Weighted blankets, also known as therapeutic blankets, are increasingly becoming popular among people to fix their nighttime anxiety issues. These blankets are filled with plastic beads or glass sand and are a heavier version of regular blankets. Weighted blankets are ideal for children and adults with anxiety disorders who have difficulty falling asleep. Read on below to know how weighted blankets help anxiety.
- Deep pressure touch stimulation
Weighted blankets distribute a gentle pressure on the body, which is termed as Deep Touch Pressure. The deep pressure stimulation calms an over-stimulated system. This deep pressure touch stimulation helps reduce anxiety symptoms by offering many psychological and physical effects. The blanket, offering a warm hug or massage, helps create a sense of calmness in people who are anxious by allowing them to sleep faster at bedtime.
- Reduction of activity in the nervous system
There are two components in the nervous system: sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system. When people experience stress and anxiety, the sympathetic nervous system causes physical symptoms like pounding heartbeat, sweating, and shortness of breath. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system, slows down the heart and breathing rate and helps in restoring energy. The use of weighted blankets by people who struggle with anxiety issues allows the body to switch from sympathetic mode to parasympathetic mode. This results in the body to calm down, encouraging relaxation.
- Calming effect
The weighted blankets can help reduce stress and make a person feel at ease. The firm pressure, warmth, and security of the blanket help reduce stress hormone production during sleep, allowing people to fall asleep faster and get enough sleep to refresh. This calming effect of how weighted blankets help anxiety has encouraged more and more people with anxiety issues to use weighted blankets.
- Improves mood and regulates sleep
By the weight of the blanket, certain areas of the body may trigger the release of serotonin and melatonin hormones. Serotonin hormone regulates blood pressure and heart rate to help improve mood while controlling anxiety beneficial for falling asleep. The serotonin converts to melatonin, which is a hormone that tells the body to sleep. The gentle pressure of the blanket may also help stimulate oxytocin, the hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.
- Promotes comfortable sleep
Sleeping at night is a major issue for people suffering from anxiety. The pressure of the weighted blankets will help calm the mind leading to a reduction of movement and relaxation of the body for a comfortable sleep. Weighted blankets have an appeal as its soothing and calming comfort is aimed at how weighted blankets help anxiety symptoms to vanish during sleep.
No more tossing and turning in bed at night as a weighted blanket will help relieve anxiety and stress in a relatively safe and easy way. Invest in a weighted blanket and experience yourself how weighted blankets help anxiety, allowing you to sleep better.