Nothing can leave you feeling sluggish, exhausted and irritable more than failing to get a good night’s sleep. According to health authorities, lack of Z’s could also increase your risk of suffering from high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and depression. Getting 7 to 9 hours of quality shut-eye per night, needless to say, is a must.
And now comes an important question: does weighted blanket help you sleep? To learn whether or not you should get your hands on a weighted blanket, don’t stop reading now!
Provides an Armless Hug
You can consider a hug as a drug because it can in fact cause some chemical changes in your body. Did you know that getting a hug from someone you love is enough to increase the amount of serotonin in your brain? Put simply, this chemical is something that helps lift the mood.
Draping a weighted blanket over your body the minute you hop into bed allows you to enjoy a serotonin-boosting feeling in the form of a hug without asking anyone to put his or her arms around you.
A weighted blanket is capable of simulating a hug courtesy of what’s referred to as deep touch pressure — your body receives gentle and equal pressure all over it. As a result of this, the production of serotonin is encouraged. You will find it so much easier to sleep because of the mood-lifting properties of serotonin.
Serotonin is a Precursor to Melatonin
Here’s one more reason why serotonin produced when you use a weighted blanket can help encourage a trip to dreamland: the said chemical is necessary for the production of melatonin.
If the name rings a bell, it’s because melatonin is one of the most popular all-natural sleep aids on the face of the planet. Although you can purchase it in pill form from pharmacies and health food stores, melatonin is actually produced by the body, and the majority of your stash of it comes from the pineal gland situated in your brain.
Melatonin is a hormone which is tasked at the regulation of the sleep wake-cycle, and that’s why having plenty of it in your brain is a good idea if you are suffering from insomnia.
Lifts the Weight of Anxiety
Perhaps you have heard or read about the use of a weighted blanket as a tool for managing anxiety. Well, if your mind is constantly flooded with anxious thoughts especially at night, it’s a wonderful idea for you to drape a weighted blanket over you when it’s time to get some Z’s.
Because a weighted blanket can encourage increased serotonin production, your anxiety can be lifted. A boost in melatonin stemming from having more serotonin also helps you enjoy much-needed sleep.
So does weighted blanket help you sleep? Certainly! Especially when paired with other aids for promoting restful sleep such as meditation, essential oils and white noise, you can rest assured that a weighted blanket can give you the high-quality sleep you truly deserve.
