As their name suggests, weighted blankets have extra weight added to them. They are special types of blankets that are meant to be warm and provide an increased degree of comfort – a feature that can have a significant effect on a person’s mood. For this reason, weighted blankets have become quite an efficient tool in combatting sensory disorders and anxiety. Here are the main benefits that such a blanket provides.
- They Mimic Hugs
Hugs can be a great way to relieve anxiety and let go of any negative feelings. As a result, when you put on for example a 20 lb weighted blanket, it’s the equivalent of a hug. When you hug someone, your body begins to release a hormone called oxytocin – one that slows your heartbeat, lowers your blood pressure, and overall allows your body to relax. Using a weighted blanket replicates this feeling and hormonal effect.
- They Promote Healthy Sleep
Melatonin is an essential hormone in your fight against anxiety, as it helps fix your sleep patterns. Melatonin also helps with serotonin production. Weighted blankets trigger the release of these chemicals and allow you to sleep more peacefully. Plus, a weighted blanket mimics the feeling of being swaddled, making you feel safe and removing any feeling of anxiety.
- They Make You Feel Happy
When you are fighting with anxiety, you are more focused on feeling stressed and anxious, and less focused on being happy and at peace. Still, when you apply pressure on certain areas of your body, it helps release serotonin – the “happy hormone” that boosts your mood. By using a weighted blanket, you are putting pressure on important points throughout your body, creating that “feel good” mood.
- They Make You Feel More Grounded
Most of the time, anxiety is associated with the fact that you have no roots – that you are simply floating above the ground without any security or actual footing. This is why a weighted blanket doubles as an anxiety blanket, as it “brings you down to earth” and makes you feel more grounded. It removes from your mind all the problems that keep you uprooted, consequently allowing you to sleep and rest soundly.
- They Help Relieve Stress
Stress and anxiety are generally linked. The more stressed you are, the more anxious you become in regard to your surroundings. In order to deal with daily stress and remove its side effects, you might want to consider using for example a 20 lb weighted blanket. This weight could be a perfectly sized blanket for an adult to use. However, if you’re looking for a weighted blanket that can be used to comfort kids, you’ll find several other options on our website.
Final Thoughts
A Weighted blanket for anxiety can be quite an efficient way for you to ease symptoms of anxiety. It puts pressure on all the right points, allowing you to feel the anxiety flowing out of you and giving you a sense of security. You just need to pick the right weighted blanket for your body weight and then allow it to do its magic.
