Weighted blankets are supposed to be an antidote to anxiety. Worth giving a try?
Weighted blankets are exactly as they describe – regular blankets with the addition of some extra weight sewn in. And they might just be the item you never realised you needed, especially if you suffer from anxiety.
“Weighted blankets are particularly popular and some individuals – particularly those with anxiety disorders or ASD [Autism spectrum disorder], say they gain immense benefit from using one,” Dr Becky Spelman, Psychologist and Clinical Director of Private Therapy Clinic tells Marie Claire.
Which are the best weighted blankets to buy?
If you’re curious about the potential anxiety-quelling properties of a weighted blanket, now seems as good a time as any to invest in one with Cyber Monday sales offering some generous discounts across various different retailers. We’ve scoured the deals and pulled out the best savings on weighed blankets this Cyber Monday.
- Simba Weighted Blanket – save up to 40% at Amazon
- John Lewis Weighted Blanket – save 20% at John Lewis
The best weighted blanket deals for Cyber Monday:
Mela Breathable Weighted Blanket, 5.5kg, was £150, now £105 | Mela
Mela does a whole range of weighted blankets, and they’re currently offering up to 40% off on their Black Friday sale. So what better time to snap one up? We like this one best: a breathable weighted blanket with a 100% Eucalyptus thread cover, designed for hot sleepers. Available in 5.5kg, 7kg and 9kg depending on your body weight.
Specialist Synthetic Weighted Blanket, 9kg, was £96, now £80 | John Lewis
This John Lewis own brand weighted blanket is made using a 100% cotton cover and contains glass beads inside. Designed to create even pressure across your body, you’ll want to wrap yourself up in it and never emerge. Also available in 4.5kg, 7kg and 11.5kg.
Simba Orbit Weighted Blanket, 9kg, was £169, now £101.40 | Amazon
Inside this Sinba weighted blanket are thousands of little glass nano-beads, meaning this will practically melt around you to form the perfect cocoon. Could this be your recipe for an anxiety-free, sound night’s sleep?
The Lounger, 6kg, was £189, now £170.10 | Remy Sleep
After something that goes with the aesthetic of your bedroom or lounge? Remy Sleep’s hand-knitted weighted blanket masquerades as a casual throw, but really it’s as weighty as anything. Rather than containing any beads for the additional load, the weight here comes from chunky weaves, and it’s available in four different colours including forest green and deep blue.
Echor Luxe Weighted Blanket, 6.8kg, was £89.99, now £76.49 | Echor
There’s a solid £13 saving on Echor’s weighted blanket this Black Friday. It comes with a washable duvet cover, which will ensure it’s kept clean and lasts for longer.
Other weighted blankets that aren’t discounted for Cyber Monday just yet, but we still think are worth every penny:
Gravity Weighted Blanket, 11.3kg, £200 | Selfridges
The Gravity Blanket is designed to be a therapeutic remedy to anxiety or insomnia, but it’s also great for everyday use, being incredibly soft. It distributes weight evenly over the body, creating the warm feeling of a gentle embrace, which will have your body relaxing in no time.
Rest Easy Sleep Better Weighted Blanket, 3kg, £55 | John Lewis
If it’s a lower price point you’re after, give this blush pink Rest Easy Sleep Better weighted blanket a go. A little lighter than the rest, at 3 kg, it’s ideal for a smaller frame.
What is a weighted blanket?
Weighted blankets are believed to help soothe stress and anxiety because of the ‘deep touch pressure’ they exert on the body. “Using a weighted blanket is like having a big hug, giving you the feeling of calm and security,” explains Gail Marra, Clinical Hypnotherapist and author of Health, Wealth & Hypnosis.
Glass or plastic beads are usually stitched inside to provide the extra weight that many people find so comforting. Ideally, the blanket should weigh somewhere between 7% – 12% of your body weight.
Just like any other blanket, they’re usually made from soft materials such as cotton or velvet.
How can a weighted blanket help anxiety?
It’s important to note that there aren’t currently many research studies around this, meaning evidence is more anecdotal and not necessarily scientifically proven. But the theory is that weighted blankets can improve anxiety because the brain registers them in the same way it would a hug.
“I often use weighted blankets for clients who come into clinic particularly nervous or anxious, and for young people with hyperactivity disorders such as ADHD and ASD, who find it difficult to self-soothe or to sit still for any length of time,” Marra tells Marie Claire. “It promotes the release of your feel-good hormones, dopamine and serotonin, boosting your sense of happiness and overall well-being,” she adds. With this, “levels of adrenaline and cortisol (our fight and flight hormones) dissipate, further reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety and so helping to centre the mind.”
It’s also suggested that weighted blankets and the cosiness they create can help to improve sleep and feelings of relaxation. Dr Becky Spelman believes these feelings of being “grounded and secure” can make people “feel more embodied, which means that they’re in the present moment – less focused on their thoughts and more in touch with the relaxing sensation that a weighted blanket can bring.” She adds that this is “a more mindful way to be.”
“I therefore believe that they are useful and eagerly await scientific study which will support what is being reported,” says the psychologist.
So, time to invest in a weighted blanket, curl up and rest easy?
The post The best weighted blankets to buy in the Cyber Monday sales appeared first on Marie Claire.
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