Sweaty palms, trembling limbs, a tightness that spreads throughout the chest and settles in the pit of the stomach- these feelings can be the constant companions of those with anxiety.
If you are looking for a cost-effective anxiety reducer that offers little to no side effects, then using a weighted blanket in your day to day living and nighttime routine could do the trick.
In 2013, there were 8.2 million cases of anxiety in the UK. If you are a woman, you are twice as likely to be diagnosed with anxiety, with a disproportionate number of these individuals being under the age of 35.
The Koala weighted blanket has become a top seller in the UK, as individuals are experiencing the therapeutic properties and anxiety-reducing effects attached to this widely popular product.
So what makes a blanket, of all things, a useful tool for battling anxiety?
It's in the Weight
Weighted blankets offer individuals an effective way to reduce anxiety through the added weight of glass beads, evenly and securely distributed throughout the folds of plush fabric. Specially designed with smaller pockets to spread out the beads, the Koala blanket will more closely cocoon the body, enfolding the user in what feels like a gentle, and loving embrace.
Enveloped by this weight and swaddled in fabric, weighted blanket work to reduce physiological arousal by applying this gentle pressure around the body. This is known as deep touch pressure and has been scientifically proven to provide positive effects on those with anxiety.
Many who have ever experienced a panic attack or anxiety disorder are familiar with the physical effects that come attached, from racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest tightness, to nausea, tremors, sweating, and pins and needles. The surrounding pressure of the weighted blanket can reduce these effects, stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system to lower heart rate and blood pressure, while inducing a sense of calm throughout the body.
Quiets the Mind
Anxiety doesn’t just affect the body, but also the mind. Inner tension, feelings of dread, agitation, irritability, and detachment are all psychological symptoms of anxiety that can come on at any time, unconsciously prompted or triggered by stressors.
Weighted blankets offer a convenient way to reduce these adverse mental effects, using deep touch pressure to encourage the production of happy hormones, regulating the mood and creating a sense of security and safety.
Use it on the couch when you watch TV or read a book, or bring it to the office to keep you calm and focused on those stressful days. Super soft, and utterly comfortable, keep your weighted blanket close at hand, and help offset those anxiety-ridden days.
The Grounding Technique
When feeling overwhelmed and dragged under by a wave of anxiety- many use the grounding technique to refocus the mind away from stressful thoughts.
If you feel a panic attack coming on, grab a weighted blanket, hunker down inside the warm and inviting fabric, and turn your mind to your surrounding environment.
What items are hanging on the walls around you, or on the floor near you?
By focusing on these external things, you’ll return your consciousness to the present, feeling more centred, while the Koala blanket works in tandem to help you feel less overwhelmed. Let the encompassing pressure ease the tension from you, and take a moment to centre yourself in the here and now with deep breaths.
Nighttime Sleep Aid
There is a proven link between lack of sleep in an individual and a higher level of anxiety. If you possess an anxiety disorder, then you could be 50% more likely to suffer from low quality sleep. And if you suffer from chronic sleep loss, then you could have an increased risk of mental illness.
It is a vicious cycle that can cause many individuals to experience a hellish merry-go-round of anxiety and insomnia. By sleeping with a weighted blanket, it could make it easier to get off this incessant ride, improving sleep quality and lowering levels of anxiety throughout the day.
What Social Media is Saying
A flood with love for these specialized weighted blankets, thousands across the UK are taking to social media to voice their appreciation of these products and their numerous benefits.
Many reviewers who had never before tried a weighted blanket had nothing but positive things to say after snuggling up with this comfortable companion, with one user exclaiming, “Love love love this, helped my anxiety at night, and I’m sleeping great. Going to order another for my son.”
Why You Should Try it
As there are very few side effects or possible risks associated with weighted blankets, they can be used in conjunction with other anxiety treatments or tools.
