlacing is not mandatory for this to work – this has more to do what level of pressure you personally may find enjoyable.

If you would rather watch or listen, feel free to view the video I’ve prepared below. This article is more or less a transcript of the video.

It’s widely known that firm touch (deep pressure) tends to calm and relax the recipient, while a superficial/ light touch can excite or agitate – this is an observation made by both occupational therapists who work with people, and also animal workers who deal with mammals such as cows, horses and pigs. You may experience this yourself from day-to-day life where you find that some your pets like being hugged or cuddled (for a short while). This theory is certainly true for me – even as a toddler, I had enjoyed being cuddled (firm pressure), but tickling (light pressure) would induce agitation and anxiety.

It’s easy to see how humans, in their day-to-day behaviour, seek out or give deep touch pressure as a way of caring for others or comforting themselves – it’s why we swaddle our babies to calm them down, as it’s thought to mimic the pressure they felt in the womb. We socially seek out hugs from other people, or schedule a massage when we’re feeling stressed. It is customary among some families to tuck their children in at night, which involves wrapping the sheets firmly around the children so it’s difficult to roll around. Some of my old friends like to cocoon or “burrito” themselves in blankets when they sleep. I myself have trouble sleeping unless my blanket is heavy enough. Some people don’t do any of these things, but they like to do other things such as wear tight socks or tie their shoes tightly.

Temple Grandin’s research and development of the “Squeeze Machine” for Autism

Babies are hugged and swaddled to comfort them – cuddling is an innate need (Photo via Pixabay)

Dr. Temple Grandin, Ph.D is a wonderful woman who was herself diagnosed with autism as a child. She remembers as a child being overwhelmed with sensory input, and using deep pressure as a self-therapy to calm down her nervous system. This seems to be common in many autistic children; in that they be observed rolling on the floor wrapped in blankets or mats. Dr. Grandin explains this in her article, “Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure in Patients with Autistic Disorder, College Students, and Animals”, and also eloquently shows how deep pressure applied on the body (especially bilaterally, i.e. on left and right sides of the body) through the use of a “squeeze machine” or “hug machine” can help many autistic people relax, calm down their overstimulated nervous system, and possibly over time even become more positively responsive to touch by other people or animals.

The squeeze machine is a device wherein the user lays face down inside and is personally in total control of how much pressure the sides of the machine exerts on either side of the body. Depending on the specific type of machine, this may employ a simple pulley system or may be controlled by hydraulics (the machine used in the study employed hydraulic pressure). The user can also choose how much time to spend in this machine, although about 15 minutes seemed to be the duration in this particular article. It has shown to produce feelings of weightlessness, sleepiness, relaxation and de-stressing or comfort in the user.

Use of the squeeze machine for 15 minutes a day has been shown to have a positive effect on the temperament of some people diagnosed with autism, ADHD, generalized anxiety disorder or panic attacks or certain types of somatosensory disorders, and can be used as a real form of therapy either in sessions with an occupational therapist, or in the privacy of one’s home.

When I had asked on Facebook if anyone had positive experiences with deep pressure therapy, I received a handful of responses (more than I had expected!) from people specifically with sensory integration dysfunction/ sensory processing disorder or similar. They had explained how deep pressure can help:

Deep pressure to calm somatosensory issues, and corsets as a barrier from overstimulation

Remember back to my “Corsets, Nerves and Pain” article where I explained the difference between mechanoreceptors (which recognise touch and pressure), and nocireceptors (which make you feel temperature and pain). Certain mechanoreceptors are activated depending on the type of touch you receive, which is how you can discriminate so many different types of pressure, texture, etc.

Meissner’s corpuscles are extremely sensitive, and easily activated when one feels light, fluttery motions on the skin. For example, you have a lot of Meissner’s corpuscles in your fingertips and your lips.

Pacinian corpusles are slightly less sensitive, and activated with deeper pressure or vibration as they’re usually located deeper in the skin.

Although Meissner’s corpuscles are extremely sensitive and highly adaptive, your brain usually shuts down the signals from your nerves somewhat by habituation, which is why you initially felt when you put your shirt on this morning, but your brain doesn’t spend all day telling you, “you have a shirt on. You have a shirt on. You have a shirt on.”

In the case of sensory integration dysfunction, this habituation doesn’t occur as well (or at all) so a person with this issue may feel and sense every little thing going on around them, causing sensory overload. And during a sensory episode, this person may find themselves hypersensitive to touch to the point that a gentle flutter of their clothing or a soft breeze can be nerve-grating. In these situations, some people find it beneficial to use deep pressure therapy. If they don’t have a therapist around to help calm down their sensory input, or if they don’t own a squeeze machine, they might be able to use a corset (which also has the added benefit of being portable and available at nearly all times).  The right type of custom-made corset can give a firm but safe and uniform pressure all throughout the torso from chest to hips. This activates their Pacinian corpuscles, which gives them a feeling of firm pressure at a rate that they can personally control, which they may find calming or soothing. At the same time, a corset can literally provide a barrier between the person and the light fluttering of their clothes, which may help to calm down their nervous system.

Corsets & therapy for anxiety (+ my own experience)

I like to think of my corset as a sort of portable mini “squeeze machine” that I can use anywhere, except extending only from chest to hips instead of from neck to feet. I also wear mine for several hours instead of 15 minutes. (But this is just what I prefer! If you only like to wear your corset for a few minutes or perhaps an hour at a time, that’s great. Whatever works for you!)

When I started wearing corsets on a regular basis, it coincided with a rather depressing time in my life – as I had mentioned in previous posts: my confidence wasn’t great, and it was also a time of isolation. I was living away from my family, my workload was such that I barely socialized outside of work or school, the friends that I kept around me were not the hugging type, my relationship was long-distance, and truthfully I didn’t have a lot of human interaction or opportunity to hug people. There’s an old-wives tale that says we need no less than seven hugs a day for good health, and I was perhaps managing a handshake once a day. Maybe that’s one reason that I loved the feeling of a corset so much – while it doesn’t replace human interaction, it provided a persistent hugging feeling that was as strong or as gentle as I wanted, or as long or as short as I wanted, because I had total control of the laces at all times. It was very comforting to me. Nowadays I have much more human interaction and don’t necessarily need the corset as a form of pressure as therapy during isolation, but I still enjoy the cozy feeling it gives.

Armor – corsets may provide a sense of protection

A well-fitting corset can feel like a pair of strong arms holding you and protecting you at all times – this did a lot to calm my anxiety, relieve my tremors, and nullify the butterflies in my stomach whenever I had to do something challenging such as public speaking. (I worked part-time as a TA and lectured once a week in front of a group of nearly 80 students, and often wore my corset under my lab coat.) You might remember me saying in a previous post about “Corsets and Confidence” that my very erect posture made me feel vulnerable and exposed (even though I was inadvertently giving off the vibe of confidence). Although that was true, the vulnerability was also somewhat negated by the fact that the corset felt like a shield of defense. If someone ever offended me with their words, or even if a stranger tried to put their hand around my waist in a night club, the corset felt literally like a layer of armor protecting me – I couldn’t feel the creep’s hand because the corset is a barrier, separating him from me. (Obviously, I’d still slap the hand and get away from the man.)

I’ve read several testimonies from women who have reported feeling safer when wearing their corset, following a physical or emotional traumatic experience. Once again, the corset not meant to replace any other form of therapy but may provide a drug-free method of complimenting their therapy. It is also important to note that a corset is not supposed to lead the wearer into a false sense of security or encourage them to get themselves into stupid situations. A corset is not a bulletproof vest, a chastity belt or an invisibility cloak, nor should it be viewed or treated as such.

Deep pressure/ corseting can work for people with no underlying issues or challenges
(but is still not for everyone)

Deep pressure therapy can work on people who are not diagnosed with any of the previously mentioned things – autism, anxiety, sensory disorders, etc. Just like many people enjoy hugs or massages, many people can enjoy deep pressure / corseting without having any underlying diagnosis or issue.  It doesn’t work on everyone however, and shouldn’t be expected to work on everyone the exact same way. As Dr. Grandin states, autistic spectrum is very heterogeneous disorder, so what works one autistic person may not work for another. And someone with anxiety may feel claustrophobic in a squeeze machine. And then there are some people who don’t feel calm and relaxed by corseting at all, but they feel that it energizes or stimulates them. What works for one person may not work for another from an enjoyable sensory standpoint.

It’s just another reason that some people take to corsets and others don’t. This is why if someone I know tries on a corset for the first time and doesn’t like the feeling, I don’t pressure them into it. Some people may also be comfortable with higher amounts of pressure/ a drastic waist reduction in their corsets, while others are more comfortable with very light pressure/ very small amount of waist reduction.  Remember that many people corset for very different reasons, and these reasons are also often very personal. Waist training /extended wear is not a requirement of wearing or owning a corset, nor is tightlacing/ corseting at high reductions. As long as use of a corset is done in a safe and responsible manner, and feels “right” to the wearer, I see nothing wrong with this.

If you’d like further reading about how deep pressure therapy can help both humans and animals, I’ve provided some links (though I have not personally tried these and these links are for information, not to be taken as recommendation):

SnugVest – inflatable vest.

Spio Suit – pressure garments made specially for children.

Calming Hugs – weighted hug vests and weighted blankets.

The Anxiety Wrap – for hyperactive and anxious dogs.

Thunder Shirt/ Thunder Vest – to help calm pets during storms, help deal with separation anxiety, etc.

*Please note that this article contains my opinion and is provided for informational purposes. It is not intended to replace the advice of a medical physician. Please talk to your doctor if you’d like to start wearing a corset for any reason.*

35 thoughts on “Corsets as Deep Pressure Therapy & Relaxation (for Autism, Anxiety, ADHD, Somatosensory Disorders)

  1. Hi, i feel really concerned as i wear fashion corsets for many reasons : I discovered theses garnments at 12 and when i worn the first during a role game, i felt so many things :
    Calming, feminizing and erotic trouble. So much for a 12 year girl (struck in a male body lol).

    Nowodays, the “deep pressure therapy” and my feminized posture boosts my “self confidence” and my feelings. Theses dimensions are the most important aspects for regular corset wearing as they permit to avoid chemical medication mostly for my humors / (slight mania) / (slight depression).
    I just started my transition officially with my parents and closest friends and i need to temper my rushing mindset.

    So i want to wear well suited corsets every time it’s possible, cause when i pull the laces i feel just better in my life !

    Even i found some pieces which fits good for my body, i need to get something “sur mesure”.
    Yeah i come from France ;-) and my english might be terrible, sorry for that !

  2. How do I order a custom corset for anxiety?

    1. Hi Kristin, for a custom corset, check out the Corsetiere Map to see if there are any corset makers who work or live near you – they will be able to give you a personal consultation and fit you in person, which gives you the best fit and you can give feedback on how you like it to fit. Best of luck!

  3. I would love advice on which corset and where to buy it. I am so glad I stumbled on this information!!!! Although, I need your help. On top of being majorly depressed, anxious, ADD, addicted to spending, I am too indecisive to choose just one corset to purchase. I’ve tried to buy one for many years but either I spend too much time researching or my cart gets too full and I have to exit the page. Please help. It would be amazing just to get a recommendation so I can just buy it. I can’t wait to share this with my mom who works with diagnosed children and is all about sensory integration. Anyway I am desperate for anything to help me during this time of crisis in my mind and body. My underbust is 42 or give a little plus sweaty, my waist is 45ish, hips almost 48, straight from boob to bend is 11/12ish. I wear mostly Torrids 42DDD and 16 pant. I gained a lot of weight associated with my trauma and would love to feel even a bit more confident in my own skin. Most of my weight is in my tummy so I can only imagine being comfortable with my curves 211lbs 5’7. I wish I appreciated these hips when I was younger. I Of course I would love a customized or personal session but considering I am 28 and in almost 100k of debt, I really appreciate any guidance. Seriously I will

    1. Hi Lisa, thanks for your measurements. I’ll send you an email (using the email address you’ve provided with your comment) as my recommendations are always personal and confidential. I’m currently closed for official consultations but I might be able to provide a couple of suggestions.

      1. That would be much appreciated! I placed and order from Orchard but canceled it to chat. Originally I was getting their mesh and with your hipstrings 426 but am sweetly being encouraged to go for their 411. I would love to get your expertise on getting 2 of the same or if I should go with my instinct and get the mesh 411 and a satin 426. Now I am looking at waist clinchers. UGH I have so much to do and I’ve spent all last night, this morning and afternoon on this

  4. I just do this blog post, & I’m so glad to see I’m not alone in using corsets as a kind of Thundershirt.

    1. *read not do

  5. A year or so ago, I found myself wondering why, at the age of 36, with a full-time “professional” job and a family and pretty much the whole “adult” package, I still found myself going to great lengths to incorporate corsets into my going-out ensembles, and why I freaked out if both of my boned girdles were in the wash when I was getting dressed for work.
    A co-worker who had experience as a veterinary assistant suggested that I might be using them as my version of a Thunder Shirt (which I admit is something I’d never heard of before). She suggested I check out Dr. Grandin’s work, and it was an absolute *lightbulb* moment.
    Thank you for putting this out here—-the most wonderful thing about the internet is that you never have to feel like you’re a lone crazyperson for very long ;)

  6. Thank you for this video and all of the valuable information on your cite! My interest in corsets has just recently been sparked by an assignment for a history class (I’m in college) where we visited a museum and got to play, hands on with cotton gloves, in the archives. I’ve chosen a corset from the late 1800’s for my project and by research and luck I feel like I may have stumbled upon a secondary therapy for my PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, esteem issues and body image issues. At first glance I assumed corsets were only useful for physical beauty, but perhaps they can help with the inside, too! Thank you so much! -m

    1. Hello Michelle, I’m so glad that you find my website valuable! It’s amazing how you had the opportunity to study some antique pieces in person – I’ve only done that once, but it’s a fun and amazing experience. Many people, myself included, were initially interested in the aesthetic aspect of corsets, but found that it was useful for so much more than that – I hope you find the same. :) Thank you for your comment!

  7. Hi, Lucy! Thank you so much for posting this video. It is something I’ve been looking into for a while. If you have any clue how I could start to find a good corset for myself, that would be awesome. Thank you :)

  8. I loves this video! I’ve been looking into corseting for my back then, I found my Temple Grandin video, and thought “I wonder if this works like a squeeze machine” so I looked it up and got excited.

    I’ve been diagnosed with adult ADHD-Inattentive type, General Anxiety Disorder, and Dysthymia (a type of long lasting depression). I also suffer emotional problems due to past trauma and breakdowns are common for me.

    Seeing this video has excited me to the possibility of finally being relaxed a bit and less dependent on self medicating with things like Dramamine when I have an episode, which can occur multiple times a day.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post! Once I have a corset and have seasoned it and worn it for a while I’ll try to update this post!

    1. Thank you Maerik! I’m glad that this resonated with you. I hope that the deep pressure therapy works, although as always check with your doctor and be sure you’re in good physical health, and also mention any changes to your medication, even if it’s just self-medication. Many people use corsets with success but it’s always best to be safe. :)

  9. Thank you so much for sharing this!
    I personally have asperger’s syndrome, and I’ve been looking into deep pressure for a while now.
    Last week at a convention there was a booth selling high-quality corsets. I decided to try one on, and I couldn’t believe how good/comforting it felt to wear (not to mention what it did for my posture!).
    Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough money on me to buy one. But I’m definitely planning to.
    I wasn’t sure why it felt so good to wear at the time. I just figured it was because I’ve always loved old-fashioned clothing. But once I got home I got on the internet and found this article. It was definitely helpful!

    1. Thank you for your comment, Brooklyn! I’m very happy that you stumbled across my article, and that you found wearing a corset to be comforting. :) You’re in good company here. Best wishes!

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