Systems and methods for reducing stress

Abstract

A method of regulating stress in an individual engaged in one or more active behaviors includes providing the individual with remote-controllable handholdable devices having first and second tactile stimulators configured to receive wireless instructions from a controller and a securing band that can selectively hold the devices, having the individual hold or place the devices bilaterally in therapeutic contact with parts of the individual's body, having the individual activate the tactile stimulators through changing settings on the mobile digital device application, and having the individual determine the most effective amount of stimulation speed and intensity to control the individual's stress, wherein the individual self-adjusts the speed and intensity of the tactile stimulators by changing the settings of the mobile digital device application and wherein tactile stimulation is the only stimulation applied to the individual by the operation of the first and second remote-controllable handholdable devices.

1 . A method of regulating stress comprising:
 (a) providing an individual engaged in one or more active behaviors with (i) a first and a second remote-controllable handholdable device, the first device comprising a first tactile stimulator and the second device comprising a second tactile stimulator, wherein the first and second tactile stimulators are configured to provide tactile stimulation to the individual, (ii) a first removable securing band and a second removable securing band configured to position the first and second devices in contact with the individual's first and second ankles (iii) a mobile digital device application wireless controller that allows the individual to selectively control the speed and intensity of stimulation in the first and second tactile stimulators through speed and intensity settings of the mobile digital device application wireless controller;   (b) having the individual hold or place the first and second devices bilaterally in therapeutic contact with the individual's first and second ankles during a therapeutic session associated with the one or more active behaviors;   (c) having the individual activate the first and second tactile stimulators and through automatic operation of the mobile digital device application controller presenting the individual with options to separately set the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting on the mobile digital device application wireless controller, determining the individual's input with respect to whether to change the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, and if the individual changes the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, recording such changed speed setting, intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting in the mobile digital device controller's electronic memory;   (d) by activity of the mobile digital device application wireless controller, applying tactile stimulation to the individual according to the settings stored in the memory of the mobile digital device application wireless controller through the first and second tactile stimulators, wherein tactile stimulation is the only stimulation provided to the individual through the operation of the first and second devices and wherein the mobile digital device application wireless controller does not provide any additional stimulation simultaneously with the application of tactile stimulation; and   (e) through automatic operation of the mobile digital device application controller, presenting the individual with options to separately change the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting at least one time during the therapeutic session, wherein if the individual changes the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, the changed setting(s) are recorded in the memory of the mobile digital device application wireless controller and thereafter applied by the first and second devices when activated,   wherein the devices and mobile digital device application controller are free of any sensor that is capable of changing the speed setting or the intensity setting.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises attaching the first and second devices to the first and second securing bands and placing the first and second securing bands bilaterally, whereby the first device is in contact with the individual's first ankle and the second device is in contact with the individual's second ankle. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first device and second device lack any visual display. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first device and second device lack any visual display. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is diagnosed with one or more of an attention deficit disorder, an obsessive/compulsive disorder, clinical depression, a panic disorder, anxiety, an eating disorder, a sleep disorder, a learning disability, or other stress-related disorder. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method comprises the individual attaching the first and second devices to the first and second securing bands, positioning the first and second securing bands bilaterally, whereby the first device is in contact with the individual's first ankle and the second device is in contact with the individual's second ankle, and causing the first and second devices to apply tactile bilateral stimulation to the individual. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein after causing the first and second devices to apply tactile bilateral stimulation, the method further comprises the individual detaching the first and second devices from the first and second securing bands and causing the tactile stimulators to apply tactile bilateral stimulation to the individual. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises at least two therapeutic sessions wherein the individual actively changes the speed setting, the intensity setting, the overlap setting, or two or more of these settings at least once during each of the at least two therapeutic sessions. 
     
     
         9 . A method of regulating stress comprising:
 (a) providing an individual engaged in one or more active behaviors with (i) a remote-controllable handholdable device, the device comprising a tactile stimulator, wherein the tactile stimulator is configured to provide tactile stimulation to the individual, (ii) a removable securing band for the device, wherein the securing band is configured to position the device in contact with either of the individual's ankles, and (iii) a mobile digital device application wireless controller that allows the individual to selectively control the speed and intensity of stimulation in the tactile stimulator through speed and intensity settings of the mobile digital device application wireless controller;   (b) having the individual hold or place the device in therapeutic contact with either the individual's first ankle or second ankle during a therapeutic session associated with the one or more active behaviors;   (c) having the individual activate the tactile stimulator and through automatic operation of the mobile digital device application controller presenting the individual with options to separately set the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting on the mobile digital device application wireless controller, determining the individual's input with respect to whether to change the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, and if the individual changes the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, recording such changed speed setting, intensity setting, or both speed setting and intensity setting in the mobile digital device controller's electronic memory;   (d) by activity of the mobile digital device application wireless controller, applying tactile stimulation to the individual according to the settings stored in the memory of the mobile digital device application wireless controller through the tactile stimulator, wherein tactile stimulation is the only stimulation provided to the individual through the operation of the device and wherein the mobile digital device application wireless controller does not provide any additional stimulation simultaneously with the application of tactile stimulation; and   (e) through automatic operation of the mobile digital device application controller presenting the individual with options to separately change the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting least one time during the therapeutic session, wherein if the individual changes the speed setting, intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, the changed setting(s) are recorded in the memory of the mobile digital device application wireless controller and thereafter applied by the device when activated,   wherein the device and mobile digital device application controller are free of any sensor that is capable of changing the speed setting or the intensity setting.   
     
     
         10 . A method of regulating stress comprising:
 (a) providing an individual engaged in one or more active behaviors with (i) a first and a second remote-controllable handholdable device, the first device comprising a first tactile stimulator and the second device comprising a second tactile stimulator, wherein the first and second tactile stimulators are configured to provide tactile stimulation to the individual, (ii) a first removable securing band and a second removable securing band configured to position the first and second devices in contact with one or more parts of the individual's body, and (iii) a mobile digital device application wireless controller that allows the individual to selectively control the speed and intensity of stimulation in the first and second tactile stimulators through speed and intensity settings of the mobile digital device application wireless controller;   (b) having the individual hold or place the first and second devices bilaterally in therapeutic contact with either the individual's hands, shoulders, neck, chest, waist, thighs, legs, arms, calves, ankles, or wrists during a therapeutic session associated with the one or more active behaviors;   (c) having the individual activate the first and second tactile stimulators and through automatic operation of the mobile digital device application controller presenting the individual with options to separately set the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting on the mobile digital device application wireless controller, determining the individual's input with respect to whether to change the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting and if the individual changes the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, recording such changed speed setting, intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting in the mobile digital device controller's electronic memory;   (d) by activity of the mobile digital device application wireless controller, applying bilateral tactile stimulation to the individual according to the settings stored in the memory of the mobile digital device application wireless controller through the first and second tactile stimulators, wherein tactile stimulation is the only stimulation provided to the individual through the operation of the first and second devices and wherein the mobile digital device application wireless controller does not provide any additional stimulation simultaneously with the application of bilateral tactile stimulation; and   (e) through automatic operation of the mobile digital device application controller presenting the individual with options to separately change the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting at least one time during the therapeutic session, wherein if the individual changes the speed setting, the intensity setting, or both the speed setting and the intensity setting, the changed setting(s) are recorded in the memory of the mobile digital device application wireless controller and thereafter applied by the first device and second device when activated,   wherein the first device, second device, and mobile digital device application controller are free of any sensor that is capable of changing the speed setting or the intensity setting.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method comprises attaching each of the first and second devices to one or more articles of clothing. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method comprises attaching the first and second devices to the first and second securing bands and placing the first and second securing bands bilaterally in contact with body parts of the individual as disclosed in (b). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first device and second device lack any visual display. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first device and second device lack any visual display. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more articles of clothing is configured to be in therapeutic contact with the individual and wherein the one or more articles of clothing is further configured to maintain the first and second devices in therapeutic contact with the individual. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the individual is diagnosed with one or more of an attention deficit disorder, an obsessive/compulsive disorder, clinical depression, a panic disorder, anxiety, an eating disorder, a sleep disorder, a learning disability, or other stress-related disorder. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the method comprises the individual attaching the first and second devices to the securing bands and causing the first and second devices to apply tactile bilateral stimulation to the individual. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the method comprises the individual affixing the first and second devices to the one or more articles of the individual's clothing and causing the tactile stimulators to apply bilateral tactile stimulation to the individual. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises the individual detaching the first and second devices from the securing bands and causing the tactile stimulators to apply tactile bilateral stimulation to the individual. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises at least two therapeutic sessions wherein the individual actively changes the speed setting, the intensity setting, the overlap setting, or two or more of these settings at least once during each of the at least two therapeutic sessions.