Deep Pressure Stimulation — The Therapy Your Nervous System Has Been Waiting For

Dr. Rachel Harlow has dedicated over 15 years to understanding the neurological mechanisms that govern sleep and wakefulness. Her groundbreaking research at King's College London has focused specifically on how external physical stimuli — including deep pressure — interact with the autonomic nervous system to promote parasympathetic activation and reduce cortisol-driven arousal states.

Dr. Harlow's work has been published in over 30 peer-reviewed journals including Sleep Medicine, the Journal of Neurophysiology, and Nature Neuroscience. Her 2019 landmark study demonstrated that consistent deep pressure application reduced nocturnal cortisol levels by an average of 31% across a cohort of 400 participants with chronic insomnia.

Before joining the advisory board of EASE, Dr. Harlow spent four years as a clinical consultant for the NHS Sleep Disorders Unit at the Maudsley Hospital in London, where she developed non-pharmacological intervention protocols for patients with treatment-resistant insomnia and anxiety-related sleep disorders.

Her philosophy is simple: the body already knows how to sleep. The nervous system simply needs the right signal to allow it to happen. Deep pressure stimulation, when delivered correctly and consistently, is one of the most powerful signals available to us — and one of the most underutilised.

"This is not wellness. This is neuroscience. And it works."

Dr. James Thornton has spent 18 years studying the relationship between chronic anxiety and sleep architecture. His work sits at the intersection of cognitive behavioural therapy, somatic intervention, and sleep science.

His research has focused particularly on the phenomenon of nocturnal hyperarousal — the state in which the sympathetic nervous system remains activated during sleep, preventing entry into restorative deep sleep stages. This condition affects an estimated 1 in 4 adults in the UK.

Dr. Thornton has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers and is the author of two clinical textbooks on anxiety management. His 2021 randomised controlled trial demonstrated that regular use of deep pressure interventions reduced hyperarousal markers in anxious adults by 28% after four weeks of consistent use.

"Anxiety-driven insomnia is not a character flaw. It is a nervous system problem with a nervous system solution."

Dr. Priya Menon is one of the UK's leading sleep medicine physicians, specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of complex sleep disorders including chronic insomnia, sleep apnea, and burnout-related sleep disruption.

Dr. Menon holds dual board certification in sleep medicine and internal medicine. She completed her fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore before returning to the UK, and has contributed to clinical guidelines published by the British Sleep Society.

Her research into the physiological effects of weighted therapy on sleep staging has shown consistent improvements in slow-wave sleep — the deepest and most restorative stage — in patients who incorporate deep pressure stimulation into their nightly routine.

"For patients who cannot or will not take medication, deep pressure stimulation via a properly weighted blanket is the single most evidence-based tool I can offer."

Sarah Bennett has 20 years of experience as an occupational therapist specialising in sensory integration and therapeutic deep pressure application. She trained at University College London and completed her postgraduate specialisation in sensory processing disorders at the University of Southern California.

Her clinical work has spanned paediatric and adult populations, working with patients experiencing anxiety, PTSD, autism spectrum conditions, ADHD, and nervous system dysregulation. She has been instrumental in shaping the clinical design of the EASE blanket — advising on optimal weight distribution, knit density, and dimensional specifications.

Sarah has trained over 200 occupational therapists across the UK in the clinical application of deep pressure techniques and has contributed to national guidance published by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists.

"Deep pressure stimulation is not alternative therapy. It is established occupational therapy practice. EASE has made it available to everyone."

Dr. Ben Morrison is a sports and exercise physiologist at the British Institute of Sport, where he leads sleep optimisation and recovery research for elite athletes across multiple Olympic disciplines.

His research demonstrated that deep sleep stage duration is the single strongest predictor of next-day athletic performance across a cohort of over 300 elite athletes. Athletes who consistently achieved longer slow-wave sleep durations showed 23% faster recovery times and measurably superior cognitive performance under pressure.

Dr. Morrison completed his doctorate at Loughborough University and has incorporated weighted blanket protocols into his recovery recommendations, tracking measurable improvements in sleep staging metrics across multiple athletes.

"In elite sport, recovery is performance. And recovery starts with sleep. EASE is the only consumer sleep product I recommend without qualification."