Weight blankets for anxiety and sleep disorders

Therapy blanket
Why weight blankets should help with anxiety and sleep disorders

Millions of people sleep poorly: in Germany alone, every tenth employed person suffers from insomnia – that goes out of one DAK health report emerged. In the course of “insomnia”, those affected no longer fall asleep or sleep through, but sleep itself is also perceived as not restful. And the consequences are serious: Due to increasing insomnia, many employees are constantly tired and exhausted during the day, which is not only reflected in their performance, but also in their health. It is all the more important to have a healthy sleep, which you can promote with the help of a weight blanket, for example. But anxiety and stress patients can also benefit from the therapy blanket.

What are weight blankets?

Weighted blankets have been used in the therapeutic sector for a long time, but therapy blankets are also gaining more and more importance away from medical treatment. The reason for this is the calming effect of the blankets on the body, which is triggered by its own weight. Because in contrast to normal duvets there are Weight blankets hard-wearing, hypoallergenic and non-toxic glass beads or plastic balls that are sewn inside. This makes them heavier – and exerts deep pressure on the autonomic nervous system. In plain English, this means that weight has a similar effect on your entire body as a warm hug. But to what extent can weight blankets help with anxiety and sleep disorders or even depression?

How do weight blankets work?

Studies have shown that even pressure on the body stimulates our autonomic nervous system. More precisely, the “deep touch pressure” effect has a calming and relaxing effect on our body. The explanation for this is very simple: The deep pressure, which is comparable to a hug, stimulates the production of serotonin – i.e. the release of a happiness hormone. It not only counteracts the cortisol level (stress hormones), but also gives you a feeling of inner calm, security and serenity. Your joints, muscles, and tendons relax, which also reduces anxiety, stress, and distress.

And that’s not all: the sleep hormone melatonin, which controls our day-night rhythm, is produced from serotonin. The release of serotonin means that more melatonin is produced in the body – which in turn should lead to us being able to fall asleep faster. And that is exactly the effect that weighted blankets are supposed to achieve. At least that’s the theory, because “the melatonin must first reach the brain,” explains Martin Keck, former director of the clinic at the Max Planck Institute for Psychiatry in Munich. “That doesn’t happen automatically just because the body may produce more serotonin.” For this reason, he thinks the studies that some blanket suppliers use to advertise are not very meaningful, as he told the Süddeutsche.

Incidentally, the same effect is also used with crying babies: The puck method, i.e. tightly wrapping in a cloth, makes children feel safe and born, just as they once did in the womb. Apply the same principle Therapy blankets only that they are supposed to help adults with anxiety and sleep disorders. And these are by no means all clinical pictures in which weighted blankets are used.

Who are weight blankets suitable for?

In principle, weight blankets are just as suitable for children as they are for adults when it comes to improving their own body awareness. For people who are always very tense and cannot calm down, the heavy blankets offer a sensible alternative to ordinary duvets. For this reason, the therapy blankets are not only used for anxiety and sleep disorders, but also for other clinical pictures that cause inner restlessness, such as:

Here, too, weighted blankets with their deep pressure can help to offer those affected the satisfaction and security that they sometimes lack in everyday life.

Buying weight blankets: what to look out for

Before deciding on a model, it is important to know that a weighted blanket should only make up one tenth of your body weight (i.e. 10 percent). Depending on the manufacturer, the models weigh between four and twelve kilograms – for example, if you weigh plus or minus 70 kilograms, the weighted blanket should weigh around seven kilograms. So you can be sure that this model is not too heavy for you, but still achieves the desired effect. “Weighted blankets are great for sleeping disorders because they have a calming effect,” confirms sleep coach Christine Lenz from Nuremberg, but also points out: “However, the heavy blankets should only be used for falling asleep and not for the whole night, because otherwise they disturb our nocturnal movements. ” Furthermore, you should consider the following important points when purchasing:

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