Sleeping with a Weighted Blanket
- By Alyssa Ruffing
- Sep 26, 2019
Adding a weighted blanket to your nighttime sleeping routine is becoming more and more popular. While you may already have the most up to date mattress, pillows and other accessories, the addition of a weighted blanket also has the potential to help with getting your best night’s sleep.
Sleeping with a weighted blanket throughout the night for some may be something that seems fairly unnatural, if its something you have never tried before. The feeling is similar to that of being held in a gentle hug. The blanket will put a light and evenly distributed pressure across your entire body. Because it imitates the feeling of being held, many people feel more relaxed and more still while trying to fall asleep.
So, why purchase a weighted blanket, might you ask? While it feels like a gentle hug to a lot of people, that may not be enough reason to purchase one for some. Here are a few benefits of sleeping with a weighted blanket:
Can decrease anxiety
If you are someone who suffers from anxiety, specifically when you are trying to fall asleep, using a weighted blanket may be able to help. Having the pressure of a weighted blanket over you can help to reduce levels of cortisol, which is a hormone that influences a body’s response to stress. Even with the decrease in cortisol as it is getting closer to bed time, some people still have trouble falling asleep if they are feeling anxious or stressed. Adding that pressure of a weighted blanket can aid your body
May increase serotonin
Serotonin, otherwise known as the “feel good” hormone helps you to be in a relaxed state of mind, as well as helps to stabilize your mood. By regulating your serotonin levels, you’re more likely to have a more healthy and restful sleep routine. The pressure that a weighted blanket applies can help to stimulate the serotonin hormone.
When sleeping with your weighted blanket, just treat it like any other blanket! Make sure to choose a blanket that has enough pressure, but not too much that you feel like you are being restricted or uncomfortable. Happy Sleeping!
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