Often referred to as deep pressure stimulation, this therapy is used to help calm individuals who are overwhelmed by psychiatric symptoms such as fear, stress, or anxiety. The technique uses firm but gentle pressure application to ease symptoms and help people feel more relaxed.<\/p>\n
Some examples of deep pressure therapy include hugging and cuddling, holding, squeezing, swaddling, or stroking. If you\u2019ve ever used a weighted blanket, then you\u2019ve applied deep pressure therapy to yourself.<\/p>\n
Why Does Deep Pressure Therapy Work?<\/h2>\n
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If you\u2019ve ever felt overwhelmed by a mental disorder, then you may have felt like it was impossible to control the spiraling thoughts and negative emotions coursing through your brain. During these times, it can be hard even to use tried and true techniques like deep breathing or meditation to regain control over yourself. Sometimes, it feels like nothing works.<\/p>\n
So why would something as simple as hugging be helpful? It may sound crazy, but there is a scientific answer<\/a> to why deep pressure therapy is effective for some people.<\/p>\n Below are the top three reasons why deep pressure therapy can help.<\/p>\n Using anxiety as an example, when someone experiences a panic attack, their body is in fight or flight mode. The fight or flight response is regulated by a network of nerves running from the brain down through the spinal cord and out to the organs\u2014this network is called the sympathetic nervous system.<\/p>\n When we are hugged or otherwise receive deep pressure, receptors in our bodies send signals telling the brain and body we are safe. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which functions to relax our bodies after periods of stress or perceived danger. Both the sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system are part of the autonomic nervous system<\/p>\n The parasympathetic nervous system is even responsible for lowering our heart rates and reducing the amount of effort the lungs need to put into breathing when we are at rest. So, deep pressure therapy can send safety signals to our brains, activate our parasympathetic nervous systems, and ultimately help us relax.<\/p>\n The human body has something called the proprioceptive sensory system<\/a>. This system is responsible for our sense of bodily awareness. Through the proprioceptive sensory system, our brain receives input from the muscles and joints in our body and can plan and coordinate movement.<\/p>\n It is not uncommon for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to have sensory processing issues. When this happens, they don\u2019t always have the bodily awareness typically provided by the proprioceptive sensory system.<\/p>\n However, deep pressure therapy can help with this. This is because the pressure applied can provide proprioceptive input and help the brain gain a greater sense of bodily awareness. As a result, the brain gets a better idea of where the body is in relation to the space around it, which can help individuals feel more grounded.<\/p>\n When we experience deep pressure therapy, our bodies produce dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine is nicknamed the \u201cfeel-good\u201d hormone because when it is released in the brain, it does exactly that: it makes us feel good.<\/p>\n Serotonin does a lot of things, but we\u2019re going to focus on the positive effects it can have when it is produced by deep pressure therapy. Serotonin is believed to regulate one\u2019s mood. When it is at ideal levels, it is much like dopamine, making you feel good.<\/p>\n When serotonin is low, you\u2019re more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders. Since deep pressure therapy can stimulate serotonin production, it can help combat stress and help us feel better.<\/p>\n Though we\u2019ve been using anxiety disorder as our main example to explain how deep pressure therapy works and how it can help people, it is far from the only mental health disability that can be alleviated through deep pressure therapy.<\/p>\n Below is a list of disorders and disabilities that may benefit from deep pressure stimulation.<\/p>\n Though deep pressure therapy can benefit anyone who suffers from any of the disorders on this list, it is considered especially useful for calming children with ASD.<\/p>\n Now that you understand more about deep pressure therapy let\u2019s talk about DPT dogs and what they can do. A DPT dog is typically a service dog that is trained to apply deep pressure therapy to their handler. Psychiatric service dogs, in specific, are commonly trained to perform deep pressure therapy techniques.<\/p>\n They can do this on cue or be trained to respond to certain behaviors, such as trembling, rapid breathing, or other symptoms that may manifest when one is distressed. All sizes of dogs can apply deep pressure stimulation, and there are different ways in which they can do it.<\/p>\n Dogs may be trained to lay on their handler\u2019s torso with their muzzles resting against the shoulder or neck. Deep pressure therapy can also be applied to the legs, with large dogs resting their torsos on their handler\u2019s legs and small or medium-sized dogs laying fully in the lap.<\/p>\n Another DPT skill involves the dog simply laying their head down on the handler\u2019s body. They can rest it on the lap or wherever the handler asks them to.<\/p>\n Though medium and large breeds offer a heftier weight and thus a deeper amount of pressure, small dogs are not without advantages. Small breeds can be taught to ride in slings that attach to their handlers\u2019 bodies; this way, deep pressure therapy can be applied while the handler is upright or walking around.<\/p>\n As we mentioned, most DPT dogs fall under the category of psychiatric service dogs. Psychiatric service dogs are used by people who have mental health disabilities. These service dogs can do much more than just apply deep pressure therapy. Let\u2019s talk about some of the tasks a psychiatric service dog might be trained to do.<\/p>\n Through body blocking, psychiatric service dogs can help their handlers by creating extra personal space. They can be taught to stand behind, in front of, or on the side of their handler.<\/p>\n If someone is a little too close, the handler can cue their dog to step between themselves and the other person, effectively making space. Dogs can also be taught to circle around their owners.<\/p>\n Another type of body blocking service dogs can perform is intended to block out the world and provide a sense of security. For example, imagine someone is experiencing distress, so they sit down and place their head between their knees as they focus on deep breathing.<\/p>\n The service dog will then sit in front of them, providing them with a little extra privacy and helping them to feel more protected and safe while in such a vulnerable state. For those that feel embarrassed to have such episodes in public, having a dog blocking them may ease such feelings.<\/p>\n Whether someone is having a panic attack, a depressive episode, or is disassociating, it\u2019s easy to become disconnected from the here and now and get caught up in whatever is happening within the mind.<\/p>\n Psychiatric service dogs are trained to recognize when someone is becoming overwhelmed and to use grounding techniques to bring them back to the present. Most service dogs will do this by pawing at or nudging at their owners until they are acknowledged.<\/p>\n Service dog owners can also initiate grounding by doing something as simple as petting their dog. Focusing on the softness and texture of their dog\u2019s fur can help keep them in the present and prevent them from becoming overwhelmed by their thoughts or emotions.<\/p>\n It is not uncommon for people with mental health disorders to engage in repetitive, sometimes self-harming behaviors. This is why fidget items such as rings and bracelets have been gaining popularity, as they allow people a healthy, discreet way to deal with compulsions.<\/p>\n When this energy manifests in behaviors that could be self-harming, such as scratching, it is important for it to be interrupted. But unfortunately, many people end up doing these behaviors absentmindedly, not even realizing they may be hurting themselves.<\/p>\n A psychiatric service dog can be trained to interrupt these behaviors. In the example of scratching, a service dog might physically push the owner\u2019s arm away from their body so that they are no longer scratching.<\/p>\n The dog can do this repeatedly even if their handler goes back to scratching after their arm was nudged. Until the owner quits the behavior, the dog will continue to attempt to interrupt it.<\/p>\n It is common for people to take medicine to help manage the symptoms of mental health disorders. However, many kinds of medication are only effective if they are taken regularly and on a schedule.<\/p>\n Psychiatric service dogs can be trained to remind their owners when it is time to take their medicine. They can even fetch the medication and bring it to their owners. For those facing mental health disorders that often cause them to be forgetful, having a dog to help with medication reminders can be life-changing.<\/p>\n When you\u2019re experiencing distress, such as a panic attack, you may be too overwhelmed to find a safe, quiet space to try to calm down. Panic attacks often cause people to feel dizzy, nauseous, and out of breath. It can be hard to focus especially if you\u2019re in public and your anxiety is being made worse by the fact that people around you may be witnessing it.<\/p>\n In this situation, a service dog can locate and guide you to a safe, quiet place. They can even be trained to look for open spaces so that you would be less likely to be injured if you were to faint. Additionally, they can be trained to look for places away from other people so that you won\u2019t have to feel like a spectacle, and you may feel safer knowing you\u2019re alone while in such a vulnerable state.<\/p>\n Your dog does not have to be a service dog to learn and apply deep pressure therapy. With proper training, almost any dog could learn this skill.<\/p>\n In fact, if you have a dog as a pet or as an emotional support animal and you think you could benefit from deep pressure therapy, then it\u2019s worth considering training your dog to do it. However, there are advantages to having a service dog over a pet dog or emotional support animal.<\/p>\n The biggest advantage of service dogs is that they have a lot of rights that allow them to accompany you anywhere the public is allowed access to, whether it be a restaurant or an airplane cabin. They are also allowed to live with you anywhere for free, even in rentals that don\u2019t allow dogs.<\/p>\n Because they undergo intensive training, they\u2019re often able to recognize symptoms and behaviors and act accordingly. A well-trained service dog can help you without even being given a cue.<\/p>\n Your dog can only be classified as a service animal if you have a disability and your dog is trained to do tasks relating to that disability. Even if you were to train your dog in DPT, that isn\u2019t necessarily enough to make them a service dog.<\/p>\n The official definition of a service animal, as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act<\/a>, is \u201cdogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities.\u201d However, service dogs need to undergo intensive training to ensure they can work in public places without being distracted or disruptive.<\/p>\n Service dogs are pretty expensive whether you purchase one or train one yourself. Not only that, but it can take up to two years to train a service dog. This is why, for some people, an emotional support animal (ESA) is a good alternative.<\/p>\n Emotional support animals can be any animal, and their presence alone comforts those struggling with mental illness. The main difference between ESAs and service dogs is that ESAs do not need to receive any training.<\/p>\n Service dogs aid their users by performing specific tasks, whereas ESAs provide comfort through their presence. However, since ESAs don\u2019t have to be trained, they don\u2019t have nearly as many rights as service dogs and are not allowed public access, nor can they be taken on airplanes.<\/p>\n1)\u00a0 It Sends Calming Signals to the Autonomic Nervous System<\/h3>\n
2)\u00a0 It Provides Proprioceptive Input<\/h3>\n
3)\u00a0 It Produces Dopamine and Serotonin<\/h3>\n
Who Can Benefit From DPT?<\/h2>\n
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What Is a DPT Dog?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nWhat Else Can Psychiatric Service Dogs Do?<\/h3>\n
Body Blocking<\/h4>\n
Grounding<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nBehavior Interruption<\/h4>\n
Medicine Reminders and Retrieval<\/h4>\n
Guiding<\/h4>\n
Does My Dog Have to Be a Service Dog to Apply DPT?<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nAdvantages of Service Dogs<\/h3>\n
Advantages of Emotional Support Animals<\/h3>\n