The modern world is full of stress. All of us experience mild to significant anxiety at some point in our lives. Expectations seem to increase constantly. Bills and deadline stack up, and debt, work stress, and school stress take a toll on our mental health. Worse, ever-glaring screens full of notifications cause insomnia and demand our attention. In fact, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America recently found that anxiety surpassed depression as the most common mental illness. 40 million people, or over 18% of the population, are affected by clinical anxiety in the US alone. (1) Fortunately, there are simple, natural ways to escape this “stress culture”. Using a weighted blanket for anxiety can help reduce your symptoms.
For many people, bedtime is one of the most stressful times of day. While we are out and about, social anxiety can be stressful, but often it is comforting to have people around and tasks to do. Once we slip into the loneliness of our own bedrooms, anxiety can begin to set in. For many people, the bedtime routine includes calling to mind all of life’s problems and beginning to panic. Going to bed with this anxious, panicky feeling can affect the way we wake up as well. Starting your day anxious is difficult and stacks the odds against you.
Imagine changing your bedtime routine to add more peace and less stress. A medical grade weighted blanket for anxiety can significantly reduce anxiety symptoms. We’re naturally designed to respond to deep pressure. When we hug another person, our body releases the hormone oxytocin, which has a calming effect. (2) Using a weighted blanket is like getting a hug all night long, releasing oxytocin and reducing anxiety. Getting in bed with a weighted blanket means putting yourself in a position to receive the therapeutic pressure your body craves.
One recent study discovered that 63% of people reported lower anxiety while using a weighted blanket. 78% of people in the study preferred a weighted blanket as a technique for handling anxiety. (3)
If you are looking for help managing your anxiety symptoms, a weighted blanket for anxiety is an excellent tool to try. Purchase one of our weighted blankets, weighted lap pads, or weighted throws today. We hope you will find them to reduce your anxiety as much as they’ve reduced ours.
1. “Facts & Statistics.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics.
2. Fletcher, Jenna. “Weighted Blankets for Anxiety: Uses and Benefits.” Medical News Today, MediLexicon International, medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317037.php.
3. Exploring the Safety and Therapeutic Effects of Deep Pressure Stimulation Using a Weighted Blanket
Brian Mullen BS, Tina Champagne MEd, OTR/L, Sundar Krishnamurty PhD, Debra Dickson APRN, BC & Robert X. Gao PhD. Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Vol. 24 , Iss. 1,2008
