Author: Renée Ruisch

The summer holidays are just round the corner. Suitcases are being packed, the last bits and bobs are being bought, and the anticipation can begin. At least… for most people.

I recently spoke to a family who were getting ready for a trip to France. Not because they were particularly looking forward to it, but because they were wondering how their son would cope with those twelve hours in the car. “For us, the holiday only really starts once we’re there,” his mum said. “The journey is often the hardest bit for him.”

And actually, I hear that a lot.

That’s because a holiday means a lot of changes. First, the journey. Hours spent in the car, traffic jams, not enough exercise, busy petrol stations, unexpected diversions. Or perhaps a flight. A busy airport, long queues, public address announcements, suitcases rolling along, unfamiliar smells and the exciting moment of take-off. Whilst some people look forward mainly to the destination, others already feel overwhelmed before the holiday has even begun.

And you’re not there yet.

A different bed, a strange bedroom, new sounds, different food, an unfamiliar daily routine. Even pleasant stimuli are still stimuli. Our brains have to constantly switch gears and adapt. For people who are sensitive to stimuli, this takes an enormous amount of energy.

Fortunately, there are ways to create a bit more peace and quiet whilst on the move.

We advise parents to stop regularly to stretch their legs, but also to bring along some familiar items. A favourite cuddly toy, a pair of headphones they’re used to, and of course the Squease deep-pressure vest. In the car or on a plane, deep pressure can help to calm the body. Not because all the stimuli disappear, but because it makes the nervous system feel more secure: ‘I’m safe.’ That makes it easier to cope with the journey.

One father told me after their holiday: “Normally we stop every hour because our daughter gets overstimulated. This year we took the pressure vest with us. Of course it was still a long journey, but she stayed much calmer. And to be honest, so did we.”

Ultimately, that’s what holidays are all about: relaxation and making lovely memories with the family. And how wonderful it is when that relaxation begins on the journey there.

Can you imagine how valuable it is when someone with PTSD says that with his vest, he has a button to switch off stress? Not because the world suddenly falls silent. Not because memories disappear. But because his body finally no longer has to be in a state of heightened alert for a moment.

For people with PTSD, stress is not just in thoughts. It is also in the body. In tense shoulders, shallow breathing, a heart that beats faster, a nervous system that constantly scans for danger. Do you recognize that? That you actually want to relax, but your body just doesn’t seem to go along with it?

That is exactly where deep pressure can make a difference. On squease.nl, it is explained that deep pressure acts directly on the nervous system and helps the body relax. The Squease pressure vest provides even, adjustable pressure and can be used specifically for stress, panic, and anxiety. It sends the signal, as it were: you are safe, you may lower yourself, you don’t have to be constantly “on.” That is exactly what this customer described so aptly in an email he sent us: “with this vest, I have a button to switch off my stress.” What a powerful way to describe what regulation can do. Not a miracle cure, but certainly a tool that helps the body get out of alarm mode.

And perhaps that is precisely the question for many people with PTSD: how nice would it be if you didn’t constantly have to fight against everything you feel? If you noticed tension building up sooner and had something that provided immediate support? The Squease website also states that the vest can be used preventively, for example when tension starts to build up or when a stimulating environment threatens to become too much.