If you have anxiety, then there’s no doubting the fact that you may have tried many remedies to ease it. Whether to pop a pill or try natural remedies depends on individual cases. While one may be open to trying different remedies, considering a weighted blanket does not strike the mind easily. Many swear by it and claim that it has proved to be therapeutic. If you’re new to this, then read on to know how weighted blankets help relieve symptoms of anxiety:

Let’s begin by knowing what weighted blankets really are and how you should pick one for yourself. A weighted blanket may weigh anywhere from five pounds to 30 pounds, and the weight that is preferred by and suitable for each individual may vary. However, experts suggest that the ideal weight of the blanket should be 10 percent of the total body weight of the person using it. A weighted blanket can contain plastic pellets, woven metal chains, or glass sand/beans, and its weight is evenly distributed across the user’s body, thereby providing a sense of comfort. Weighted blankets have not only worked effectively to relieve symptoms of anxiety but have also lowered stress and agitation in patients with other illnesses

• How do weighted blankets benefit people with anxiety?

The pressure that is applied by a weighted blanket mimics the acts of swaddling, hugging, and massaging, inducing calmness, comfort, and quality sleep. The pressure from the blanket works as a stimulant that benefits both the mind and body in more ways than one. It relieves pain, boosts blood circulation, improves sleep quality, and has a positive impact on the person’s overall mood. The science behind using a weighted blanket is that it releases serotonin and oxytocin, hormones that are responsible for producing happiness and good feelings. Along with releasing these hormones, the added pressure limits the tossing and turning in bed, which especially helps those who constantly feel restless or worried even hours after having hit the bed.

• Uses of weighted blankets in other medical conditions

When we feel stressed or anxious, our nervous system signals our body of a threat, which may result in a spike in the heart rate, sweating, increased blood pressure, pupil dilation, and constricted blood vessels. Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism are recommended weighted vests to contain their behavioural symptoms at school, home, and at social events. Kids with weighted vests have been proven to be more attentive than when they were without one. Weighted blankets also calm the nervous system and aid in improving concentration. Apart from this, they can even be used to ease symptoms of conditions such as sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and arthritis, among others.