Sleeping struggles are no more part of your life now because weighted blankets help you to a great extent in reducing anxiety. Maybe it sounds unrealistic, but it’s true!!
Naturally, the first question that comes to everyone’s mind is how the anxiety can be removed from a blanket. But mind it!! It is not an ordinary blanket or comforter but a Weighted Blanket.
It is entirely different from the normal ones as it is filled with steel beads, plastic pellets, grains, sand, microfiber beads, glass beads, etc. that makes it heavier than usual. The heavy stuffing in it gives a comfortable feel when you wear this blanket. It even feels like a tight hug, so it makes you feel better and comfortable if you are anxious.
The best part is that it is made of various materials, including flannel, soft cotton, linen, rayon, and muslin, providing a cozy feel when you cover yourself while sleeping.
Do Weighted Blankets Really Help With Anxiety?
Research has shown that weighted blankets can reduce symptoms and improve management of conditions like anxiety, insomnia, autism, or other sleeping disorders. As a safe adjunct to medicine, these blankets may provide relief for people suffering from these conditions. These are actually designed especially for therapeutic effect.
Weighted blankets are also used to cure Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In addition, those children who have sensory issues like nervousness, uneasiness, and anxiety problems are also relieved with weighted blankets.
How Does a Weighted Blanket Help In Reducing Anxiety?
Weighted blankets work on pressure therapy. It is actually a deep pressure stimulation that increases the production of serotonin hormone, which is a mood-booster hormone, and effectively reduces the stress hormone, i.e., cortisol hormone.
More to the point, the deep pressure stimulation also enhances the level of melatonin hormone that makes it easier to sleep. So it overall improves the sleep quality by reducing stress and giving you a soothing effect while sleeping.
Since ancient times, pressure therapy has provided outstanding results, and we all know that deep pressure stimulation is of great help in calming the overlying system. And so, a weighted blanket uses calm-inducing pressure that gives a feeling of deep and comfortable pressure on your body. Whoever wears this blanket feels like a close hug. It is similar to the feeling of being cuddled, draped, or touched.
If you feel isolated or busy worrying about things, this blanket might help you reduce your stress. It puts your dominant nervous system in rest mode and effectively slows down the heart rate so that your little worries start going away. It would help if you gave this weighted blanket a try. However, you also have to keep in mind its ideal size and weight. It may vary from person to person.
Who May Benefit From a Weighted Blanket?
There is no such strong evidence that therapy is possible with these blankets, but some case studies find that people are relieved by this blanket. The effectiveness of weighted blanket for various conditions is like:
1. Anxiety
Weighted blankets are mainly used for treating anxiety, and so these are also referred to as “anxiety blankets.” Due to the calming effect the weighted blanket produces, it becomes the most popular choice among people suffering from restlessness, increased heart rate, or trouble concentrating.
If you feel nervous, tense, or restless, or having an increased heart rate, sweating & trembling, then you should try this weighted blanket. Studies reveal that autonomic stimulation ends with deep pressure stimulation, and it may further help reduce sleep disorders and anxiety symptoms.
2. Autism
The problem of sleeplessness is mostly seen in young children, and this trouble sleeping is known as autism. The researchers detected that the sleep disorder related to autism was somehow improved from the use of gravity blankets. The positive benefits of these heavy therapy blankets are inestimable. So, if you sense autism disorder, you must try this blanket.
3. ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
The effect of the weighted blanket has also been good on most people with ADHD. However, children are more affected by this disorder, and the results were very surprising when they were used on many sufferers.
This heavy therapy blanket has been used in ADHD therapy to reduce hyperactive movements and improve thoughtfulness.
4. Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
Sleep disorders are common in both kids and adults. In addition, the repeated sleep break at night causes irritability, which is not good at all. Based on the studies, weighted blankets were found helpful in reducing nighttime arousals and treating sleep disorders.
5. Osteoarthritis and Chronic Pain
Weighted blankets and Osteoarthritis are rarely heard together. But weighted blankets leave a surprising impact on osteoarthritis sufferers, according to a source study. The deep pressure on osteoarthritis joints effectively reduces knee pain which ultimately recovers the discomfort of joints.
How Long Does It Take for a Weighted Blanket to Show Its Effect?
You get to see the benefits of weighted blankets immediately, whether you are using them for the first time or have been using them for many years. Although you will always have the habit of wearing a light-weighted blanket, your body will have to get used to it to wear this heavy blanket. However, the long-term effects are life-changing, which minimizes restless leg syndrome and eases many sensory disorders.
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