A Hippo Hug weighted blanket for anxiety (and made in Calgary) can be beneficial for a number of additional mental health issues, including bi-polar disorder, ADHD and schizophrenia, as well as sleep-related difficulties such as insomnia and restless leg syndrome. Anxiety is a complicated diagnosis, but there are lots of ways to help treat it.
What is anxiety?
Although we know it’s not a cure, research has proven that the “Use of a Weighted Blanket as Non Medicinal Anxiety Therapy” can be very effective. According to WebMD.com, causes of anxiety can be mental, physical, or a combination of both. A panic, phobic or stress disorder, or a generalized anxiety disorder, all of which produce differing levels of anxiety can bring on symptoms such as:
- Fear and uneasiness
- The inability to sleep
- Excessive worrying
- Not being able to stay still
- Sweatiness
- Shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
If you experience any of these indications of an anxiety disorder, a medical physician or certified psychiatrist can help. Remember, you don’t have to be alone!
How does a weighted blanket for anxiety work?
Weighted blankets work to ease anxiety by applying what is known as deep pressure touch stimulation (DPTS), and can be used anytime of the day. Even pressure provides both physical and psychological benefits. Like a massage, deep pressure results in a relaxing and calming feeling, and simply holding or hugging a weighted blanket for anxiety can bring people back from the edge of a full-blown panic attack. A collective-evolution.com article from 2016 titled, “Here’s How Weighted Blankets are Helping People With Anxiety,” describes weighted blankets as, “like a baby being swaddled the weight and pressure work to comfort and provide much-needed relief, encouraging the production of serotonin in order to uplift your mood.” Weighted blankets generate a calming affect, which can decrease heart rates and reduce blood pressure. They are totally natural and safe for all ages, in fact, weighted blankets are often used in psychiatric, trauma, geriatric, and pediatric hospital units.
How important is a good night’s sleep for anxiety?
The Anxiety and Depression Association of America reports that 40 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders, which can be made much worse by stress and anxiety. It’s often difficult to discern what came first the anxiety or the sleeping problem, but we all know how hard it is to function without a good night’s sleep. Not only can the resulting exhaustion cause us to perform poorly at work or school, it also puts us at a higher risk of injury, heart problems, obesity, diabetes, and stroke.
A good night’s sleep is important for all of us, but especially those suffering from anxiety disorders. In addition to a weighted blanket, the following suggestions may help you get the rest you need:
- Establish a relaxing nighttime routine devoid of stimulants. Don’t drink coffee, watch TV or use the computer: instead, read a relaxing book, drink herbal teas and listen to soft music.
- Go to bed at the same time each night and wake up at the same time each morning.
- Make your bedroom calm, dark, and quiet, and a sanctuary for sleep. Don’t work or watch TV in your bedroom.
- If you have a digital clock, turn it away from you so the light does not bother you.
- Don’t work out late at night. Exercise early in the morning or in the afternoon.
Advantages of a Hippo Hug weighted blanket
A Hippo Hug weighted blanket is right for those who like heavy duvets, tight hugs and squishes, the weight of another person beside them when sleeping and who are often curled up in a tight ball to relax. To test if you might enjoy a weighted blanket before purchasing one, try wearing tight pajamas, tucking in your sheets snugly and piling up blankets or folding a comforter to increase its weight. Our Frequently Asked Questions provide a lot of information about how weighted blankets work, how we make ours, and how we custom our weighted blankets to your exact size and weight preference.
Many of our testimonials reveal how weighted blankets can help with anxiety and stress, as well as a number of other conditions. A Hippo Hug weighted blanket is hand-made in Calgary, Alberta, out of the highest-quality materials and with a lot of love. Contact us today is you have any questions. We are happy to help!
