Getting a good night’s sleep is not always as easy as it should be. If you or a loved one is having difficulty sleeping, a weighted blanket might be a good natural solution to help you achieve better, sounder sleep. Heavier than a normal blanket, a weighted blanket applies deep pressure stimulation to the user and often promotes both better sleep and increased calm. Let’s dive into the various benefits of using a weighted blanket:
1. Improves sleep quality
As pointed out in the Sleep Foundation article “Weighted Blanket Benefits” by certified sleep coach Daniel Noyed, utilizing deep pressure stimulation improves sleep quality and reduces anxiety by decreasing levels of cortisol—the “stress hormone”—in the body while also elevating the mood by boosting levels of serotonin and oxytocin—the “feel good hormones”. Additionally, the pressure of a weighted blanket can stimulate increased melatonin production to induce sleep. An increase in the production of both melatonin and serotonin can improve sleep cycles, making it easier to fall asleep and making the deep-sleep cycle both longer and deeper.
2. Reduces stress and anxiety
As noted above, deep pressure stimulation from a weighted blanket can reduce the production of the stress hormone cortisol and increase production of serotonin and oxytocin, which can help alleviate anxiety. Moreover, the pressure from a weighted blanket can also soothe the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for the body’s anxiety responses. More simply, just getting sufficient sleep can also ease the anxiety associated with trying to function without proper night’s sleep.
3. Manages the symptoms of autism
Deep pressure stimulation from a weighted blanket can help manage the symptoms of autism by redirecting the patient’s attention away from other anxiety-inducing stimuli in their surroundings. This prevents the sort of overstimulation that interferes with a good night’s sleep. What’s more, the pressure of a weighted blanket can simulate a hug. This can be soothing for anyone, but is particularly effective for people with autism who are touch-sensitive.
4. Lowers depression and improves mood
As mentioned earlier, deep pressure stimulation boosts the production of serotonin and oxytocin, the neurotransmitters associated with mood elevation. For instance, people with depression often have insufficient levels of free serotonin. This is why selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (e.g. Prozac, Zoloft) are often prescribed to patients with depression. As such, a weighted blanket can be an effective treatment for depression, on its own or to supplement medication.
All things considered, sleeping well is one of the most important things we can do to improve our health (along with eating well and exercising). Unfortunately, a lot of factors, especially stress, can get in the way of a good night’s sleep. While a weighted blanket cannot cure depression or remove stress from your life, the deep-pressure stimulation it offers can do wonders for stress relief and insomnia. In short, deep pressure stimulation lowers depression and improves mood; the combination of these factors enables you to enjoy a more satisfying sleep.
