You have surely already seen the advertisements for weighted blankets on social media, and you have imagined the comfort their offer.
These blankets are heavier than standard blankets, weighing between 4 to 30 pounds since they are usually filled with natural materials like buckwheat, hemp, and hypo-allergenic fillers like glass beads.
Yet, they have much more to offer than just comfort, as they are designed to replicate a form of deep touch pressure therapy (DTP).
This therapy is of great help in the treatment of with sensory processing disorders like depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), autism spectrum disorder, and Alzheimer’s dementia.
Sensory overload is often linked to depression, chronic stress, poor attention spans, anxiety, restlessness, and irregular sleeping patterns.
Researchers claim that touch has immediate and long-term effects on the body’s biochemistry, including lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, and higher levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, which regulate mood, impulse control, and movement.
These blankets are designed to be about 10% of the body weight, and they soothe the nervous system by simulating a feeling of being hugged or held.
According to Irina Zhdanova, MD, Ph.D., CEO of ClockCoach:
“Being hugged is a very powerful stimulus. When you’re hugged, you feel more secure. Plus, weighted blankets offer mild restraint, they make it harder for you to move and thus harder for you to disturb yourself while you sleep.”
Moreover, one of the most popular uses for weighted blankets is for treating children with disorders like autism and ADHD. Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD, board-certified sleep psychologist, and director of the behavioral sleep program at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, says;
“It’s absolutely true that some kids benefit from compression, either from weighted blankets or stretchy Lycra sleeping bags [which also provide deep pressure]. ”
Moreover, SensaCalm also claims:
“Fibromyalgia has sometimes been called a “silent disease” because so many sufferers fail to get a diagnosis or wait years before receiving one. It’s also a condition that disproportionately affects women.
Characterized by chronic, idiopathic pain in at least 11 out of 18 pain points, fibromyalgia can be debilitating. While certain drugs may help patients manage their symptoms, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. For some people, the gentle but firm pressure of a weighted blanket is an important tool for preventing fibro flare-ups. “
Therefore, these blankets are highly beneficial in the case of various health issues, including:
- Alzheimer’s
- Anxiety Disorders
- Parkinson’s
- Restless Leg Syndrome
- Restless Sleep
- Asperger’s Syndrome
- Bipolar Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
- Brain trauma and injuries (PTSD)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Pain
- Tension
- ADD / ADHD
- Aggressive behaviors
- Agitation
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
- Insomnia
- Menopause
The following chart will help you choose the suitable weight blanket according to your body weight. Remember, it should be smaller than your bed, as it should sit on top of the bed, in order not to slide off. Make sure you get one as soon as possible and naturally treat your health problems while sleeping!
Source: theheartysoul.com