The Gravity Blanket has been designed and engineered for those people who suffer from poor sleep and stress. It
helps to improve sleep quality and uses lightweight on the body to reduce stress as well as anxiety. This blanket is available with three different weight options, and these are 15 lbs., 20 lbs., and 25 lbs. The manufacturer recommends using a blanket that comes close to 10% of the body weight. In general, the blanket is useful in relieving anxiety, depression, insomnia, etc. and supports the management of mental stress to keep the mind and body healthy and well. The Gravity Blanket is designed for a single user as the manufacturer believes that each individual has his/her requirement so that the weight of the blanket is evenly distributed over the body and also because each user has a specific weight requirement which might not suit another.
Benefits and Uses of Gravity Blanket
The weighted blanket has several benefits and uses, and these include helping insomniacs to get sleep to easing the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder. The benefits and uses are described below:
The Feeling of Being Hugged
A warm bear hug soothes everyone. Cuddling is not just liked by kids but by adults as well. It relaxes and calms the nerves. Gentle pressure applied by the Gravity weighted blanket gives the feeling of a hug. The blankets can give a hug wherever and whenever required.
Reduction in Anxiety
More than 40 million people in the United States have some form of anxiety. There are many ways to deal with it, and people tend to identify their triggers and even set aside specific ‘worry-times’ within the week. A gravity blanket would be very useful in these worry times and help to reduce anxiety. The blanket gives nice and gentle hug, and it is
available all the time. Many anxiety sufferers use portable weighted wraps for use in office or car; however, the weighted blanket is ideal to use at home.
Helps with Insomnia
Similar anxiety, around 40 million Americans suffer from insomnia. Insomnia can have very negative effects on one’s life ad needs to be treated. Scientific research has revealed that deep touch pressure stimulation is a kind of therapy which releases serotonin; a chemical which regulates sleep. The Gravity weighted blanket does the same. It provides gentle but firm pressure whenever required and helps people with insomnia get enjoyable sleep.
Anti-Stress
Even those people who do not have chronic stress issues can get stressed sometimes. It can result from such events as an argument with a friend, spouse, or a colleague or even after getting a deluge of bills. It can have negative effects on both metals as well as physical health. The weighted gravity blanket helps to fight against stress. The deep touch pressure stimulation works well here as well. Therefore, there is no need to go to a therapist as long as the gravity blanket is at hand.
Useful for Sensory Processing Disorder
This disorder can be thought of as a kind of traffic jam in one’s brain. Information clutter can occur and cause stress or even a meltdown if severe. This is specifically hard for kids to handle as they are not mature and cannot always verbally express their feelings. The gravity weighted blanket would create a calming sensation in both adults and
kids and reduce the anxiety, which occurs when this disorder is present.
Helps with Restless Leg Syndrome
People with this condition get a creepy feeling in their legs, and this condition might increase during the night resulting in insomnia or even if the individual sleeps, he/she is not comfortable. Such people face a lot of embarrassment in libraries, and while traveling by train or in airplanes. While some use uncomfortable compression socks, these could be quite uncomfortable for people who have mobility issues or arthritis. Many such patients can use the weighted blanket to put gentle pressure on their legs.
For People with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Syndrome (ADHD)
Lack of focus occurs in this condition. This can affect both adults as well as children. People with ADHD feel restless and impulsive, and some even cannot complete the tasks assigned to them. Though it might affect different people differently, the use of the Gravity weighted blanket would soothe and calm their nerves and cause a reduction in anxiety. Their sleep and mood would also improve, and the ADHD symptoms would be reduced.
Quality Sleep
This is a great benefit of the Gravity weighted blanket. Many people, even though they are not insomniacs, might be too fatigued to sleep properly. They suffer from poor quality of sleep as even if they sleep for the right amount of time, they might not have proper and restorative sleep. As the use of the Gravity weighted blanket would boost serotonin levels, it would be easier to fall asleep, and they would be able to sleep deeper and longer. The result is a better restoration.
Reduces Pain due to Fibromyalgia
This ‘silent disease’ as it is often referred to is usually diagnosed way too late after it starts. It is more prevalent with women. It involves a chronic idiopathic pain in at least 11 out of 18 pain points. It can seriously weaken a person. Drugs help to manage pain but do not provide the cure. The use of Gravity weighted blanket can prevent fibro flare-ups.
Calming Effect
Many people go through certain bad days frequently in their lives. They could have gotten stuck in a traffic jam,
found that the dishwater is leaking when they reach home or they might have accidentally spilled coffee on their laptop. Such events can happen randomly and cause anxiety and frustration leaving one in state of frenzy. The Gravity weighted blanket is not just for those who have been diagnosed with some medical condition. It is equally good in such everyday possibilities as well. It helps people to unwind and take their routine stress off as well. Tender Loving Care (TLC) provided by the weighted blanket is good for all.
Mood Booster
While it is normal for people to feel sad or irritable ar times in the face of undesirable events, researchers describe these mood swings as being caused by chemical changes. Conversely, undesirable events can cause these chemical changes to happen. A lack of serotonin affects the emotional health of an individual. The Gravity weighted blanket boosts serotonin production and reduces the levels of cortisol (otherwise known as stress). This type of therapy is provided by the blanket right at the individual’s home.
Reduces Pain
Many people do not want to use drugs to relieve pain and do not buy pain killers for this purpose. There is always the possibility that these rugs might interfere with some other medication the individual is taking. With the help of the Gravity weighted blanket, a reduction in pain is possible in a natural way without relying on Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs or even prescription drugs.
Helps with Travel Anxiety
Some people get stressed and anxious while traveling. It is often related to getting squeezed in constricted spaces in trains or airplanes. Some people cannot bear the rush at the train stations and airport terminals. These people can take the Gravity weighted blanket with them and get rid of their anxiety as it would produce serotonin to soothe their nerves.
PTSD Symptoms Reduction
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is often associated with war veterans. It occurs after they experience combat situations. It can affect any individual who has been through a traumatic event. Even bad accidents or assault can lead to PTSD. Its symptoms include insomnia as well as depression. The use of the Gravity weighted blanket would reduce the pulse rate and blood pressure and would thereby reduce anxiety as a result.
For the Elderly
The Gravity weighted blanket benefits the elderly as well. Chronic insomnia could increase in old age and can cause health issues. Older people get stressed easily and could face anxiety and depression. They might have their sleep-wake cycle changed, as a result. They might sleep in short spans and stay awake till late. The Gravity weighted blanket helps them to improve sleep and feel fresh in the morning.
Helpful for People Suffering from Panic Attack
People with panic disorder can get panic attacks suddenly. They are also likely to get them when faced with a stressful event. The Gravity weighted blanket can help in such conditions. It makes the individual feel fresher and less anxious. Often fatigue triggers panic disorder and therefore, soothing and calm sleep in the night with the help of this blanket helps to keep it controlled.
Management of OCD
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) involves obsessive and persistent behaviors and thoughts, and it affects around 2.5% of the adult population. It is different for different people and is often thought of as a very strong aversion to germs. It is just a type of OCD as its a lot broader than just that. Low serotonin levels are known to cause it, and by using the Gravity weighted blanket, one can lower its intensity as it would increase serotonin production.
Helps with Autism Symptoms
Autism does not have a cure. However, its symptoms can be managed, and for this purpose, a wide variety of therapies and treatments are employed. According to researchers, autism patients respond very well to touch or massage therapy. Such therapy has got not just short term but long-term effects on them as well. The cortisol hormone is decreased, the levels of serotonin rise, and so does dopamine. These two neurotransmitters regulate one’s mood and control impulses. The Gravity weighted blanket is very useful in this regard.
72 x 48 inches for Single person use and 90 x 90 inches for Queen/King size.
Weight:
15 lb. blanket for 100 lb.+ people, 20 lb. blanket for 180 lbs.+ people and 25 lb. blanket for 230 lbs.+ people.
Ideal for:
People with Insomnia, anxiety, stress, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, Restless Leg Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, pain due to Fibromyalgia, etc. People who want to calm their nerves and improve sleep quality and who like to be hugged.
Quality of Materials:
Durable and High-quality microfiber shell, glass beads, and cotton.
Differentiators:
Uses ‘deep touch pressure stimulation’ to increase the production of serotonin hormone which relaxes and calms and improves sleep quality.
Rating:
3.9/5.0
Materials and Construction
The Gravity weighted blanket has been constructed in such a way that its exterior duvet is made out of micro-fleece,
which is very soft. The interior portion of the weighted blanket is made out of fine grade glass beads as well as cotton. Cotton is a natural product and is therefore quite breathable. It lets air go through it, so the sweat and moisture are dried up leaving the sleeper very comfortable. These glass beads are very much like very little pebbles and are normally constructed out of polypropylene. These are then surrounded by cotton fill. On average, a cup of glass beads would weigh around12 or 13 ounces. The glass beads are not toxic, and they are nonallergenic. They impart a hypoallergenic character to the weighted blanket. As such, it can easily be used by those people who are allergy-prone and who always fear that they might wake up with stuffed noses and skin irritations on a non-hypoallergenic bed. The glass beads are harmless to the environment, and they are also non-combustible which reduces the risk of the blanket catching fire. The glass beads are quite silent, and as such, they do not disturb the sleeper during the night. The glass beads and the cotton filling are held firmly inside the duvet cover by the help of elastic button straps as well as ties. The weighted blanket has also got gridded stitching on the weighted inner to make sure that the glass beads maintain a uniform distribution when the weighted blanket is in use.
Science Behind the Product
Weighted blankets have been used for a long time in medical communities, however, recently, new scientific studies have been publishing results and measurable health benefits for all type of people, and this has encouraged the development of these weighted blankets which provide calming and soothing sleep to everyone in general and people with sleep-related disorders or stress and anxiety issues in particular. The weighted blankets are helping people to sleep quicker and deeper and al of this has been made possible without relying on drugs, prescriptions, changes on one’s routine or any therapeutic training, etc. The Gravity weighted blankets have been engineered to be weighing anywhere from 7 to 12% of the bodyweight of the concerned individual. This allows the nervous system to relax and simulates the feeling of being hugged or held. The weighted blankets make good use of the power of ‘Deep touch pressure stimulation’ which is also known as the proprioceptive input to calm and soothe pressure points. This is a well-established therapeutic technique which improves mood, relaxation, and sleep. As explained earlier, it increases
the production of serotonin and melatonin which are the hormones which are instrumental in providing calming sensation and relaxation. They also decrease cortisol which causes stress. The blood pressure is decreased, the heart rate is slowed down, and the individual gets into a better mood. The outcome is relaxation and improved sleep. Gravity weighted blankets have been designed and manufactured in the light of research published in the Journal of Occupational Therapy in Mental Health and the Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorders. The proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference and research at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists have also been incorporated.
Durability and Warranty
The Gravity weighted blanket is made out of high-quality materials. The durability of any product is directly dependent upon its build quality as well as the quality of materials used in it. The manufacturer has based its development, designing and construction of the weighted blanket on scientific research that has been carried out a credible institution and published incredible research journals as described earlier. The craftsmen hip, as well as the build-quality, is thus of very high quality. The quality of the duvet cover, as well as the cotton and glass bead filling is also very high, and these products last for a very long time. The microfleece cover is highly durable, and so are the glass beads.
The durability of the Gravity weighted blanket also depends on how well it is maintained. It needs to keep clean and as it is hypoallergenic, the mildew, allergens and dust mites, etc. will not live and thrive in it. This prevents it from getting odors and helps to keep it clean. In case, washing is required, it can be easily washed in a washing machine but should be washed separately and not mixed with other items. The wash should be gentle and cool, and no bleach or chlorine-based product should be used. Fabric softeners are also not recommended. Only regular detergent is
sufficient. It can then be either air dried or tumble dried at low heat. There is no need to worry about the poly pellets or the glass beads as they can be entered into the washing machine without any issues.
Size and Weight
The Gravity weighted blanket is available in 2 sizes. There is a Single person blanket which is a ‘throw size’ at 72 x 48 inches, and there is the Queen/King size one which 90 x 90 inches. The Single weighted blanket is made available to the purchaser in Navy or Grey color while Queen/King one is available in Grey and white. The manufacturer recommends the weight of the blanket to be around 10% of the bodyweight or within a 7% to 12% range. As such, the 15 lb. weighted blanket is suitable for people weighing more than 100 lbs. The 20 lb. One is suitable for anyone weighing more than 180 lbs. while the 25 lb. One is well-suited for those who weight more than 230 lbs. People who want heavier blankets can always go for the heavier ones, and the same is the case for those who prefer a lighter one. In case the sleeper’s weight is between the recommended sizes, it is better to go for the lower weighing one. The manufacturer recommends this in light of the history of returns where the customers mostly exchanged in favor of the lower weight blanket
Who is it Ideal for?
The Gravity weighted blanket is well-suited for all types of people as anyone can get a bad mood and develop stress and anxiety on any day. However, it is ideally suited for people with problems related to insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, Restless Leg Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, pain due to Fibromyalgia, etc. It is also recommended for those who get anxious and stressed during train or airplane travel and those who are elderly and those who want to relax their nerves and be calm. It is ideal for those who love to be hugged. It cannot be
used by children under three years or under 50 lbs in weight.
Pros
The weighted blanket is highly durable.
It is stress-reducing and improves sleep quality.
It is ideal for use by insomniacs.
It is well suited for anyone who would like to reduce anxiety and depression without taking drugs.
It is well-suited for many medical conditions such as PTSD, OCD, Restless Leg Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, ADHD, etc.
It is non-toxic and hypoallergenic.
It can be washed in a washing machine.
It gives the sleeper the feeling of being hugged.
Cons
Some people are not convinced about the even distribution of glass beads around the blanket.
Some people find it inadequate for very tall people.
Verdict
The Gravity weighted blanket uses a well-established therapy known as ‘deep touch pressure stimulation’ to lower blood pressure and slow down heart rate to induce a calming and relaxing mood and eventually sleep. It improves sleep quality for ll and is specifically recommended for people who have issues related to insomnia, stress, anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, ADHD, Restless Leg Syndrome, Sensory Processing Disorder, pain due to Fibromyalgia, etc. It gives a feeling of being hugged and is useful for all types of people and not just for those who have a medical condition. Children under three years of age or 50lbs. Cannot use it.
Silvia Johnson is a researcher and writer with a passion for all matters related to health, nutrition and exercise. Prior to joining us, she worked as a journalist in the US and Canada, covering a wide range of health related topics, including sleep. Silvia studied media and journalism at college, and her hobbies include marathon running, swimming, reading and travelling with friends and family.
