Are you having trouble sleeping? Do you suffer from anxiety or stress that affects your sleep patterns? Or perhaps you have a child that does not sleep well? Sleep is essential to good health, and we all need several hours a night, so what can you do if you have problems getting to sleep or continually wake up during the night? One solution that is fast becoming popular is the weighted blanket. If you haven’t heard of them, or you have and want more information, read on for a brief outline of weighted blankets, how they work, and why you might benefit from one.
Weighted Blankets Explained
The weighted blanket is a simple idea, but with scientific reasoning behind it. You will find that they come in many different sizes – you can get a weighted blanket for adults as well as king size blankets and those for children – and in a range of different weights. The weight is provided by a ‘filling’ which is stitched, in a series of small pockets, inside the lining of the blanket. This filling can be made from glass, metal or a number of other materials to provide weight.
The reason for the small pockets is to provide an even spread of weight across the blanket and to prevent the weights moving around. What is the weight for? This is the clever bit! A weighted blanket is intended to exert a calming influence over the user. This is because it replicates a method of relaxation treatment known as DPS – or Deep Pressure Stimulation. DPS is performed by trained practitioners who use it to treat people whit anxiety problems, which are a major factor in poor sleeping.
What DPS does – and the weighted blanket does the same – is stimulate the nervous system in such a way as to provide a calming and soothing influence. This is because of hormones in the body that are released in these circumstances known as endorphins. The endorphins instill a sense of relaxation, reduce stress, and also deal with anxiety. This allows the user under the weighted blanket to get to sleep more easily.
Who Uses Weighted Blankets?
Weighted blankets are becoming more widely used by a variety of people, including adults who have trouble sleeping, and children who similarly do so. They are also used for children who are on the autism spectrum or are ADHD sufferers, as the blanket will provide a soothing and calming effect when the child is trying to sleep.
The science is proven and tested, hence the many people who are now using these blankets with great effect, and there are blankets to suit all users. You need to get one that weighs 10% of your body weight plus 2lbs; if you weight 120lbs, therefore, you need a 14lb blanket.
If you think this could be of use to you, or your child may benefit from a weighted blanket, look at them in more detail, and you may find that this could be the answer you have been looking for.
