Anxiety Blanket (A guide)

In this article, we will present what anxiety blanket is, its design, the formula that can help you find the appropriate anxiety blanket, and some precautions.

In case you want to get a weighted blanket, we have mentioned some of the best ones according to user review.

What is an Anxiety Blanket?

An anxiety blanket is a weighted blanket or a gravity blanket, that is used as an alternative treatment for anxiety.

In the past, it was used in hospitals for therapeutic procedures and programs, while nowadays it is more popular and is used at home, as people know about its benefits.

In past weighted blankets were widely used in sensory integration therapy, which is a type of occupational therapy.

Sensory integration therapy is used to help people with sensory disorders (for example, autism) to focus on regulating sensory experiences.

It is used in an organized and repetitive way to teach a person to process and react to sensations more effectively.

Anxiety blankets are a more comfortable and safer way for sensory experiences.

Deep Pressure Stimulation

An anxiety blanket gives a deep pressure stimulation, which has a calming effect on an overstimulated system.

It can help the body to switch from running the sympathetic nervous system to the parasympathetic nervous system.

An anxiety blanket provides evenly distributed and soft pressure on a large part of the body at once, making people with anxiety or overstimulation calm and giving them a sense of safety.

Anxiety Blanket Design

Many weighted anxiety blankets are made from cotton or cotton blend so that it is comfortable and easy to wash and use.

There are also microbial covers used in anxiety blankets, aimed to prevent or reduce the spreading of the germs and bacteria.

What about the fabric, it can be different depending on people’s taste. 

Anxiety blankets are often filled with small plastic balls.

Many weighted anxiety blanket brands claim that the plastic balls that they use are FDA compliant.

Some companies use glass balls, which are described as the sand’s texture, which helps to create a less bulky blanket.

For maximum effectiveness, anxiety blanket has designs of squares, each of which has the same amount of balls for the procuring a constant pressure over the blanket. 

How to Find the Appropriate Weight of an Anxiety Blanket?

To find the appropriate weight of an anxiety blanket you should talk to your doctor, he/she can help you find out which one can be useful for you depending on your age, weight, and size.

According to a company specialized in therapeutic products (SensaCalm), you can find the appropriate weight using the unique formula: 

Appropriate weight of blanket = 10 percent of body weight plus three pounds.

Attention!

It is not recommended to use a weighted anxiety blanket if you have:

• Delicate skin, 
• Circulation problems,
• Unregulated blood pressure,
• Open wounds,
• Diabetes,
• Skin rash,
• Asthma.

It can also be dangerous for children under the age of two; it is fine to be used by children who are older and can move the blanket on their own.

You should remember that it is forbidden to use weighted blankets as a restraint. 

Other Uses of a Weighted Anxiety Blanket

As you can guess from the name, anxiety blankets are mainly used to relieve anxiety or reduce its symptoms.

However, they are used for other health problems as well, such as:

• Stress,
• Depression,
• Insomnia,
• PTSD,
• Chronic pain and others.

The Best Weighted Anxiety Blankets

There are different kinds of weighted blankets; nevertheless, below are some of the best weighted blankets used for anxiety:

• The Gravity Blanket
• Magic Weighted Blanket
• Quility Weighted Blanket
• Blanquil Quilted Weighted Blanket
• Luna Weighted Blanket
• Platinum Health Calmforter Weighted Blanket
• Ynm Weighted Blanket
• Degrees of Comfort Weighted Blanket
• ZonLi Weighted Blanket
• Weighted Idea Weighted Blanket
• ZZZhen Weighted Blanket
• sSnooze Weighted Blanket

Recommended books and sources

1. Calming Comfort Weighted Blanket by Sharper Image- A Heavy Blanket
2. Premium Weighted Blanket, Perfect Size 60″ x 80″ and weight (12lb) for Adults and Children.
3. BedStory Weighted Blanket for Adult/Teenager, Heavy Blanket for Sleep Anxiety Blanket, Sensory Calming Blanket for Great Sleep, Stress Relief, Restless Leg Syndrome
4. Best Weighted Blankets 2019 (For Adults, Anxiety & More)
5. HFNE “Fidget Toys for Anxiety”
6. HFNE “Ladder Anxiety”

FAQs about the topic “Anxiety Blanket.”

Conclusion

An anxiety blanket is a weighted blanket or a gravity blanket, that is used as an alternative treatment for anxiety.

It provides evenly distributed and soft pressure on a large part of the body at once, making people with anxiety or overstimulation calm and giving them a sense of safety.

Anxiety blanket can be useful also for people with stress, PTSD, insomnia, depression, chronic pains, and other health problems.

There are microbial covers used in anxiety blankets, aimed to prevent or reduce the spreading of the germs and bacteria, and used mainly in hospitals.

Anxiety blankets are often filled with small plastic balls. Some companies use glass balls, which are described as the sand’s texture, which helps to create a less bulky blanket. 

However, if you have decided to get an anxiety blanket, you should talk to your doctor to know if it will be safe and effective to use it.

Please feel free to comment on the content or ask any questions in the comments section below.

References

1. How Do Anxiety Blankets Work?
2. The Science Behind Weighted Blankets: Why (and How) They Work