Markus Ruppert's experience with therapy blankets
"For me, the therapy blanket is indispensable. I don't want to miss it either privately or in my work. It is an important tool and a valuable resource."
How did you come across the therapy blanket concept?
I first came across the concept of weighted blankets by chance on the internet. It immediately appealed to me and I wanted to try it right away. Because what others research and claim is one thing, but I wanted to have the experience myself. Meanwhile, the whole family has a therapy blanket and I use two more in my practice and at cuddle seminars. The participants at the cuddle evenings also like to reach for this "uncritical" and safe form of physical closeness when they just prefer to be alone with themselves.
How do you perceive using a weighted blanket?
The weighted blanket gives me stability and support. My body feels enveloped and I immediately feel how it calms my nervous system. "Security" probably describes it best, even though it is really hard to put into words what all happens there. The current under the skin immediately subsides, the muscles relax, and everything in me becomes light. Sometimes it is too much for me, then I simply push the heavy blanket aside and use it as a side sleeper pillow.
I am especially enthusiastic about the new Premium Balance weighted blanket. Here, the beads no longer slip and the blanket envelops my body evenly. I made a rather funny discovery when I took my weighted blanket on a trip. In hotels, I often suffer from beds that are too small. To find peace at night, it helps my body to have a lot of space. A single hotel bed is a guarantee for a sleepless night. However, with the weighted blanket (12kg), I was able to calm myself so much that I found sleep even in the smallest bed.
In which medical fields do you think the use of therapy blankets is sensible?
As a trauma therapist, I always have the therapy blanket within reach. People who have experienced overwhelming and formative events often lose the "ground under their feet," that is, the access to the perception of gravity. They lack grounding and literally take off. Panic attacks are an example of this "being chased upwards," but also increased readiness to react, elevated sympathetic tone, blood pressure, etc.
A patient (91 years old) suffered from massive states of agitation. The background was the loss of her husband after over 60 years of marriage. The weighted blanket was able to stabilize her and many of her complaints were alleviated.
The subjective loss of one's own body boundaries is also an important indication that makes me reach for the blanket. The areas of application are very diverse. I simply let my patients or seminar participants try it out themselves and experience how they feel with a little more weight and body boundary. At the beginning, just place part of the blanket on the lap or wrap yourself completely in it. Many then ask for it themselves at the next session.
Your conclusion from a personal or medical perspective
For me, the therapy blanket is indispensable. I don't want to miss it either privately or in my work. It is an important tool and a valuable resource because I know for myself how safely the use of the therapy blanket calms me. Based on the many experiences I have had with patients, I find it valuable to report that the blanket does not have to be used constantly and everyone has their very personal application duration. Some feel very comfortable lying under the blanket for only 10 minutes, others sleep with it all night.