15 Benefits of a Weighted Blanket

Seeking the holy grail of answers to find relief for everything from insomnia and anxiety, to neurological disorders and pain can be found with the use of a weighted blanket. The blanket is crafted with extra weight to give one the sense of being held in a soothing hug that induces comfort and wellbeing.

What is a Weighted Blanket

A weighted blanket is simply what is implied – a blanket that is weighted. These are special blankets lined evenly with weighted pellets with the heaviness level determined by the person’s weight using it. Generally, a weighted blanket should be between 7 and 12-percent of a person’s weight – with the average blanket being 10-percent of one’s weight.

The comforting blanket is meant to have just enough heaviness to add the pressure to a person that gives one the sense of being hugged. The hug and warmth of the blanket allows for a positive sense of security that results in easing anxiety, pain, neurological disorders, and helps to promote calming and sleep.

Much like the touch pressure of a massage, the weighted blanket works to calm with deep compression stimulation. The touch of the blanket, as one moves under it, provides a calming effect that has been seen to provide relief for those dealing with anxiety, depression, attention disorders, and health concerns.

Simulates Hug

With each hug that a person receives the body releases oxytocin. The oxytocin hormone is known to allow for the sense of calming as it slows the heart and reduces blood pressure. When using the weighted blanket one is given the same sensation of security that it gets from a hug allowing the body to calm and relax.

Triggers Serotonin

Research has concluded that applying pressure on points on the body can trigger the serotonin chemical in the brain. Serotonin is seen to help in one’s emotional and cognitive functions – affecting overall wellbeing and mood. With low serotonin levels being linked to depression, a weighted blanket can provide the pressure needed to elevate serotonin to reduce stress and pain.

Releases Melatonin

The melatonin hormone that aids in promoting healthy sleep is linked to serotonin production. With the pressure of the weighted blanket one receives a boost in melatonin production as a result of triggering serotonin, thus, helping with sleep problems.

Weighted Blanket Benefits

There are many benefits of weighted blankets for adults and younger ones. All ages can achieve well-being beyond prescribed medications just from applying the comforting pressure that the blanket provides.

Battles Insomnia

The deep pressure stimulation that the weighted blanket provides is much like receiving a soothing massage. This pressure boosts the production of serotonin that brightens mood that calms the brain from overthinking. The serotonin converts to the melatonin hormone that helps to entice better sleep.

Helps Ease Sensory Processing Disorder

Those with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) are distressed by having an under sensitivity or oversensitivity to anything that can affect any of the senses. One can become extremely uncomfortable by a simple touch or sound. The weighted blanket, as it helps with serotonin production, provides calming pressure to provide alleviation from the anxiety that SPD causes.

Drugless Pain Reliever

Pain is difficult to deal with on a normal basis, but adding drugs can lead to even more issues – such as stomach upset and heartburn. The deep pressure touch stimulation of weighted blanket benefits can be the answer for a drugless pain reliever. The pressure applied to the body produces serotonin and endorphins that help relieve pain inducing tension. The production of melatonin is booted to relax muscles and aid in pain reduction.

Helps Focus for ADHD

The neurological Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD) is an inattentive behavior that can causes hyperactivity and disruption. This lack of focus caused by ADHD can be calmed with the use of a weighted blanket. The blanket’s pressure works to sooth the afflicted person so he or she will feel a relief from anxiety and help elevate mood. Loss of sleep resulting from the ADHD hyperactivity can also be relieved by the weighted blankets ability to boost serotonin and melatonin.

Aids Autism Spectrum Symptoms

With many types of autism there can be an array of spectrum symptoms from very mild to very severe. With all symptoms, researchers have discovered that massage therapy can benefit those afflicted. As with touch therapy, the weighted blanket works both right away and long-term decreasing levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, while increasing serotonin and dopamine that help with mood and impulsiveness.

Ease Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be debilitating causing one to be in the constant throws of obsessive thoughts and behaviors. With OCD being linked to low serotonin levels the weighted blanket can apply the pressure stimulation needed to raise serotonin and reduce the intensity of the OCD.

Calms Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome can keep one up at night and create a travel burden. The feeling of a tingly sensation in the legs causes one to feel like he or she must constantly move the legs to achieve comfort. People struggling with restless leg have found relief when the legs are compressed with pressure. A weighted blanket provides the constant deep pressure needed to calm the legs so that one can achieve much needed sleep, as well as comfort while traveling.

Calms Anxiety and Panic Disorders

Anxiety and panic are very real disorders than can paralyze one with fear when triggered. Just as one can be calmed with a reassured hug, the weighted blanket provides the same pressure to simulate being held. In addition, the serotonin production stimulated by the weighted blanket benefits will help to calm and ease the stress of anxiety and panic.

Relieves Traumatic Health Anxieties

Those living with cancer and other traumatic health causing anxieties can create constant worrying that can add more harm to a stressful situation. Worry can cause sleep problems, depression and disruption. It is vital for those dealing with a traumatic health anxiety to find a way to gain security and a calm to help sleep. The comforting hug of the weighted blanket allows for anxieties to be calmed in a drug free method. The pressure of the blanket will reduce stress and pain while helping to produce sleep inducing serotonin and melatonin.

Comforts Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia

Alzheimer’s and dementia affects those afflicted forgetting their lives with stress that involves confusion and mood swings. Wrapping one in a hug will often comfort distressed sufferers. The weighted blanket will provide the pressure of a constant hug to allow for the sufferer to be eased from anxiety. In addition, the blanket will also help provide deep pressure touch stimulation to allow sleep from being disturbed and keep one from unknowingly awaken and wander out of bed.

Comforts Parkinson’s Disease

The degenerative disease of the central nervous system that is Parkinson’s can cause major anxiety from sensory processing difficulties, as well as tremors and joint stiffness. This disease can also mimic some Alzheimer symptoms with dementia and hallucinations that can cause nighttime wandering. A weighted blanket will provide secure comfort to provide relief from anxiety. The deep pressure stimulation from the blanket will provide relief from the pain often associated with Parkinson’s. In addition, the increased production of serotonin will help calm mood swings and aid production of melatonin to induce better sleep.

Ease Fibromyalgia Pain

Fibromyalgia is a disease causing chronic pain from an unknown cause that appears in at least 11 to 18 paint points in the body. The debilitating pain can cause a sufferer to constantly move to seek relief and causes sleep disruption. With few medications that do not help all who are afflicted, and no cure those with fibromyalgia have found comfort using a weighted blanket. The blanket provides deep pressure stimulation to calm pain and flare-ups. With the soothing pressure serotonin is produced which helps mood, and in turn, produces melatonin which helps sleep.

Comforts Elderly

With age, can come a change in sleep patterns that can turn into insomnia. This can be caused by, or even be the cause of, health problems, stress, and depression. Having a senior person sleep with a weighted blanket covering helps to calm in improve sleep – in turn aiding to alleviate some health issues and depression.

Calms Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects not only brave veterans who have experienced combat, but also others who have been affected by traumatic life events. With PTSD causing depression and insomnia, the weighted blanket is a non-drug therapy to aid to relieve anxiety. The blanket works to naturally reduce blood pressure and pulse rates while helping to produce the serotine needed to boost mood.

Soothes and Lifts Mood

Not all deal with constant depression but most have normal ups and downs as everyday life takes its tolls. For those times of being in need of a soothing hug, or after just a hard day at work, the weighted blanket can be just what will pick up one’s spirits. Covering oneself with the blanket can give the sense of being hugged while helping produce more serotonin to raise one’s mood for an emotional pick-me-up.