Does Kocoono Weighted Blanket Help With Anxiety
Yes, Kocoono Weighted Blankets can ease your Anxiety. One of the main reasons our sleep is disturbed is because we have high levels of stress, which, when not properly managed, can turn into Anxiety.
Many people in Ireland and the UK are affected by an Anxiety disorders at one point in their life. The National Health Service in the UK reports that General Anxiety Disorders is a common condition, estimated to affect up to 5% of the population in the UK. These anxiety levels have risen in Ireland, UK and all across Europe since the COVID-19 pandemic began, people have not been able to do their normal hobbies or connect with people the same way they were used to and it has affected their brain, body and behaviour in many ways.
Can Weighted Blankets Reduce Anxiety And Panic Attacks
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America , about 2.7 million adults in the U.S. suffer from panic disorder. Panic attacks can come out of nowhere and can be a major disruption for people who experience them. Additionally, many people who have panic disorder also suffer from a co-occurring disorder, such as anxiety and depression.
If you suffer from panic disorder, weighted blankets for adults with anxiety might seem like yet another silly solution offered up by well-meaning but mildly annoying relatives yet, there is evidence that a weighted blanket can help you feel less anxious.
Are Weighted Blankets Safe
Weighted blankets are safe for most adults. However, those with underlying medical conditions, such as respiratory or circulatory issues, should consult with their doctor before use. The pressure of a weighted blanket might be problematic for those with asthma, low blood pressure, or type 2 diabetes, for example. Additionally, adults with claustrophobia may find weighted blankets too confining, and those with mobility issues may struggle to move under the added weight.
While you should consult your childs pediatrician, weighted blankets are generally considered safe for most children over the age of 3 who weigh at least 50 pounds. As with adults, experts suggest that a childs weighted blanket should be about 10% of their body weight. Many manufacturers sell weighted blankets specifically designed for children or label a model as being safe for children. Regardless of the manufacturers claims, its still best to check with your family doctor about whats appropriate for your child.
Finally, a weighted blanket should never be so heavy that the sleeper cannot remove it themselves, since this presents significant safety issues.
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Weighted Blankets For Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory processing disorder can take one of two forms. Some children and adults with sensory processing disorder are hypersensitive to stimuli and may become overwhelmed by noise, crowds or touching. In other people, sensory processing disorder takes the form of hyposensitivity . This group may have difficulty sensing noises, touch and other stimuli. Whereas someone who is oversensitive might avoid hugs or touching, an undersensitive person may actually seek it out. In some cases, people with undersensitivity also have a very high pain tolerance.
Therapists and medical professionals offer a variety of tools and therapies to help treat the symptoms of sensory processing disorder. For example, your therapist may have suggested a weighted blanket as a way to help you or your child handle the issues associated with the disorder. Because a weighted blanket is an object and not a person, children who are hypersensitive may respond better to it because they get to control the blanket. In other words, they decide how much or how little touch they would like to experience and can adjust the blanket to cover the areas where they feel they can tolerate pressure. And for adults and children who are hyposensitive, the blanket provides the firm, gentle pressure they crave.
Is It Ok To Sleep With A Weighted Blanket Every Night
The therapeutic benefits of a weighted blanket are best felt when used consistently. It’s a little bit like training your brain your weighted blanket is telling your body every night that you are safe and well. The sense of comfort this provides trains our bodies to release those “happy hormones”… leaving us feeling calmer and more peaceful the next day.
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How To Use A Weighted Blanket For Anxiety
If you have an anxiety disorder or know someone who does, then you probably know how difficult it can be to deal with on a regular basis. Sometimes, anxiety is triggered by a phobia or a traumatic event, while other times it seems to come out of nowhere. Anxiety can take on many different forms, and all of them can make your life miserable in some way or another.
Fortunately, thats where weighted throw blankets come in. Designed to mimic the feeling of a gentle hug, these soothing blankets use a technique called deep pressure touch stimulation to promote a sense of calm and relaxation.
If youre looking for a natural way to ease anxiety symptoms, a weighted throw blanket could be the therapy tool you need to get things under control. Below, learn more about weighted blankets and how to use one for anxiety.
They May Help Ease Anxiety
Perhaps you’ve heard of using weighted blankets for anxiety. And as it turns out, there’s some science to back up this claim, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
For instance, a March/April 2020 review in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy concluded that weighted blankets can sometimes help reduce anxiety, though the researchers noted that more studies are needed to better understand why weighted blankets work and how to use them therapeutically.
Researchers also found an association between using a weighted blanket and decreased anxiety in a March 2021 study in the Journal of Integrative Medicine.
The study observed anxiety levels in 30 people who had been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility before and after the use of a weighted blanket, and found that those who used a weighted blanket for 20 minutes had reduced symptoms of anxiety compared to those who did not.
This was a small study, though, so more research is needed to better establish this link.
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Are There Risks When Using A Weighted Blanket
There are very few risks for using a weighted blanket.
However, according to manufacturers, weighted blankets shouldnt be used for toddlers under 2 years old, as it may increase the risk of suffocation. Always consult your pediatrician before trying a weighted blanket for your child.
A weighted blanket may also be unsuitable for people with certain conditions, including:
- obstructive sleep apnea, which causes disrupted breathing during sleep
- asthma, which can cause difficulty breathing at night
- claustrophobia, which the tightness of a weighted blanket may trigger
Tips for choosing the correct weight
- As a general rule, a weighted blanket should be 5 to 10 percent of your body weight. The weighted blanket should also fit snugly to the size of the bed.
- Adults can use medium-large weighted blankets ranging from 12 to 30 pounds.
- For a 20- to 70-pound child, a small weighted blanket should weigh from 3 to 8 pounds.
- For a 30- to 130-pound child, a medium weighted blanket should weigh from 5 to 15 pounds.
- Older adults may want to use small or medium weighted blankets ranging from 5 to 8 pounds.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
There are very few studies that examine the use of weighted blankets for ADHD, but a 2014 study was performed using weighted vests. In this study, researchers explain that weighted vests have been used in ADHD therapy to improve attention and reduce hyperactive movements.
The study found promising results for participants who used the weighted vest during a continuous performance test. These participants experienced reductions in falling off task, leaving their seats, and fidgeting.
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What About A Weighted Blanket For Kids With Anxiety
The Nappling is our 8 lb weighted blanket designed especially for kids. It harnesses all the stand-out features and benefits of our signature Nappers, resized to suit kids ages four to fourteen. Young ones will enjoy a Nappling as both a sensory blanket and a stress blanket, with its calming texture and soothing weight.
Experts say that the sense of touch can help individuals cope with stress. If you have a child dealing with anxiety or healing from distress, weighted blankets can serve as a source of comfort through the sense of touch. When individuals use their five senses whether by smelling a calming aroma, touching something soft or cool, or enjoying the taste of a favorite snack it helps our bodies to feel calm again. This is why the soft touch of our Nappling blanket can be just the thing to help your child alleviate their anxiety and rest easier.
Curious how these anxiety-easing benefits are brought about? Read on.
Benefits And Where To Buy One
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Weighted blankets are heavier than the kinds of blankets people usually buy. They typically weigh anywhere from 4 to 30 pounds, making them heavier than the average comforter or down quilt.
For many people who have conditions such as anxiety, insomnia, or autism, weighted blankets may provide a safe complementary treatment to traditional methods like medication.
Research has shown that weighted blankets can help reduce symptoms and manage these conditions.
Weighted blankets can help reduce anxiety in both children and adults, and theyre typically safe to use. They help many people achieve a relaxed state, allowing them to sleep more deeply.
Weighted blankets help ground your body during sleep by pushing it downwards. This process, known as earthing or grounding, may have a deeply calming effect. The blankets also simulate deep pressure touch , a type of therapy that uses firm, hands-on pressure to reduce chronic stress and high levels of anxiety.
Studies show that grounding may help reduce nighttime levels of cortisol, a stress hormone. Cortisol is produced when your brain thinks youre under attack, eliciting the fight, flight, or freeze response.
Stress can escalate cortisol levels. This can have a negative impact upon the immune system. It can also increase blood sugar levels and adversely affect the digestive tract.
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The Importance Of Choosing The Right Weight For You
Buying a Kocoono Weighted Blanket that is not of the right weight for you would defeat its purpose. If the weight is too heavy, it can feel uncomfortable and, at times, anxiety-provoking. If it is too light, it can feel there is a limited benefit, so it is really important to get this right.
The recommendation is approx 10% of your body weight. So 5kg is suitable if you weigh 50kg , 7kg is suitable if you weigh 70kg, and 9kg is suitable if you weigh 90kg+ . However, this does vary based on personal preference. Some people prefer lighter/heavier. We highly recommend having a look at this blog for more information. If you have some questions about what weight you should choose, contact us. Our wellness experts will be happy to help you!
Bear in mind that there is an adjustment period with the Kocoono blankets. It can feel like a strange phenomenon when using it initially, as the body is not used to such deep touch pressure. It can take from 14-30 days for the body to become fully adjusted to it and achieve the benefits it was designed to provide. If you feel it is too heavy or too light after this period, our customer service will be happy to help you provide the right weight for you.
First Of All: What Is A Weighted Blanket
Unlike your average duvet cover, weighted blankets are filled with tiny plastic pellets to make them super-heavyIm talking up to 25 pounds. And thanks to the extra heft, theyre credited with bringing calm to the person under them.
Apparently, the confined sensation mimics the comfort of a gentle hug which promotes the release of feel-good chemicals that some say even relaxes them enough to sleep more deeply. “What they provide is a sense of tactile grounding in the body,” says Lara Fielding, PsyD, clinical psychologist and author of Mastering Adulthood: Go Beyond Adulting to Become an Emotional Grown-Up. These blankets have the symbolic ability to make people feel anchored enough to focus on the present and feel more relaxed, says Fielding.
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How To Find A Weighted Blanket For Anxiety
The first step is to find a weighted blanket that best suits your needs. These days, there are many different types of weighted blankets available, from weighted throw blankets you can use on the couch to cooling weighted blankets that help regulate body temperature.
Everyone has different preferences in a weighted blanket. If youre planning to sleep with yours, we recommend choosing a weighted blanket that will fit the entirety of your bed. However, if youre using your weighted blanket to calm down during the day, go for a smaller option like our popular Gravity Weighted Blanket in single size that you can use on the couch or your favorite armchair.
As a blanket rule for everyone , choose a blanket that is around 10 percent of your body weight. If the blanket is too light, you wont feel the effects. If its too heavy, youll feel trapped, which could make your anxiety worse.
More Natural Ways To Help Relieve Anxiety
Before trying out weighted blankets for anxiety, it is imperative that you first seek medical advice, especially if you are dealing with an anxiety disorder or a condition that causes you to have anxiety. Below are other remedies to consider when dealing with anxiety disorders.
1. Healthy Diet
Your nutritionist will help you choose the right diet with the right balance of vitamins, minerals, healthy carbohydrates, and proteins. Avoid sugar, caffeine, and alcohol and make sure that you eat small portions throughout the day and dont skip a meal.
Eat plenty of spinach, asparagus, almonds, oranges, salmon and avocados which are super foods that help to elevate your mood, increase folic acid in your body and prevent depression.
2. Exercise
The importance of exercising as a way of relieving anxiety cannot be over-emphasized. It is essential that you work out regularly. When exercising, the body releases hormones called endorphins which produce a positive vibration and significantly reduce anxiety.
3. Have Some Outdoor Time
Spend some time out in the sun and breathe in the fresh air. The sunshine helps the body to produce vitamin D which plays a part in reducing anxiety. The freshness of an open field and a scenic environment will calm your heart and mind and leave you feeling relaxed. When spending time in the outdoors, focus on living the moment.
4. Aromatherapy
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