Lots of tossing and turning during sleepless nights can affect your attention level and cause stress. Trust me, as a mom to 3 plus another on the way, sleep is definitely much needed – but often very hard to come by! With that said, a good night’s sleep is extremely beneficial for mental and physical health, and there are several ways to ensure that you sleep well, one of which is a weighted blanket.
Wrapping yourself in a comfy blanket will feel like one big hug. However, not all blankets give you this feeling. Many people have started using weighted blankets to help them sleep better and to reduce the effects of insomnia, anxiety, autism, and other conditions. If you need to sleep better, here are some reasons why weighted blankets may be your perfect solution.
They Help with Anxiety
Everyone has experienced anxiety at some point in their lives, while some people suffer from anxiety constantly. It is that feeling of uneasiness and worried thought, especially of the future. Anxiety can disrupt your daily life and it affects your physical health as the autonomic nervous system prepares the body for stress. Deep pressure stimulation is a great way to treat anxiety and weighted blankets mimic this stimulation. The pressure of weighted blankets has a calming and organizing effect on our nervous system which will help reduce the symptoms. When anxiety levels are reduced, the sense of calm will help improve the quality of your sleep.
Weighted Blankets Help Control ADHD
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have trouble with self-control, paying attention, and sitting still. These troubles affect their learning at school and often impact their relationships with family and friends. Children with ADHD are easily distracted by everything happening around them which makes it impossible for them to focus on one thing, which is why they struggle at school. As a result, they also have trouble sleeping as their attention is constantly divided, making it hard to wind down. Fortunately, weighted blankets can help with treating their sleeping disorders. While it is difficult to have a weighted blanket at school, you can get children with ADHD weighted vests that will have the same calming effects as blankets.
There is a Weighted Blanket for Everyone
Weighted blankets come in different sizes, colors, materials, and patterns. You can easily find a comfortable one that suits your needs. There are different sizes for weighted blankets to suit any bed size, but you should buy a blanket that doesn’t hang off your bed since the weight can pull the blanket off your body. When it comes to weight, you will feel more pressure in small blankets if they weigh the same as bigger ones; so go to this site to find a blanket that won’t be too heavy for you.
Weighted blankets can be made from various materials ranging from microfiber to cooling fabric. You should look for blankets with washable covers so you can clean them in your washing machine. Weighted blankets won’t break the bank either, as their prices start at around $65.
They Ease Autism Symptoms
Trouble sleeping is one of the symptoms of autism, especially in children. Massage or deep touch therapy has been proven to control symptoms of autism as it reduces cortisol, the stress hormone, and increases serotonin and dopamine levels which improves impulse control and mood, and helps with anxiety. In a study conducted in 2014, the weighted blankets used had some effect on autistic children and allowed them to have better sleep. Moreover, the pressure from weighted blankets can provide comfort and reduce overstimulation, allowing people with autism to relax.
Children with autism feel stressed, and when this stress is relieved, it improves their focus on the task at hand. Since weighted blankets mimic the feeling of a hug, autistic people feel they are rewarded when they are wrapped in one.
They Help with Insomnia and Sleep Disorders
Millions of people suffer from insomnia or have trouble sleeping at night, so don’t worry, you are not alone! Stress and anxiety are the main reasons for insomnia and sleeping disorders, and they can affect your sleep patterns, in general, too. The physical pressure of a weighted blanket will calm your breathing and heart rate, and it will prepare your body to rest and sleep. Additionally, weighted blankets will reduce the number of times you wake up during the night, ensuring that you have a deep sleep.
Weighted blankets are extremely beneficial to everyone and can improve the quality of your sleep. They act as a form of therapy, reducing the need for any kind of drug. They also have the same benefits as deep pressure therapy that will calm the body by steadying heart rate and breathing. These blankets have shown positive results in controlling or reducing the symptoms of ADHD, autism, anxiety, insomnia, and sleep disorders. So, if you haven’t tried one it’s about time!
