Meet the Shoutlet: a Pillow That’s Designed Specifically For Screaming

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“Just scream into a pillow” is a piece of classic advice that someone might give you if you’re super angry, stressed, or frustrated about something and you don’t know what to do about it. The idea is that by screaming into a pillow, you are able to physically let some of your emotions out, while not bothering the entire block with your screaming. 

However, if you’ve ever actually screamed into a pillow, then you might know that it doesn’t do a ton to muffle your voice, especially if you’re really letting loose. You might’ve even wondered: “What if there was a pillow that was designed to be screamed into?” 

Well, the Shoutlet aims to make your pillow screaming dreams come true. In case you’ve missed some of the social media buzz around the pillow, the Shoutlet is a pillow that is specifically designed to be screamed into. The product, which got its start on crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, bills itself a “best-in-class voice suppression device that lets you LET IT OUT! Anytime, anywhere, without the stare.” (1

Read on to learn more about the Shoutlet, and whether or not screaming actually helps you relieve stress. 

How Does The Shoutlet Work? 

According to the Shoutlet’s website page, the pillow cover is made of “100% duck canvas” on the outside, and it is made of “microfiber polyester faux suede” on the inside. The Shoutlet also seems to be composed of a foam core with a density of 5500 pcs. The pillow is two inches tall, 6 inches wide, and 8.6 inches long, which makes it about the size of a small travel pillow. (2

Beyond that, the Shoutlet functions pretty much exactly as expected. It’s designed to be screamed into when you’re feeling stressed, upset, or if you otherwise need to let off some steam. 

The Shoutlet’s information page doesn’t have many more details about what you can do with the pillow beyond screaming into it, so it’s probably safe to assume that the creators might not intend for people to use the pillow for cat naps during the day. 

What Are The Benefits of The Shoutlet? 

The Shoutlet’s website claims that “a mounting body of evidence suggests that an intentional wholistic shouting practice offers countless health benefits.” The website then goes on to list benefits like improved sleep quality, increased energy, and a boosted immune system. (2

Does Screaming Actually Help Resolve Stress or Frustration? 

The Shoutlet’s information page links to several articles all praising the benefits of screaming, and while there is plentiful anecdotal evidence and personal testimonials about the benefits of screaming, there is little scientific evidence to back up the claims that screaming has some of the specific benefits that the Shoutlet website lists. 

The Shoutlet’s website does link to one 2014 study on the effect of emotional suppression on mortality. The study found that there were “significant associations between higher levels of emotion suppression and all-cause as well as cancer-related mortality.” Researchers did note that more research is needed to corroborate their findings, 

However, if it makes you feel less stressed or calmer to scream into a pillow, then there’s nothing wrong with giving it a shot, or a shout, every once in a while. If you plan to start screaming into a pillow on the regular, it’s probably a good idea to check in with your doctor to protect your throat and vocal cords.

When Can I Get A Shoutlet? 

Right now the Shoutlet is available on Indiegogo and on the Shoutlet’s website for $30. The Shoutlet’s website says that the pillow will be shipped in October 2024, and the Indiegogo notes that the product is set to be shipped in November 2024. (1,2)

Sources

  1. Powershout. The Shoutlet: A portable voice supression device. IndieGogo. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/the-shoutlet-a-portable-voice-suppression-device#/
  2. The Shoutlet. Powershout. https://www.theshoutlet.com/
  3. Chapman, Benjamin P., Fiscella, Kevin, Kawachi, Ichiro, et al. Emotion suppression and mortality risk over a 12-year follow-up. Journal of Psychosomatic Research. 2014. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2013.07.014
Mary-Elisabeth Combs

Mary-Elisabeth Combs

Mary-Elisabeth Combs is a Staff Writer at Sleepopolis covering all things Sleep news. Previously Mary was a writer for CNET, and she graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in English. When she's not writing, she's probably knitting, reading or catching up on Formula 1. 
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