The benefits of a weighted blanket
A weighted blanket is often used by people who have trouble falling asleep. But you can gain many more benefits from using a weighted blanket. How about less stress and anxiety, and more calm for people with ADHD, ADD, or autism? Discover how a weighted blanket can improve your life!
A weighted blanket?
In our previous blog, you could read what a weighted blanket is. In it, we told you how the weighted blanket works exactly and where this special relaxation technique originates. Okay, we'll briefly repeat it for you before we continue with the benefits of weighted blankets.
A weighted blanket is a very heavy blanket. Sounds logical, but that doesn't help you much. The weighted blanket is deliberately made heavier. By lying under a weighted blanket, your body switches to 'rest mode'. This is due to Deep Pressure Stimulation (DPS). It's somewhat comparable to acupuncture. Only without the painful needles. The weight of the blanket presses on certain pressure points in your body.
What are the benefits of a weighted blanket?
There are many benefits to be gained from using a weighted blanket. Often, when we talk about weighted blankets, we refer to an improvement in our rest. This means not only your night's sleep but also a reduction in anxiety or stress. Read on and discover how you can benefit from using a weighted blanket.
A weighted blanket for a better night's sleep
Perhaps the most well-known advantage of the weighted blanket. You sleep better under it! Now you might think; that is subjective, not everyone sleeps better under a weighted blanket. That is certainly true. However, research on weighted blankets has shown that people who sleep under a weighted blanket do indeed sleep objectively longer!
Why do you sleep better under a weighted blanket? Remember the acupuncture example? By stimulating pressure points in your body, your body produces more melatonin. This is also called the sleep hormone. Melatonin helps you fall asleep faster and sleep more soundly. Do you have trouble sleeping? Then a weighted blanket is definitely worth trying!
Curious about our best sleep tips for a better night's rest? Check out the article.
Fewer fears
Dealing with anxiety is definitely no picnic. People with anxiety disorders often suffer from fears that others cannot understand. A trip to the supermarket can already be very challenging. Statistics on anxiety disorders show that in 2019 more than 400,000 people in the Netherlands suffered from an anxiety disorder.
Getting enough relaxation is difficult when you are plagued by anxieties. Yet a weighted blanket can help you with this. Research from the University of Taiwan shows that deep pressure stimulation reduces anxiety. This technique is the reason why a weighted blanket is so calming!
Do you or someone in your family suffer from anxiety? Try not to overcome your anxieties alone but contact a medical professional for help.
Less stress
Busy day at work? An upcoming exam or another reason for stress? Relax, take it easy, that's probably what family or friends tell you when you say you're stressed. It's well-intentioned advice, and true too! Yet it doesn't help much. If you've ever had an argument with your partner or family, you know that nothing is less relaxing than someone telling you to relax.
Reduce your stress level with a weighted blanket! A weighted blanket feels like a nice warm hug. Through deep pressure stimulation, the production of the stress hormone cortisol decreases and the production of the hormones melatonin and serotonin increases. You will notice that you become calmer when you lie under a weighted blanket.
Did you know that stress has a huge impact on your sleep? Read now about the effect of stress on your sleep.
Weighted blankets for ADHD, ADD, or autism
You can probably imagine that calmness and ADHD, ADD, or autism do not exactly go hand in hand. If you have read our blog "What is a weighted blanket", you know that the science behind weighting comes from Dr. Temple Grandin. Temple works as a professor at the University of Colorado and, as a person with autism, has written extensively about what it is like to have autism.
Temple Grandin can almost be seen as the brain behind Deep Pressure Stimulation. At the age of 18, she developed a machine that applied pressure to her body. This pressure caused a clearly noticeable difference in her calmness. This initial work regarding weighting and Deep Pressure Stimulation was the starting point for a whole series of follow-up studies related to weighting and autism.
Weighted blanket for overstimulation
Deep pressure provides a reduction of incoming stimuli and a better processing of stimuli you have experienced during the day. What do we mean by "stimuli"? By stimuli, we mean light, sound, or smell. Basically, everything we perceive with our senses. A stimulus can sometimes be a bit too much. You have probably experienced a too bright lamp, looking for too long and you start to see black circles or you feel a headache coming on.
This is what we call overstimulation. Overstimulation does not only occur in people with autism or highly sensitive individuals. Anyone can experience it! A weighted blanket helps against overstimulation by creating a safe, secure environment. The blanket is like a warm hug from someone who says, "It will be okay, time to lie down calmly."
Do you want to buy a weighted blanket?
A weighted blanket is quite an investment for some people. Therefore, always make sure to choose a blanket that you can try for free. You can always try the weighted blankets from Ella Sleeps for 30 days. Not for you? Then you can simply return them!
Did you know that Ella Sleeps has been developing sustainable products for better physical well-being since 2018? Through our continuous product development, we offer our customers sitting and lying comfort at a competitive price. Quickly check out the weighted blankets that Ella Sleeps has developed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are the main benefits of a weighted blanket?
A weighted blanket helps improve sleep quality, reduces stress and anxiety, and supports people with ADHD, ADD, or autism. It provides a sense of security and promotes relaxation through deep pressure stimulation.
How does a weighted blanket work for sleep problems?
The deep pressure of a weighted blanket stimulates the production of melatonin and serotonin, helping you fall asleep faster and sleep more deeply. This promotes a calmer sleep rhythm and reduces nighttime awakenings.
Does a weighted blanket help with stress and anxiety?
Yes, the weight of the blanket applies a calming pressure on the body. This lowers the stress hormone cortisol and increases calming substances like serotonin, leading to less stress and anxiety.
Is a weighted blanket suitable for people with ADHD or autism?
Absolutely. Weighted blankets were originally developed for people with sensory processing issues. They help with overstimulation, promote concentration, and improve sleep for both children and adults.
What does a weighted blanket do during overstimulation?
A weighted blanket reduces the intensity of external stimuli such as light or sound. It creates a calming, sheltered environment that helps to process stimuli better and relax faster.