Table of contents:
- What are the benefits of sleeping in a thick blanket for mental health?
- What are the correct criteria for a thick blanket?
- Still under debate
A thick blanket does not only serve to warm the body because of the cold night air or the air conditioner in your room. Many therapists use this blanket to treat anxiety disorders, insomnia, or therapy for children with autism.
What are the benefits of sleeping in a thick blanket for mental health?
Research conducted by Occupational Therapy of Mental Health in 2008 published in the Australian Journal of Psychiatry found that thick, heavy blankets can reduce stress and reduce anxiety in patients. A thick and heavy blanket will give you something that is not there when you use a regular blanket, what is it? Deep pressure touch stimulation or DPTS.
Deep pressure touch stimulation it's like getting a massage and pressure exerted on the body. Deep pressure touch is a type of pressure such as holding, rubbing, petting an animal, or like hugging a baby. This type of pressure is claimed to be relaxing and calm.
This thick and heavy blanket is even considered the same as a warm hug. The pressure applied can also help relax the nervous system. This method is completely safe and effective and is considered a non-medicinal therapy potent enough to induce sleep and relaxation naturally.
Psychiatric, trauma, geriatric, and pediatric hospital units also use thick blankets to soothe patients with anxiety problems to allow them to sleep well. In the same way as holding a baby, the weight and pressure of this thick blanket can also make adults feel comfortable and relieved.
When pressure is slowly applied to the body, it can stimulate the production of serotonin in the brain which functions as a neurotransmitter that regulates several brain functions including mood and sleep.
When serotonin naturally turns into melatonin, the body gets cues to rest. The weight of this blanket is used as a therapeutic touch and acts as a touch pressure receptor located throughout the body. When these receptors are stimulated, the body will feel relaxed and feel more secure.
What are the correct criteria for a thick blanket?
The actual weight of the blanket depends on the user's situation, for an adult size a blanket that is 5 to 10 percent of their body weight is usually required, while the recommendation for children is 10 percent of their body weight plus 0.5 kg. However, it is better if you seek recommendations from doctors or therapists.
You can also buy blankets specifically for this therapy. For some people with respiratory, circulatory, temperature regulation problems, and in the postoperative recovery period, this therapy is not recommended because it will cause health problems.
Still under debate
Although many therapies use this blanket to treat anxiety disorders and insomnia. The use of this thick and heavy blanket is still under debate. Thick and heavy blankets are considered dangerous if used for children and adolescents because they are different in weight from regular blankets. There is still a need for further scientific research and testing to determine the benefits of the thick blanket used for this therapy.
