If you struggle with falling asleep or staying asleep then you know just how important it is for you to get the right blanket. One of the main ways people struggling with insomnia get to sleep easier is by using weighted blankets.
These are specially designed blankets that are either weighed down by glass beads or plastic pellets or simply made from chunky yarn. They provide pressure stimulation and help calm the user. Here is a detailed look at how these blankets actually work.
Working Principle
In simple terms, your weighted blanket works as a pressure simulator. It is designed to make you feel like you are either being held or cuddled. Studies show that pressure adds a calming feeling to whoever is receiving it. If your nervous system is fired up then you are unable to relax which leads to insomnia. Having a way to reduce that feeling helps when you need to fall asleep faster.
Weighted blankets use the same principle swaddle blankets used for babies. The pressure produced helps in releasing oxytocin that is known as the feel-good hormone. With this, your mind tends to relax faster and you feel like you are in the embrace of a person you love. The hormone is also responsible for reducing your level of anxiety.
Conditions Improved by Weighted Blankets
Studies have shown that there are various people who would benefit from using weighted blankets. Knowing who they are and how they come in handy helps you figure out if you need to get them for your home or for a loved one. Here are some of the conditions that can be managed using this blanket:
- Deep pressure is known to help reduce the fight-or-flight response many anxiety patients suffer from. As such,
- Many children suffering from autism often have issues with insomnia. One of the therapies used to help with this is pressure therapy. It often involves massages and hair brushing. Getting autistic kids a weighted blanket also goes a long way to help calm them.
- If one has trouble sleeping then using a weighted blanket can help alleviate this issue. It is one of the ways to help calm you down and get you to go to sleep easier.
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD). Even though research is still ongoing, the few studies carried out have shown that weighted blankets do help when it comes to calming down ADHD patients.
Get the Right Weighted Blanket
There are so many different types of weighted blankets in the market that it can be hard to pick what works best for you. If you plan on getting a weighted blanket to help deal with any of the issues mentioned above then you could talk to your doctor about it. You can also check out the YNM catalog and see which blanket we have in store.
We have detailed descriptions for each of them so you get to pick what works best for you. Get a weighted blanket today and see how that changes your sleep habits and patterns.
