This is a sponsored guest post.
If there is one thing that everyone deserves, it is a good night sleep. Unfortunately, for many this can be quite hard to come by. There are a range of reasons that people find it difficult to sleep, from stress, anxiety, trauma, medications, health problems, environmental factors, the list goes on. If this sounds like you, it may be time to consider using a calming blanket.
For those that have not heard of the calming or weighted blanket, they work by creating deep pressure stimulation on the body. These blankets of magic are made from either polyester or cotton with embedded substances such as sand pellets, glass bead or plastic beads to create their weight. Are you interested yet? Well, you should be! Read on to find out exactly how calming blankets help create their magic!
Melatonin & Serotonin
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your sleep/awake cycles. Studies have shown that by sleeping with a weighted blanket with pressure stimulation, your melatonin levels naturally increase melatonin levels, which then go on to help your serotonin levels rise within your nervous system.
Oxytocin
We all know that when a child is upset, a good, warm hug can fix almost anything. This is because hugs help the body to release oxytocin, which helps a person feel calm and happy. Research has demonstrated that the deep pressure stimulation caused by sleeping with a weighted blanket releases oxytocin, leading to a calmer, better sleep.
Cortisol
Cortisol is the main stress hormone within the body. It is known as the “fight or flight” hormone, and it helps your body control mood, fear and motivation. When you are trying to sleep, it can be difficult for people who are overly stressed or anxious to lower their cortisol levels and thus they find it quite difficult to sleep. Deep pressure stimulation has shown to reduce cortisol levels, allowing the body to naturally drift off to sleep.
Pain relief
Many different factors can be involved in increasing chronic pain, such as a hard chair, bad sitting posture, and a hard mattress. You can find a new soft chair that helps relax you relax, you can improve your posture by consulting a doctor, and you can rotate your mattress or buy a new one. For suffers from chronic pain, and even those occasional twangs, weighted blankets can be a lifesaver. By helping to regulate those hormones mentioned above, the deep pressure stimulation created mimics the sensation of a therapeutic massage, allowing you to drift of into a well needed, pain reduced sleep.
Disorders
Disorders such as ADHD, Autism, OCD, PTSD and other sensory disorders can be better managed with the stimulation of deep pressure. By maintaining the correct hormone levels as above, those people who live with a disorder are able to better function in their daily life. Weighted blankets are often used not only at night-time, but throughout the day for a range of people to help them focus and complete an activity or task.Every person deserves a good night rest. Without this basic human need, we cannot function efficiently in the rest of our waking lives. This can lead to several issues and can even make your insomnia and/or stress worse, thus making your sleep behaviour worse, creating a malicious cycle that you cannot escape. If you are ready to take control of your own body, start researching calming blanket options today!
