Psychologist Jolanda Snel has written a nice article in the Brabants Dagblad. We are happy to share this, it is written from a different perspective than ours and we think it can be valuable information for people who want to know more about weighted blankets. Enjoy reading.

Do you feel restless, overstimulated, or are you experiencing a lot of stress? A weighted blanket can provide relief. Psychologist Jolanda Snel likes to prescribe them in her practice.

Heavy blanket for a light head: this is how you find peace.

In the practice of neuropsychologist Jolanda Snel, people who suffer from too many stimuli regularly come in. She likes to prescribe a weighted blanket because it provides 'deep pressure stimulation' that makes you feel just like a swaddled baby: secure and safe. The happiness and sleep hormones are stimulated, and the stress hormone decreases.

Quickly: "In elderly care, you see that people with dementia, whose sensory processing is sometimes confused, seek out stimuli themselves. They tense their muscles to create pressure, but the result is that they lie in bed tense and cannot sleep well. A weighted blanket provides balance. You can see them relax when you place such a blanket over them."

Balance and motor skills

The main effect of a weighted blanket is calming. According to Snel, it can help people with a stress, anxiety, or sleep disorder, developmental disorders such as ADHD, Asperger's syndrome, or autism. Snel speaks of 'neurodiversity' and specialized in the functioning of brains that work differently than average. "You sometimes see small children or people with autism lying on the ground or leaning against something hard. They are looking for deep pressure to calm down."

'Jolanda Snel under her weighted blanket. © Photo: Erik van 't Woud'

A weighted blanket helps you literally feel better in your skin. This has to do with the proprioception sense, Snel explains. "It ensures that you are aware of where your body is hanging and it regulates strength and pressure from the body. The sense is important for your balance and motor skills." When this is out of whack, you feel like the drunkard who can no longer touch his nose.

Plastic balls

"For the mass in a weighted blanket, microbeads made of plastic or glass are used, which provide the weight. You can grab a weighted blanket at any time of the day. Quickly: "Imagine: you come home from work, your head is completely full, and you want to unwind for a moment, then you can use it on the couch. It can also be the case, and many people will recognize this, that you lie down in bed in the evening, turn off the lamp, and your mind starts racing."

"In principle, you can use the blanket both lying down and sitting up, but the effect of stimulation works better in a lying position. 'When you lie on your back, with your head tilted back, your balance system calms down.'"

Ella Health

Ella Health 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. Check out the weighted blankets that Ella Health has developed below.

Still in doubt? You can use the blanket 30 days without obligation. If it’s not for you, you can always return the blanket. Our experience shows that this doesn’t happen very often.