Weighted blankets are blankets filled with small, plastic pellets or other similar materials to provide a feeling of weight and security for those that suffer from social anxieties and sensory sensitivities. Weighted blankets utilise deep pressure touch therapy, to help create a sense of calm and relaxation by stimulating serotonin production and helping the body release serotonin. They’ve become very popular and more mainstream in the last couple of years.
Weighted Blankets are the perfect alternative for those who suffer from anxiety or insomnia. The weight within the blankets also provides support for those who need it, such as those recovering from strokes, brain injuries, autism, ADHD, PTSD, fibromyalgia, chronic pain and many more conditions.
What’s more, weighted blankets can be used both at home, and in a school setting, to provide sensory input that helps regulate how an individual feels about themselves and their surroundings.
Weighted Blankets for Anxiety and Insomnia
The weighting for weighted blankets differ depending on the individual person and their size / age, but generally can range from 10 pounds to 30 pounds. Weighted blankets are used by people with anxiety and insomnia, for example, for calming purposes.
Recent research has shown that weighted blankets are also really great for improving sleep quality. Weighted blankets are also known to be helpful when it comes to calming anxiety, reducing stress, and relieving pain.
When you use a weighted blanket, the pressure applied by the material on your body can help you feel calm and relaxed. The weight of the blanket can also help you stay asleep by preventing sudden movements such as tossing and turning in bed.
How much weight should the blanket weigh?
Your weighted blanket should weigh 7-14 pounds, but as mentioned above, they can weigh up to 30 pounds. This amount of weight will provide the most therapeutic benefits without being too heavy or too light. If you have trouble sleeping, then your weighted blanket should be about 10% of your body weight plus 5 pounds.
The length of the weighted blanket needs to be long enough for you to lie down on it comfortably, but not so long that it falls off the bed while you’re sleeping.
The world of weighted blankets is a curious one. The blankets come in many shapes and sizes, and while some people swear by their health benefits, others are sceptical.
Weighing your options for weighted blankets can be difficult because of the vast variety of products on the market. But it doesn’t have to be. To make sure you get the right product for your needs, look at what factors are most important to you in a weighted blanket, and then find the one that best meets your criteria.