According to a Consumer Affairs report, sleeping with a weighted blanket can have therapeutic effects, such as anxiety and insomnia relief.
As a way to alleviate anxiety, weighted blankets are particularly effective. A 2008 study published in Occupational Therapy in Mental Health showed that weighted blankets offer safe, effective therapy for anxiety. These results were later confirmed by a 2012 study published in Australasian Psychiatry, which found that weighted blankets successfully decreased distress and visible signs of anxiety in patients.
But the therapeutic effects of a weighted blanket extend far beyond anxiety. The blankets have been shown to help patients battling depression, PTSD, behaviors related to autism, restless leg syndrome, and even those with menopausal symptoms.
Numerous stores and blanket shops sell weighted blankets, including Magic Blanket, Etsy, Amazon, and National Autism Resources. You can also make your own with this tutorial.
If you have a medical condition, experts recommend consulting a doctor or occupational therapist before using a weighted blanket. You shouldn’t use weighted blankets if you suffer from a respiratory, circulatory, or temperature regulation problem, or are recuperating after a surgery.
