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If you are an anxiety sufferer like me, I’m sure you know what I mean when I say that I will do absolutely ANYTHING some days to get my mind and heart to stop racing, be able to take some deep breaths and just feel CALM.
First of all, if you are new to my blog and haven’t yet read about my anxiety journey, start by reading it here.
I also have some other great tips (that cost nothing!!) that I use all the time. You can read about those here.
I first heard about the benefits of weighted blankets for anxiety back a few years ago. At that time, I did some research on them and they are supposed to help a BIG variety of disorders. Anything from anxiety to ADD/ADHD to insomnia. I thought about ordering one at that point, but when I saw that the prices were $100 – $150 for one blanket, I decided I could do without one. What if the blanket didn’t provide me any relief? What if I spent all that money on one and it just sat in my closet? Too risky. Hey, I’m a single Mom raising two boys……there is a LOT I can do with $150!!
Fast forward to about a year later. My boys and I were “wrestling” on the floor one day and they both thought it was so funny to lay on top of me and keep me pinned down (all Boy Moms will understand completely😊). I noticed this strange (but good) thing happened when one of the boys was laying on my chest. You would think it would have made it hard for me to breathe, but it actually had the opposite effect.
The pressure of him laying on my chest caused this sense of calm to come over me. I was feeling anxious on that particular day, so the calming sensation was very noticeable to me. I thought it was just a strange coincidence, but this happened time and time again whenever we were wrestling. Immediately, I thought back to the weighted blanket. Maybe these people who make weighted blankets were on to something!! 😊
What exactly is a weighted blanket and how does it work? What are the benefits of weighted blankets for anxiety?
A weighted blanket is a special type of blanket that is crafted with poly-pellets and therefore creates additional weight. The blanket has many quilt-like “pockets” that each hold some poly-pellets and a small amount of cotton filler.
The additional weight of the blanket causes DPTS, or deep pressure touch stimulation. It can be compared to the feeling you get when you are hugged, but in fact, it is much more than that. DPTS works in similar ways to a full body massage, by reducing muscle and joint stiffness and soothing aches and pains.
So what are the benefits of weighted blankets for anxiety?
If you suffer from anxiety, how many times have you woken up in the middle of the night with a bunch of thoughts running through your head and find it hard to fall back asleep? I know it happens to me often. Anxiety can make it hard to not only fall asleep but also stay asleep. Getting the proper amount of sleep is SO important (for everyone, but especially those with anxiety). Sleep is the time when the brain gets recharged and ready to begin another day. I can tell you for a fact that the nights I do not get enough sleep, I ALWAYS feel more anxious the next day. ALWAYS.
The pressure from a weighted blanket helps reduce cortisol (stress hormones) and raise serotonin levels naturally, making it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep.
There are a lot of companies that make weighted blankets, so I did some research and read a lot of reviews. I ran across a company called Mosaic Weighted Blankets. They are located here in the USA (Austin, Texas) and they had great reviews online. Each blanket is hand made when it is ordered and they use commercial grade products and commercial sewing machines. The blankets can run anywhere from $100 to over $200, depending on what size and weight you want to get. You can choose from a variety of colors, patterns and fabrics.
And so, after doing more research, I decided to order a blanket for myself. I was still a *tad* skeptical, but I’m worth it, right?! Remember those self-care blog posts I have written about? It’s important to take care of yourself, too. 😉
I received my blanket in January of 2018 and I have to say that I absolutely LOVE it! I could tell it was a very high-quality blanket from the moment I opened the box. The fabric was comfortable and the sewing was perfectly crafted. No trouble at all with the blanket tearing or pellets falling out.
I use the blanket every night!! I lay on my back, pull the blanket up to my shoulders and do some deep breathing to help me relax. The way the blanket conforms to my body gives me a sense of security and calmness. I actually lay the blanket on top of my sheets and comforter, but that is just my personal preference. You use it however it works best for you. Below is a picture of my blanket so you have an idea what it looks like. I ordered a 12 pound blanket in a gray marble pattern.
If you suffer from anxiety and have been debating about getting a weighted blanket, I would DEFINITELY recommend you give one a try.
So……you want to order a blanket, but how do you know what size and weight to order?
Mosaic Weighted Blankets has a size chart on their website (www.mosaicweightedblankets.com). The size is up to each individual’s discretion, but the weight to get is determined by your body weight. Don’t be afraid to go up a pound or two based on your weight range (1-2 pounds will not make a whole lot of difference). And here’s a helpful hint…..if you want more pressure on a certain area of your body, you can always fold over the blanket for extra weight in that area 😊
If you have any questions, I would recommend calling Mosaic Weighted Blankets directly. I called them when I was unsure about what weight to order for myself and a LIVE person answered the phone. Yes, a LIVE PERSON. There were no automated machines that picked up the phone (“Press 1 for this, Press 2 for that”). The woman on the other end of the line was super helpful and I could tell by the way she talked to me that customer service is a top priority for them.
*I will give you a word of caution.* You are able to find weighted blankets for cheaper on Amazon or other sites. But I will caution you that I read a lot of reviews from unhappy customers. If you order the blanket from Amazon, you don’t know where it is being made. You don’t know what kind of quality fabric and supplies they are using. There were a lot of reviews from people that received blankets that were sewn together poorly and the poly-fill pellets started falling out right away. Messy…..no good. If I wanted to sew and fix a weighted blanket, I would have tried to make one on my own!
Mosaic Weighted Blankets usually has some kind of special promotion or discount going on. Click on any of the links or pictures on this post to be directed right to their website. I will be one of the first to know of any additional offers going on and will be sure to pass along those savings to you as soon as they become available (because who doesn’t love saving money?)!
There are so many wonderful benefits of using weighted blankets for anxiety. I hope the weighted blanket will provide you with the same comfort and relief that it has for me!
Wishing you a relaxing night’s rest, calmness and sweet dreams always!
