(12-09-2011, 02:08 AM)Pickle Wrote: Don't know if this is old news for everyone. Came across this linked to autism.
Quote:Researchers are unable to discover why pressure helps an autistic person to relieve his tension. The autistic person feels anxiety and tension over many daily routines, and it is possible that when they focus on a single feeling, they are able to feel a certain calmness. Since autistic persons are constantly tense, they are unable to interact socially. So because of the pressure their tension is abated. Many programs use this hug machine and the effect on autistic persons is being studied.http://templegrandin.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squeeze_machine
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-healt...39426.html
There is a movie (true story) with Claire Danes about an autistic woman who helped implement humane treatment of slaughter animals. She discovered that when held tightly between boards, or a tight box, it calmed her, and advocated this for the animals to calm them. (I am relating the story from what friend told me; I don't want to watch it because I dread images of suffering animals).