Do Weighted Blankets Help You Sleep?

If you are having trouble sleeping, or if you are experiencing depression or anxiety, you might benefit from sleeping with a weighted blanket. Weighted blankets, which are filled with different materials to add weight--typically between 5 and 30 pounds--are becoming increasingly popular among people with insomnia, anxiety, or sleep issues, leaving many scientists and consumers wondering if these blankets are just a craze or something more.

Weighted blankets can be pricey, so before you invest in a blanket, you should be aware of the potential benefits of sleeping with one. Here are some of the advantages that can come from sleeping with a weighted blanket:

Calm Nervous System

Weighted blankets provide deep touch pressure, similar to what you might experience when receiving a hug. This deep touch pressure comes from the even distribution of the blanket’s weight across the body and helps your nervous system to switch from its “fight or flight” mode or sympathetic nervous system to its restful parasympathetic system.

This calming of the nervous system is the same reason why many people feel relief or relaxed when they are hugged. Weighted blankets provide users with that same deep touch pressure and sense of calm when they are going to sleep, allowing them to ease into a peaceful night of rest.

Improved Mood

Weighted blankets have been shown to increase serotonin levels. The deep touch pressure they provide is similar to that of a massage. This sensation can decrease the levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, while increasing serotonin, a hormone that helps improve a person’s sense of happiness. Studies have linked low levels of serotonin to depression and normal levels of serotonin will positively affect a person’s mood. Needless to say, sleeping with a weighted blanket can help you wake up in a better mood.

Better Sleep Cycle

Your body needs serotonin in order to produce the sleep hormone melatonin. Melatonin plays a significant role in the effectiveness of your sleep. It helps control your circadian rhythm and ensures that you are able to fall asleep quickly and deeply. Studies show melatonin helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep by an average of 7 minutes. If you struggle with falling asleep, using a weighted blanket can help increase your melatonin levels, allowing you to fall asleep faster.

While weighted blankets seem like a relatively new phenomenon, the benefits they provide with serotonin, melatonin, and a calmer nervous system have been studied for years. Using a weighted blanket may not be an instant fix to all of your sleep problems, but using them can help you relax, improve your mood, and get a good night’s rest.

If you want to help yourself sleep better, you should purchase a pillow from Luxe Pillow. These high-quality pillows provide the right amount of support and comfort you need to improve your rest.