Weighted comforters are a type of therapeutic bedding that helps alleviate anxiety and stress. Weighted comforters range between 5 and 30 pounds and are filled with glass beads or plastic pellets. The additional weight provides a calming reverberation upon placing over the body, aiding in stress and anxiety relief.
This complete guide will help you walk through every nook and cranny of weighted comforters:
- How does a weighted comforter work?
- What are the benefits of Weighted comforters?
- Is investing in a weighted comforter worthwhile?
Explore our guide to discover the mechanics and benefits of weighted comforters. Jump to a specific section or read on for a complete overview.
How Does a Weighted Comforter Work?
Weighted comforters provide a sensation similar to a comforting hug. By applying deep touch pressure to the body through hands, tools, or comforters, weighted comforters can provide a calming effect known as deep pressure stimulation (DPS), akin to a warm embrace.
Temple Grandin, who discovered this therapy, developed a "hug machine" to alleviate anxiety in children with autism. The machine provided gentle pressure to the body without being restrictive or confined. Grandin observed a tremendous release of oxytocin in her patients, a hormone associated with bonding and relaxation.
Weighted comforters were created based on this research, providing a comparable sensation to the “hug machine” by gently applying pressure to the body, resulting in a similar oxytocin release.
Weighted comforters provide deep-pressure therapy that promotes the release of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine in the human brain, which stimulates the feeling of relaxation, happiness, and overall well-being. They have been utilized in treating symptoms of depression, autism, and sensory processing disorder.
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What are the Benefits of Weighted Comforters?
Weighted comforters offer comparable advantages to deep pressure therapy, including higher levels of serotonin, a decreased heart rate, and various other benefits.
1. Alleviates Night time Movement
If you are one with clock-like turns and tosses on the bed then a weighted comforter is an ideal match for your sleeping requirements. A weighted comforter will wrap you like a cocoon and provide you with the ultimate coziness that will eventually reduce any unnecessary nighttime movement, stimulating a sound and restful sleeping experience.
2. Eases Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) Sensations
Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that leads to the rapid involuntary movement of the legs. It can significantly disrupt a person's ability to fall and stay asleep, leading to sleep deprivation and fatigue during the day.
However, studies have shown that using weighted blankets or comforters can ease the symptoms of RLS by providing deep pressure stimulation, which can help reduce the urge to move the legs and thereby improve sleep quality.
3. Boosts Daytime Socializing
Users of weighted comforters have reported improved social interactions during the day, which can be attributed to the restful sleep they get at night. The importance of quality sleep cannot be overstated, as it affects a person's performance in various aspects of life, including work and school. When sleep improves, life improves as well.
4. Provides a Calming Effect
Weighted comforters are known to produce a calming effect, making them a popular choice for individuals experiencing stress or hyperactivity due to a disorder. These comforters are beneficial in calming a wide range of individuals, including college students and even animals.
5. Elevates Serotonin
Stimulating the release of serotonin, weighted comforters have been found to help users achieve more restful and deep sleep. Serotonin is known to regulate sleep stages and impact the depth of sleep, and its release can be stimulated by deep-pressure touch. As a result, using weighted comforters may improve the quality of sleep and help individuals feel more refreshed and rejuvenated upon waking up.
6. Alleviates Nervous System Activity
Weighted comforters provide a way to calm a parasympathetic autonomic nervous system, reducing symptoms of hyperactivity, anxiety, and other related issues. By applying deep pressure stimulation, the nervous system can enter a state of relaxation, decreasing the impact of anxiety on the body. This can help alleviate symptoms such as rapid heart rate or shortness of breath.
7. Minimizes the Frequency of Seizures
Weighted comforter use may not yield identical results for everyone, but benefits reported by some individuals include a visible reduction in seizure incidents. Positive impact on the parasympathetic nervous system from deep pressure stimulation promotes overall wellness of the body.
8. Calms Panic Disorder Symptoms
Weighted comforters and vests have been demonstrated to prevent crisis states and reduce panic attacks in individuals of all ages, promoting more normal lifestyles, better sleep, and improved overall well-being.
9. Stabilizes Fibromyalgia
Individuals suffering from chronic pain, such as fibromyalgia, have experienced significant relief when using weighted comforters. These comforters can alleviate symptoms and break the cycle of depression and anxiety frequently linked with the aforementioned condition.
10. Enhances Communication Skills
Deep pressure stimulation through the use of weighted comforters has been found to improve communicativeness, particularly in children with autism. This may be due to the sense of grounding and safety that the pressure stimulation provides.
11. Reduces Menopausal Symptoms
Several women experience irregularities in the sleep cycle, anxiety, and depression during menopause. A weighted comforter provides a calming sleep experience and reduces such symptoms to a great extent leading to a much more rested and rejuvenated feeling.
12. Manages Heart Rate
Through the simulation of touch therapy, a weighted comforter can keep the heart rate stable and induce a grounding and calming effect. This can prove beneficial in managing symptoms of anxiety or other conditions that cause a rapid heart rate.
13. Helps Sensory Disorders Patients
Families with children who have sensory disorders often find weighted comforters highly useful as they provide a sense of safety, comfort, and relaxation. These therapeutic aids can also be beneficial for individuals with other developmental conditions.
14. Induces a Sense of Security
Weighted comforters have been shown to provide a sense of security when wrapped around the body in a swaddling effect. This feeling of safety can extend beyond sleep and help with anxiety and stress in other aspects of life. Furthermore, improved sleep quality can have a positive impact on overall mental and physical well-being.
15. Improves Sleep Quantity and Quality
Weighted comforters may help in achieving better sleep quality, reducing sleep interruptions, and increasing overall sleep duration according to studies. Additionally, it has been reported that they can assist in falling asleep faster.
16. Keeps the OCD in Check
As low serotonin levels are linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the use of a weighted comforter will increase serotonin release. While a weighted vest may help during the day, a weighted comforter is best for night-time use.
17. Keeps Your Mood Fresh
The use of a weighted comforter can have a positive impact on a person's mood by increasing the production of oxytocin - the feel-good hormone. By reducing the stress hormone - Cortisol, a weighted comforter's pressure can provide an overall calming effect on one’s mental state. Such an effect can lead to an improved mood and overall well-being.
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Is Investing in a Weighted Comforter Worthwhile?
The increasing popularity of weighted comforters, also known as gravity comforters, is due to the numerous benefits they offer. Those who struggle with anxiety, ADHD, sleep, PTSD, or Alzheimer's may find a weighted comforter beneficial. Therefore, trying out a weighted comforter is certainly worth considering.
Weighted comforters are a versatile tool that can offer multiple benefits for people who struggle with conditions such as chronic pain and anxiety, as well as those who have sensory issues or are on the autistic spectrum.
To get the most out of a weighted comforter, it's generally recommended to choose one that weighs about 10% of your body weight. Investing in a high-quality weighted comforter that fits your needs can help improve your sleep, and reduce stress and anxiety.
For instance, if your weight is near 130 lbs you will need a comforter that weighs 13 lbs. Similarly, if you weigh around 200 lbs, a comforter weighing 20 lbs would be ideal for you.
Eli & Elm's weighted comforter offers a scientifically tailored blend of thousands of micro glass beads that are evenly distributed throughout the comforter to achieve the right amount of weight for a calming and relaxing night’s sleep.
These comforters are encased in a quilted 300 thread count with 100% cotton sateen fabric to put you to sleep faster than ever. Although the comforter can be treated as a weighted blanket that looks amazing on top of any bed, we've sewn in loops on all four corners so you can easily attach your duvet cover.
