Weighted blankets in Singapore are not as common compared it its widely popular use in other countries such as Australia, United States and many other western countries. Weighted blankets are widely used for their benefits of helping the user experience a decrease in stress levels as well as improve sleep quality.
But how exactly does it work? Let us break it down for you!
HOW A WEIGHTED BLANKET WORKS
Weighted blankets act like a hug, using a technique called deep pressure stimulation (DPS) to make the user feel more secure. This is a deep touch pressure applied to the body — by hands, tools, or blankets — that can relax the nervous system.
Temple Grandin first discovered deep pressure therapy when searching for something to ease the anxiety of children on the autistic spectrum. Grandin wanted to invent something for her patients that did not make them feel confined or restricted, so she came up with a “hug machine” that applied gentle pressure to the body. When she did this, she noticed a release of oxytocin, in her patients.
Because of this, the weighted blankets was born. They give a similar experience to the “hug machine” by lightly pressing on the body and stimulating a similar release of oxytocin.
Have you ever wondered why hugging someone - or even putting something heavy on top of yourself (like a lead jacket when you're preparing to take an X-ray) - creates that feeling of calm?
It all has to do with proprioceptive input, a concept utilised by weighted blankets. Basically proprioception is one of our rarely talked about senses that, despite being relatively unknown, is highly beneficial to our existence. It informs the brain about your position in space, allowing it to relax and unwind.
Weighted blankets act as a form of deep pressure therapy that can increase the amount of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These are “feel good” chemicals that can cause the user to feel a sense of calm, happiness, and well-being. Weighted blankets have been used to treat symptoms of autism, sensory processing disorder, and depression for this reason.
Experience a feeling of calm and comfort today by getting your very own weighted blankets in Singapore!