Gentle “Touch Therapy” Vibration to Activate Calm and Improve Resilience and Sleep From a Wearable Device
Studies have revealed that highly sensitive people (HSPs) have a higher activation level in the brain's fight/flight response area, which can increase stress and anxiety levels. This overactivation of the fight/flight response can occur on a daily basis for many HSPs, leading to the release of stress chemicals into the body and increasing the likelihood of long-term chronic mental and physical health issues.
As an HSP myself, the founder of Sensitive Empowerment, and a psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, it is important to me to help HSPs enhance well-being and resilience while navigating a world that does not cater to our sensitivity. Recently, I received a device from Apollo, and my curiosity was piqued.
Exploring the neuropsychology of stress and anxiety is interesting to help us understand it a bit more. In simple terms, let’s think about the nervous system as having two parts, and each part serves a purpose. The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is like the gas pedal in your car, and the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) is like the brakes.
The Gas Pedal: The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
When your brain identifies something as a threat, it triggers the fight/flight response that releases adrenaline, preparing the body to have the strength to protect you in the face of the threat so you can fight or flee. But for sensitive people in modern-day living, a lot of things trigger the fight or flight system even when we do not need it. Sensory overload, the demands of life, and even self-criticism can all trigger the same physiological response as it would if a lion were about to attack you. When this is activated, we can feel emotionally reactive, anxious, and depleted, which reduces our productivity and creativity and impacts our sleep.
The Brakes: The Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)
Fortunately, activating the Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) intentionally can deactivate the SNS stress centers in the brain because they cannot be activated at the same time! One of the things that drew me to be interested in The Apollo is that, according to their research, its gentle “touch therapy” vibration can intentionally activate this PNS “rest and digest” part of your nervous system, making you feel calmer, have more resilience to stress, and even improve sleep.
The Device
The Apollo™ wearable is a small watch-size device that you can wear on your wrist, ankle, or even clip on your clothes, that delivers (silent) low-frequency sound waves designed to help your body recover from stress, so you can relax, focus, access creativity, sleep better, and improve overall resilience and mental and physical health. I am sound-sensitive, so I LOVE that I can’t hear it. The vibrations are barely deductible and restore balance to the nervous system, improving cardiovascular metrics and sleep and reducing feelings of stress and anxiety.
Developed by Neuroscientists and Physicians
According to their research, the Apollo wearable is proven to improve heart rate variability (HRV), a key biometric of stress resilience. It’s a non-invasive, effective stress relief tool for adults and children, without drugs or side effects. It strengthens and rebalances your autonomic nervous system, and your heart rate variability (HRV) improves – which means you’re building your resilience to stress. So you spend less time in fight-or-flight mode and get more time to rest and digest. Over time, your body learns to recover from stress more quickly, so you can relax, sleep better, and find deep, meaningful focus.
Apollo Neuro’s stress-relieving technology has been tested across thousands of clinic users and the real world through seven complete clinical trials, with nine more currently underway.
Here’s what they’ve seen, on average
- 40% less stress and feelings of anxiety
- 11% increase in HRV (that’s good)
- Up to 25% more focus and concentration
- 19% more time in deep sleep
$40 OFF Using Link Below
My Review
What’s in the box.
Here’s what I received. They have different color options. You can either use the strap or the clip and I like that I can decide whether to wear it on my wrist, ankle, or clothes. I wish the cord were a little longer, but that’s minor.
Download the app from the app store, and it walks you through wearing it and experimenting with different vibration intensities.
Intensity tips: They recommend adjusting the intensity until vibrations are “noticeable but not distracting,” and that depends on the environment you are in at the time. I like that you can adjust it easily by pushing the buttons on the side.
Choose Different Vibe Options
Energy gives you a boost of energy when you feel tired or sluggish. They say you can even use it in boring meetings to feel alert!
Social elevates mood and energy to relieve stress in social situations.
Focus helps you filter out distractions, settles nerves, and is thought to help relieve headaches or mild nausea in this mode.
Recover accelerates your body’s recovery after a workout or from mental or physical stress when feeling run down, ill, or after travel.
Calm prepares you for meditation by facilitating the connection between body and mind, and it is also helpful when feeling tense or sore.
Unwind rapidly relieves stress for deep relaxation before sleep or to help relieve intense stress.
Fall Asleep quiets your mind and can be helpful before or during sleep to help you stay asleep.
Choose Scenarios
There are even “scenarios” based on your mood or what you are doing. For example, in the app, you can tell them “how you are feeling” or “what you are doing,” and it will suggest the vibration and intensity. I think those are neat features and will have fun trying out the different ones based on my mood or activity. For example, if I feel overwhelmed, I can choose that option, and it sends me to the “Recover” Vibe at an intensity of 20% for 60 minutes. If I choose the headache option, it sends me to “Focus” with an intensity of 15% for 60 minutes.
Each of these different vibe options on allows me to adjust the intensity and duration. You can even add a regular schedule if you want to have particular settings happen at the same time every day.
Works With or Without the App Too
You can also just push two buttons on the device and not use the app. So you have the option of using it with or without the app.
Consistency is Key
They recommend wearing it at least 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, during the day and night, to get the most benefits. You can track your usage in your profile within the app. According to their research, some people feel the benefits right away; for some, it can take up to a month. I personally found it soothing right away.
Good for Kids and Teens Too!
Do you know a sensitive child or teen that struggles with anxiety? It’s a safe, non-invasive stress relief tool for teens and children without harmful side effects. I love finding natural products that work well for sensitive children and teens. You can learn more here.
Improves Sleep
Why I like it
This device could be really helpful for HSPs in many ways, especially if you are having a period of time where there are a lot of stressors happening at once or you are struggling with anxiety or sleep issues. This offers another level of support in addition to the regular HSP self-care tools we recommend.
For example, we had a roof leak that damaged a section of my home's ceilings, walls, and floors, and it was stressful having so many people coming and going to fix it and loud drilling noises! I put my earplugs on, and the vibrations of this device reduced my anxiety and helped me feel calmer. When I took it off, I noticed my heart rate increase and some anxiety come back. Surprised by how comforting it felt, I put it back on! I’m also looking forward to the long-term health benefits too!
I LOVE that there are no side effects! Medication is not an option for me and many HSPs due to the difficult side effects, so I’m always on the lookout for natural ways to calm our sensitive nervous system. I LOVE that this device offers that extra layer of support without worrying about side effects.
I wasn’t sure how I would feel about the vibration sensory-wise before I tried it. I am happy to say that I find the gentle vibration soothing, like how I feel when I’m in warm water or when my cat lays on me and purrs. I find that purring vibration similar to this, which I love. Surprisingly, you stop noticing it after a bit. There have been times I want to feel the vibration more, so I appreciate how easy it is to adjust the intensity. Although they say it isn’t necessary to feel it continuously to have the desired effect (stronger does not mean better).
The app makes it easy to navigate and helps me choose what I need at any particular time. After you test out the different vibration and intensity options, you can save your favorite vibe duration and intensity so it’s easy to quickly play the ones you like the most. I also appreciate that it was designed with EMF in mind and can be used in airplane mode.
I noticed that I had been sleeping deeper since I started using this. I’ve been surprised I haven’t even woken up to use the bathroom and sleep through the full night! That’s been so nice!
Overall, I think this device has the capacity to offer a helpful extra layer of support for highly sensitive people of all ages to balance and calm our sensitive nervous system, improving wellness, sleep, and resiliency. I like the feeling that I can be comforted and calmed by it when needed and that it has long-term health benefits! I actually feel less stressed about the ongoing work on my house tomorrow because of it! That’s a good sign.
Apollo has offered my HSP community 10% off. Click the button below to redeem the discount and learn more about it!
Have you tried it?
I would LOVE to hear from you in the comments!
HSP Users Share…
“I got it and have been using it for 2 weeks now. I really like it! I feel like my quality of sleep improves (with Unwind and Fall Asleep modes) when I wear it at night and it provides a subtle regulation to my nervous system during the day.
I especially like using it when I go to grocery stores or any other busy crowded places, that can be over-stimulating to me especially when I am tired. Most of the time I don’t notice it vibrating, but when I bring my attention to the sense of vibration it also makes me pay more attention to the body, which is calming.
Recover is great mode for me in-between meetings, exciting conversations or when I’m starting to feel tired or need to reset my attention.”
“I started using the Recover vibe this week as I am suffering a mild cold. I was amazed at how I felt physically better and had a little boost of energy.”
Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is an HSP psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, the author of The Empowered Highly Sensitive Person, and founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community. Her HSP Podcast ranks among the top 5% of the most shared and followed podcasts worldwide. Julie’s webinars. resources, online courses, and blog have helped millions of HSPs reduce the challenges of living with sensitivity in an overstimulating world. Her greatest joy is helping sensitive people discover their significant value and seeing them share their much-needed gifts with the world. Julie loves connecting in her community and warmly invites you to join this positive, inclusive, sensitive family. Explore her resources and learn how her brain training program reduces anxiety within the first two weeks at JulieBjelland.com❤️🌈❤️ (she/her)