Is there a name for liking the sensation of heavy blankets on you?

Factual Questions
1

I realize it’s a clunky thread title but it’s what I want to know.

As long as I can remember I’ve preferred the feel of heavy blankets when I sleep. In fact it even helps me get to sleep. The lead apron thing the dentist used to drop on me before taking x-rays did for me what I imagine warm milk does for the people who drink warm milk to get to sleep. I never had the nerve to ask him just to leave it on me while he did my fillings, but I have looked at buying one on eBay. Sadly, newer ones seem designed to be significantly lighter.

My mom is aware of this and apparently it came up in a conversation with a friend who told her “Oh yeah, there’s a name for that. It’s common in preemies” (one of which I was)

In trying to find the name I got to a lot of sites about Sensory Integration Dysfunction (or Disorder, depending where you look). That seems to be quite a large and mulitfaceted ball of wax. And while it seems to touch slightly on what I’m talking about it also includes so many other things that I don’t experience - that do have names like hyperacusis and photophobia.

I’m just wondering if liking crushing blankets has a name…and if someone here knows what it is.

2

I don’t know what the name is, but I also enjoy that sensation. The dentists’ lead apron thing especially. I think it has to do with being totally relaxed. Like the heavy lead holds you down against the chair without you having to expend any effort.

I’ve noticed a similar phenomenon with the lead-filled leather bags we use as map paper weights. If I lean back in my chair with my head all the way back and place one of the (1 pound) weights on my forehead, it is extremely relaxing. But it looks way weird so I’ve only done it once or twice.

3

Not to invite folks to join the self-diagnosed autism brigade, but supposedly many autistic people enjoy that feeling of pressure.

4

Yes, Temple Grandin writes of that sensation as being very calming.

5

I also enjoy that sensation.

The most delicious feeling is to take a nap outside under a heavy comforter when it’s really warm and sunny. Mmm. Since this is such a wierd thing to do, sometimes I do it indoors in a patch of sun.

6

If I had to coin a term for this, it’d be “neotenic swaddling response”.

7

I’m not sure what the name for this fetish is, but this book: Amok Journal contains an article about someone who died from the practice.

8

Freud would probably say this is a return to the womb kind of thing.

9

I’m going to piss off all the extremist wackos, but, that’s why I like to leave my AC at 68-70 in the summer (yeah, at night): so I can cover up with a heavy comforter!

And I thought I was the only strange one. (FWIW, I wasn’t a preemie.)

10

They actually make use of these in some medical/behavioral care environments.
Check out:
http://www.affordabletherapysolutions.com/index.asp?pageaction=viewcats&category=12

http://www.beanblanket.com/autism.html?gclid=CNqMmbfukpECFQQcHgod3zohIA

11

Yes you are obviously a beagle.

12

Another one checking in…

I love the lead apron!

I’m lucky that my husband likes it cold in the room when he sleeps. I can use the down comforter all year.

I also love to sleep in the sun with a blanket. Wake up all sweaty and heavy from sleep.

13

You can say this with a straight face on the SDMB?

14

The word is “snug.” As in, “Snug as a bug in a rug.”

What the heck’s up with thinking it’s related to some kind of mental disorder? :confused:

15

Why would you go out of your way to pick a fight like this/?

16

Hey, the people who diagnose autism have bills to pay, too.
I don’t really like the lead apron (it’s a bit too heavy), but I definitely need a blanket to get to sleep. In the summer, I’ll run the AC in the bedroom on high, so that it gets cold enough that I can use the blanket without sweating like a pig. I just can’t fall alseep with nothing covering me!

17

I don’t believe there could be a true correlation between prematurity/low birth weight and a liking for heavy cover.
Most preemies are kept, either on radiant warmers (picture page down) with no cover at all or isolettes (picture page down.) with no cover or just a light blanket.

Very tiny preemies are covered with plastic wrap or bubble wrap to better maintain their temperatures.

18

In Tellington Touch (or T-Touch) body work for animals, there is a method called Body Wrapping that seems to work well with dogs. Seems like a similar response - it is said to be effective at calming stressed dogs.
body wrap