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23 Reasons Why a Weighted Blanket Should Be Part of Everyone’s Health Routine

So, you’ve heard about weighted blankets, probably seen a video or two about them and it’s sparked your interest, but you found yourself asking:

“Why should I Use a Weighted Blanket?”

You are not alone; there are countless people just like you who would like this question answered, so I’m going to delve into this subject for you. I know that not everyone is the same, or has the same tastes (or the same budgets!). Imagine what a boring world it would be if we were all identical.

Having said this, a weighted blanket could very likely be the one solution many of us end up requiring, it could be your saving grace for a variety of reasons, which we’ll explore in more detail in a moment.

In my case it was insomnia and I have searched high and low for a cure, tried various medications, aromatheraphy, music, lotions and other weird remedies to no avail… You might know what a terribly tedious journey it could be.

You also recognize that doctors, medication, supplements, alternative treatments and so on, could not be as effective, or in the long run they can cost a lot of money.

So this was basically my everyday routine:

  1. Come home from work
  2. Crash into bed
  3. Repeat

Then, thankfully, I discovered weighted blankets.

A purchase I only had to make once (I hope it lasts for quite a while as I’m taking good care of it) and that won’t break the bank.

To me this is quite a deal, as with the numerous benefits weighted blankets provide, anyone could not only save money in the long run, but get some well-deserved rest too.

What if you don’t suffer from insomnia or any health conditions you ask?

That’s no problem at all, weighted blankets can be used by anyone, even if you’re simply seeking a comfort aid. There really is no reason for not using it, besides the price maybe.

So, are Weighted Blankets the Right Choice for You?

Contents

First of all, I’m going to assume that like me, you like to know all the facts and details before you can make an educated decision. Knowledge is power, and most certainly prevents you from making the wrong choices and silly mistakes.

I remember the time when I was considering getting my own weighted blanket, I had so many questions, so many concerns, but I can tell you that it was one of the best purchases I have ever made.

But let me add to your scope of general knowledge briefly:

Using a weighted blanket applies weight on top of your whole body (this is called deep-touch pressure therapy), and aids in releasing endorphins. Because of this, it helps decrease the production of night-time cortisol which is a hormone that controls the ‘fight-or-flight’ response of our body, thereby putting us under stress.

Deep touch therapy focuses on pressure points in your body that release melatonin to help you sleep, and serotonin, which helps improve your mood, and relieve symptoms of conditions like depression and anxiety, and can even have a pain-easing effect on the body among other things. Further studies on deep touch pressure therapy have shown that it does work.

This calming effect this hefty blanket produces in itself, makes it worthwhile.

Reasons to Get a Weighted Blanket

Like I said before, I know you’re wondering if a weighted blanket is right for you, so I’ll explore a few reasons that will help you make this decision.

Now your purpose for needing one might be a combination of, or simply one of the below situations, and some of these may affect only you or someone else you care about. Let’s get you some answers by discovering suitable circumstances:

1. Your stress levels are really high

As mentioned above, sometimes our cortisol levels get quite high. Serotonin released after using weighted blankets on a regular basis will help your body control the excess of this annoying hormone.

2. It takes you more than 20 minutes to fall asleep

No one should have to go through losing 20 minutes of their lives every night staring at the ceiling or counting sheep. The relaxing effect of heavy blankets will help you fall asleep faster.

3. You are a hug-lover

Some people are just like that. I mean, everyone loves hugs, but some of us can find a way to have a permanent hug in heavy blankets.

This is even better for people who crave tactile stimulation, but don’t like receiving it from actual people, like some SPDers (people with sensory processing disorder), for example.

4. You wake up feeling exhausted

I know I’m not the only one who feels like every morning when I wake up under my heavy blanket, I just feel ready to get up. This happens to me many more times than when I didn’t have it, and I’ve read about people feeling the same way, so that’s not a coincidence.

The quality of sleep you can get with it helps you get up and ready in the morning (GOODBYE DREADFUL SNOOZE BUTTON!)

5. It’s difficult for you to unwind after the day’s activities and focus

This is a very common one, we go by so stressed out by everything, every little thing we go through during the day constantly fills our minds, and all of this has a staggering way of showing up right when we’re about to sleep.

You have to give it a try to understand what I mean: lay under the weighted blanket for 5 minutes, your body will fill comfortable, release endorphins, and (hopefully) it’ll be easier to let go of those things to sleep better.

6. You have a hard time concentrating for long periods of time during the day

Our ADHD peers would really appreciate these blankets. Even though they aren’t a magical cure, there are lots of cases when we can’t really focus on anything because we didn’t rest well at night. And heavy blankets can be a great way to aid with that.

7. You like to be cuddled

I’m gonna say it: weighted blankets make for great snuggling with your partner, there’s something about being stuck together under a lot of weight, that just feels great.

Even if you don’t have your partner there, it’ll make you feel less lonely. I can’t really explain it better, but lots of people say the same thing, so I’m not the only one who has experienced this.

8. You like feeling protected and secure

Some people claim to feel much better under the blanket because it provides a sense of security, especially at night. When we can feel so vulnerable. Having weight on top of us makes us feel cared for and safe.

9. You’re very active and might even do high-intensity interval training or weight lifting

To all of the lifters out there, I know you don’t have problems to sleep after a day of hard workout (probably) but sometimes the training is a bit too rough on our bodies.

That’s the moment when weighted blankets make their magic appearance to save the day. Yep, it turns out that having the right amount of weight on top of you during the night can sometimes regulate the circulatory system and help alleviate the pain produced by muscle inflammation after working out.

10. Your sleep is easily disturbed, and you’re restless during the night

One of the main benefits of weighted blankets is that they are meant to keep you sleeping.

Think making your dreams come true is hard? Just try waking up in the middle of the night while using your blanket! In 5 months I can’t really remember if I’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night while using it, even though it was a common thing in the past for me.

There’s something about that just knocks you down and makes you sleep until you actually want to wake up.

11. REM sleep (deep sleep and dreaming) is rarely achieved

REM sleep is the deepest stage of sleep, the stage in which we dream. It’s also when our body gets the best rest, and some people have a hard time reaching it because their quality of sleep isn’t good enough.

12. Muscle spasms, back pain or aches particularly in your legs keep you up

Another use people have found for these products is relieving the pain caused by fibromyalgia and other chronic pain diseases, and by what I’ve seen, some people have gotten great results.

13. You toss and turn continuously and find it hard to get comfortable

Bed not comfortable enough? Your sheets’ fabric doesn’t really feel good? Well, most weighted blanket manufacturers really take care of their products. And I can assure you that weighted blankets are one of the best feeling-duvet-like articles you’ll find, and the fabrics used always feel amazing.

If you want to be more comfortable while sleeping, and like pampering yourself, they are for you.

14. Headaches or migraines are a frequent occurrence for you

Even though there’s no easy way of diagnosing a headache, most of them come from a single source: blood pressure. Heavy blankets can trigger the release of dopamine and serotonin, and as said before, the increase of these two hormones in the bloodstream can regulate blood pressure, and make feel good again.

15. You suffer from Anxiety, Depression or ADHD

I’ve done plenty of research on the subject of weighted blankets for anxiety and ADHD, and it seems like they are a great way of coping with the symptoms.

16. You have some form of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Weighted therapy tools have been often used by occupational therapists to help relieve the symptoms of ASD patients; weighted blankets, vests or shoulder wraps, provide a calming effect that helps to stabilize the mood and calming the patients.

17. You like massages

This is like an automatic -you will love a weighted blanket- statement, people who like massages or acupressure, will probably like sleeping with weighted blankets, as the heavy contact over their skin an muscles provides a sensory stimulation they’re familiar with, and enjoy.

Think of it as having a massage every night while you sleep!

18. They are great for elderly people with Alzheimer

Weighted blankets have been proven a great tool for the elderly, especially those with dementia or Alzheimer, as getting a proper sleep is one of the main recommendations to alleviate the symptoms of these and other related conditions.

19. You’d rather avoid taking medication

Obviously, discuss any choices about medication with your doctor, but some people would just like to use more natural alternatives. I know I’m not the only one that thinks that medication shouldn’t the only way to deal with sleep issues. I don’t personally like medicating myself unless it’s really needed.

So yeah, even though weighted blankets provide a “kind of subjective” healing, studies have been conducted where it shows that they can actually help most people.

But just to say it again, please discuss any health related concerns with your doctor.

20. You need to improve classroom behavior

It has been shown that comfort rooms are a great way of improving focus in patients in psychiatric units where serious studies have been conducted. And some occupational therapists have included weighted blankets in therapy for kids who don’t behave well in the classroom with good results.

Another study actually showed that another form of deep touch pressure therapy, weighted vests, could improve in-seat behavior and task completion speed in ADHD students.

21. You have highly sensory or physically stimulating hobbies; like contact sports or deep-sea diving

Some bodies can be overwhelmed by this kind of activities, especially for people who are just starting to practice them and aren’t that experienced. Laying under distributed weight can be a nice way of comforting the body and regulating the sensory equilibrium after such activities.

22. You are a sleep walker

If you -or anyone you care about- become a sleepwalker during the night, using a weighted quilt might just put a stop to it. The weight of the heavy blanket will decrease the ability to move around or get up out of bed when you’re in a sleep or semi-sleep state.

23. And lastly; you feel like your nerves are frayed or your nervous system is just on edge

Personally, having fibromyalgia, I find that my nerves are always on edge. The more sensitive my nervous system feels, the more I have issues with pain and fatigue. 

I found that using a weighted blanket takes me out of the fight-or-flight mode that I’m often in during the day and helps me back into a parasympathetic (rest and rejuvenation) nervous system state, which feels amazing, along with its other rejuvenative benefits.

 

And there you have it, I’m sure that after exploring this list, if you found yourself thinking “well, that list totally fits me” you’ll conclude that this type of blanket absolutely is a great addition to your household.

You shouldn’t waste another night without one.

Is a Weighted Blanket All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

I don’t have to tell you how horrible it is to not sleep well. Your body does not have the opportunity to rejuvenate and regenerate itself as needed, and several unhealthy conditions can be the result of a lack of sleep.

For me it’s usually a combination of getting grumpy and super irritated, have zero patience, and for some odd reason want to eat the world when I don’t get enough rest.

Using a heavy blanket has thankfully solved this problem for the most part.

Of course, it’s not a magical cure-all, but if you value your sleep as much as I do, then the relaxing and calming benefits you’re sure to get from this blanket alone, is certainly worth its weight in gold…

If you really want to know if a weighted blanket is right for you, but you’re not ready to take the risk spending the money, read this article about ways to try weighted therapy, without having to buy one.

Also seeing all the other great health advantages I’ve touched on today as well as the materials it’s made of and the fact that you’ll probably only need to buy one in a generation, (unless your dog eats it – in which case it would deserve some dog training – or your mischievous two-year-old cuts it up), it absolutely is a sensible investment in your well-being.

Therefore, my final impression of a heavy blanket is that there really is no reason you shouldn’t get one. If you’re convinced, it would help you a lot to read more about the things you need to watch out for when buying a weighted blanket here.

Also, here you have my recommended weighted blanket manufacturers, if you want to see which ones are the best, click here.

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Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 4 comments
David Johnson

I didn’t know that weighted blankets can help your body release serotonin. Personally, because everyone is different, I think it would be important to look for adjustable blanket supports for the feet so if your spouse doesn’t need a weighted blanket you don’t have to use two separate blankets. I’ll have to look further into adjustable blanket supports and weighted blankets.

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Bob Newton

It’s awesome that this article mentions that using a weighted blanket can provide relief from anxiety. I have been having a lot of anxiety ever since my cat died a month ago, so I’m considering buying a weighted blanket. I’m going to search for a good business that can sell a weighted blanket to me.

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Mary butler

My weight blanket has help my migraines nine fir the past week usually one every day or every other one

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Mary Butler

My headaches have really calm down nine in 7 days .

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