If there was ever a time when we needed the cosiest night's sleep possible, it's during lockdown.
Now a weighted blanket sold on Amazon has been called "a game changer" by impressed reviewers.
The Bedsure Weighted Blanket for Adults, priced at £42.99, is designed for people with RLS (restless leg syndrome) and autism, along with those suffering from conditions like anxiety and insomnia.
Advert
Weighted blankets have an "earthing" or "grounding" effect, meaning that they help to ground your body while you drift off to a peaceful sleep.
Sounds pretty heavenly, right?
The added weight, evenly distributed throughout the quilted blanket, triggers the release of hormones that calm the nerves and lead to a deeper sleep.
Advert
This has a number of effects, giving you the feeling of being hugged or cuddled, and simulating deep pressure touch (DPT), a type of therapy that uses firm, hands-on pressure to reduce chronic stress and high levels of anxiety.
Bedsure's Weighted Blanket weighs 6.8kg is covered in 100% cotton and isbreathable, to maintain the perfect temperature throughout the night.
The extra weight comes in the form of non-toxic and odourless glass beads which are distributed evenly throughout the quilted compartments. Unlike plastic pellets - which are used in some weighted blankets - the glass beads are not noisy.
Advert
One happy reviewer said: "This really has been a game changer for me as someone who has always had issues staying asleep - it's worked wonder [sic].. it's super heavy when it arrives all folded up in a box but it's fine when it's been spread out."
"Incredible product - I had the best night sleep ever," added another. "Suffering with anxiety, this really did calm my nerves and soothe my body."
While a third agreed: "I am autistic and under a lot of stress at the moment and as soon as I lay under the weighted blanket I felt a sense of relaxation."
Elsewhere in the world of weighted mattresses, the Silentnight's Weighted Blanket, £65, launches 18th May to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week.
Advert
Designed by experienced sleep experts, the blanket eases stress and anxiety by simulating deep-touch pressure, the blanket is described as "quite literally hugging you into a calming and restful sleep". Dreamy!
The 6.8kg blanket contains thousands of small glass beads stitched within, for an even spread of gentle, soothing pressure.
Silentnight's Brand Licensing Manager, Clare Rix said: "With mental health concerns such as stress and anxiety being so prevalent throughout our modern world, we knew we wanted to create a Silentnight product that would hopefully help those that suffer get the great night's rest we all deserve.
"If you've ever experienced anxiety you will understand its physical affects, as well as its phycological ones and so we designed the Weighted Blanket to feel as safe, secure and soothing as possible, to replicate the comforting effects of being hugged by a love one.
Advert
"Once the body is feeling calmer, it's easier for the mind to follow suit and ease itself into valuable, restful slumber."
While these blankets sounds like a wonderful tool for troubled sleepers, it's important to note that they won't 'cure' underlying mental health conditions behind insomnia. For advice on coping with anxiety or stress, visit the NHS website, or call one of these mental health helplines.
This article features links that redirect you to products sold on third party websites. Where you click one of those links you are likely to have a cookie placed on your computer so that the website you are redirected to recognises that you have arrived there from this website. If you go on to purchase a product on that website, then we may be paid a commission. For more information, please click here.
Featured Image Credit: Amazon / BedsureTopics: Home, Mental Health, Life, Health