You’ve probably heard the term “weighted blanket” many times and might have thought, “it’s just a heavy blanket, right?”. Though you wouldn’t be wrong, as weighted blankets do indeed have a weight to them, they are far more than simply a warmer option with which to cover yourself. Studies show that weighted blanket therapy can be beneficial for reducing stress and anxiety, improving sleep quality and even treating conditions such as PTSD. Testimonials from adults who have used weighted blankets for years prove that curling up under the comforting embrace of a weighted blanket can be beneficial in a number of ways for just about everyone.
How much benefit you’ll receive depends on your personal needs and use for the weighted blanket. This will vary from person to person.
Weighted blankets are made by sewing a grid of pockets of hypoallergenic BPA free pellets into the fabric, evenly distributing the increased weight across the entire blanket. When draped naturally and evenly across your body, or part of your body, it provides just enough gentle pressure to reduce cortisol, a stress hormone, and release a few different chemicals into your system: oxytocin, melatonin, and serotonin. Collectively, these chemicals relax the body, reduce stress, and induce a general feeling of happiness and security.
So that’s the scientific explanation. Now, what does this mean for you?
Essentially, weighted blankets feel like a hug, and come with all the same benefits. The sense of happiness, well-being, and security you get from being hugged is why weighted blankets have been known to help people with anxiety, Autism and a wide range of other health conditions such as:
In fact, the weighted blanket was originally used in therapy to help treat such conditions until it’s more recent widespread popularity.
Weighted blankets are by no means a medical device or meant to cure or even treat the symptoms of medical conditions. Many weighted blanket owners, both adults, and children have benefited from its calming effects. Weighted blankets have been known to:
✓Improve Your Sleep Quality
✓Help You Relax
✓Reduce Your Stress
✓Relieve Your Discomfort
✓Encourage Your Well Being and Mental Health
The gentle pressure of a weighted blanket makes it an effective deep pressure stimulation tool, a treatment used to help alleviate the symptoms of many conditions. A weighted blanket is not meant to replace any kind of therapy or medical treatment, but there are specific conditions that have seen improvements by adding it to their therapy. A few of these conditions include: