The 2008 study on the effects of weighted blankets used with adults found that a high percentage of people said they had decreased anxiety and felt more relaxed.
Following this study a survey was conducted of over 300 occupational therapists. The outcome was that weighted blankets helped to improve conditions for people dealing with the following:
- Sensory processing disorder (SPD)
- Autism
- Stress and anxiety
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Chronic Pain
- Major mental illness
- Insomnia
- Restless legs syndrome (RLS)
- Alzheimer’s and dementia
- Chemotherapy
- Post-surgery
- Motor agitation
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Cerebral palsy
- Substance and Alcohol detoxing
- Rett syndrome
- Multiple sclerosis
- Apraxia
- Fibromyalgia
Weighted blanket help people to different degrees. The first time that I tried a weighted blanket I felt the results straight away. I felt like my muscles were melting. It made me feel calm,very relaxed and sleepy. My anxiety started to go down and I could feel my brain slow down from mental chatter. It was a lovely safe feeling.
Weighted blankets are so effective that a growing number of hospitals and schools are using them. I will try to shed a little light on how they work in condition specific posts.