It's so sad to think that more than a third of us are struggling with insomnia at night. They toss and turn, count sheep, and try all sorts of relaxation techniques, but often they still can't escape the endless darkness and silence. It can be so hard to fall asleep!
In this age of rapidly advancing technology, can we find a simple yet effective solution to combat insomnia and return peace to our nights?
And the answer is the weighted blanket! This innovative product could be the game-changer you've been looking for, transforming your nighttime experience.
So, you might be wondering: what exactly is the weighted blanket? How can it help us overcome insomnia? Are its benefits really that amazing? Well, read on, because in this blog, we'll demystify the weighted blanket, explore how it works, and detail a list of 20 compelling benefits!
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What Is a Weighted Blanket?
Weighted blankets are specially designed blankets with a heavier weight filling than regular blankets.Weighted blankets come in two styles: knitted and duvet. The weighted blankets we often refer to in our lives as the duvet style are made with added weight, usually 5 to 30 pounds, through the use of fillings such as plastic, glass beads, and ball bearings.
The pressure from the extra weight mimics a therapeutic technique called deep pressure stimulation or pressure therapy.
How Weighted Blankets Work?
Temple Grandin first discovered deep pressure therapy when she was looking for ways to relieve anxiety in children with autism.
In order to provide these patients with an experience that didn't feel constricting or limiting, she invented a ‘hug machine’ that applied gentle pressure to the body. While using the ‘hug machine’, she noticed a release of oxytocin in the patient's body.
The weighted blanket mimics this hug, making the user feel safer by using Deep Pressure Stimulation (DPS), a form of deep tactile pressure applied to the body with a hand, tool or blanket that relaxes the nervous system.
This stimulation is thought to increase the body's ability to produce serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood.DPS also increases the production of melatonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate sleep. At the same time, levels of the stress hormone cortisol appear to be reduced.
Do Weighted Blankets Really Do Anything?
Weighted blankets aren’t just hype—they have real effects on the body and mind. By applying gentle, even pressure across the body, these blankets create a sensation called Deep Pressure Stimulation (DPS), which science suggests has measurable benefits.
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The Science Behind the Calm
The gentle, weighted pressure can activate the body's parasympathetic nervous system, which helps us relax and reduces feelings of stress. Research has shown that DTP may even increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, the body's "feel-good" hormones, while decreasing cortisol, the stress hormone.
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Real Impact or Placebo?
Some skeptics argue the effect is mostly psychological. However, multiple studies support that weighted blankets can benefit people with conditions like anxiety, insomnia, and ADHD. In fact, many users report feeling an immediate sense of comfort and security, leading to improved sleep and overall mood.
20 Weighted Blanket Benefits (According to Science)
In How Weighted Blankets Work, we've already mentioned that weighted blankets are a form of deep compression therapy, and they offer many of the same benefits, including increased serotonin, lower heart rate, and more.
1.Improves Sleep Quality:
Weighted blankets are a great way to help your body relax and unwind. They use deep pressure stimulation, which is thought to help your body produce serotonin, a mood-boosting hormone. This can help to reduce stress hormones like cortisol, and increase melatonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. This can help you get a better night's sleep and feel more rested in the morning!
2.Reduces Anxiety:
The lovely, gentle pressure from a weighted blanket activates the body's parasympathetic nervous system, which helps to promote a wonderful sense of calm. This can be a great help in alleviating symptoms of anxiety, making it easier for individuals to manage stress and navigate challenging situations.
3.Creates a Calming Effect:
People who use weighted blankets often report a calming effect, which is why they're often used for people who are stressed or have a condition that makes them hyperactive. Weighted blankets have been used to calm everyone from students to animals.
4.Enhances Mood:
A weighted blanket can be a wonderful way to lift your mood and help you feel better overall. This is because the pressure of a weighted blanket helps to increase the production of the feel-good hormone oxytocin. And when you combine this with a decrease in cortisol (that stress hormone), it can have a really significant impact on how you feel.
5.Supports Sensory Processing:
If you're a parent of a child with a sensory disorder, you'll know how important it is to find ways to comfort and soothe them. A weighted blanket can be a wonderful tool to have on hand, as it provides a sense of comfort and security that can be really beneficial. The therapeutic benefits of a weighted blanket can also be extended to children with other developmental disorders.
6.Reduces Insomnia Symptoms:
Cortisol is the stress hormone released when you are stressed, worried, afraid or angry. The trouble is that anxiety can lead to a lot of restless nights, resulting in insomnia.
However, it has been found that a thick weighted blanket on your body can increase the feel-good chemical dopamine, which can lower cortisol levels and reduce the intensity of the restlessness. In other words, it can help reduce anxiety for a better night's sleep.
7.Improved Daytime Social Interactions:
Weighted blankets are a great way to help you get a good night's sleep, which in turn can help you to feel more sociable during the day. It's amazing how much of an impact a good night's sleep can have on your life! When you're feeling rested, you're more likely to enjoy better social interactions and perform better at school or work. So, if you're struggling to sleep, don't worry – there are plenty of ways to help you get the rest you need.
8.Relieves PTSD symptoms:
We all know that life can throw some pretty stressful situations our way. It's only natural that these experiences can sometimes lead to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Weighted blankets are a wonderful, natural way to help with symptoms of PTSD, hostility and even bipolar disorder. The lovely folks over at the PTSD Journal have found that a weighted blanket can be a great help to people with PTSD and anxiety, stress, insomnia and other chronic conditions.
9.Aids the Elderly:
Weighted blankets help adults sleep better. Elderly people who used weighted blankets liked sleeping with them, found it easier to fall asleep and slept better. Get the right size and weight blanket for the elderly person, especially if they are frail. This will help them sleep safely and comfortably.
10.Decreases Anxiety in Pets:
Weighted blankets can also provide comfort to pets during stressful situations. Many pet owners report that their animals become more relaxed during thunderstorms or fireworks when using weighted blankets. The gentle pressure mimics a soothing hug, helping to alleviate anxiety and promote a sense of security.
11.Relieves Painful Fibromyalgia:
If you're living with chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia, you'll know how hard it can be to find ways to ease your symptoms. Well, there's now a wonderful solution that can help! A weighted blanket can provide comfort and relief while also helping to break the cycle of anxiety and depression that often accompanies the condition.
12.Relieves Travel Anxiety:
If you get anxious when travelling, a weighted blanket could help. The blanket stimulates your body to produce serotonin, a soothing hormone. In one study, 78% of people using weighted blankets said it calmed them.
13.Reduces Heart Rate:
Touch therapy has been shown to reduce heart rate. A weighted blanket is a great way to get the benefits of touch therapy. The soothing effect can be really helpful in stopping those annoying symptoms of anxiety or other conditions that cause your heart to beat a little too fast.
14.Reduced Movement at Night:
If you toss and turn at night, sleeping with a weighted blanket on your body can help reduce the movement. Research supports this claim: the 'cocooning' effect of a weighted blanket can reduce movement during the night, resulting in a more restful sleep.
15.Helps Students Concentrate:
The soothing effect of a weighted blanket can enhance focus and concentration, making it a useful tool for studying or completing tasks. This can help improve academic performance and productivity. Students reported improved focus and productivity while studying with a weighted blanket, noting it helped them stay on task longer.
16.Helps Regulate Body Temperature:
Weighted blankets are great for regulating your body temperature! They're made with breathable materials that keep you nice and cool, so you can sleep comfortably without overheating.
17.Improves ADHD Behavior in Chirdren:
Weighted blankets are a great help to lots of people who find it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night. The great news is that research also suggests they can help people feel better during the day! They're especially great for kids and folks with sleep issues related to ADHD and ASD.
The idea is that if you use it regularly, it'll make you feel nice and cosy and safe. It's especially good for kids with autism or sleep problems or kids with ADHD who are restless at night. The weight of the blanket helps to soothe them.
18.Provides a Safe Space:
There's something so comforting about being wrapped up in a cosy, weighted blanket. It's the perfect way to create a safe space to relax and unwind.
19.Promotes Body Awareness:
This lovely technique helps you to become more aware of your body. The weight of the blanket can be a great way to enhance your proprioceptive input, helping you to become more aware of your body and your surroundings.
20.Enhances Overall Well-Being:
We all want to feel good about ourselves, don't we? Well, this wonderful product can help you to feel great! It'll enhance your overall well-being. We all need a little extra love and support sometimes, and a weighted blanket can be a great way to give yourself a helping hand. These blankets can help you feel more at ease emotionally and improve your quality of life in so many ways.
How to Have Your Own Weighted Blanket?
After learning about the many benefits of weighted blankets, you probably can't wait to have a weighted blanket of your own.
So, how do you pick or customise a suitable weighted blanket? Don't worry, we're here to help!
Here are some factors to consider when choosing a weighted blankets.
- Customization Services;
- Quality Assurance;
- Custom Branding and Packaging;
In light of these considerations, I am pleased to introduce you to JEMO, a manufacturer that ticks all the right boxes.
With their expertise in home textiles and a commitment to customization, JEMO is perfectly positioned to deliver a weighted blanket that meets your exacting standards.
Tencel Lyocell Weighted Blanket
It comes with 8–12 strong loops distributed at the edges and corner...
Conclusion
Overall, the purpose of a weighted blanket is to provide a calming, soothing effect that helps you sleep. This allows people who are nervous, anxious, and restless to get the sleep they need.
If you are in pain, this particular blanket can help ease your discomfort and allow you to get plenty of rest. We also provide you with a trusted manufacturer of weighted blankets and offer free consultations.
Click here for a free consultation with JEMO!
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