The idea of weighted blanket therapy (also called deep touch therapy) can be traced back to a basic human behavior that has made us feel calm. Clinical studies have shown that when touch stimulates certain pressure points on the body, the brain releases serotonin. This neurotransmitter is responsible for regulating various brain functions, including sleep and mood.
"Historically, Native Americans and other indigenous tribes from all over the world will automatically wrap their babies in swaddling or cradles to relieve irritability," Tony Boucher, autism spectrum consultant, told Medical Daily ". “Today, innovative hospitals and childbirth centers continue this practice. For those who continue to need stress beyond infancy, the weighted blanket is a clever extension of this idea.”
The key to this kind of stimulation is the heaviness of the blanket, which can generate deep pressure. In addition to swaddling, when we pet animals, this pressure exists in the hug.
"In contrast, light touch pressure is a more superficial irritation to the skin, such as itching, very light touch, or moving hair on the skin," Dr. Temple, Grandin in the Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology Write. "In animals, the itchy flies on the skin may cause the cow to kick, but the firm touch of the farmer's hand calms her down. Occupational therapists have observed a very slight touch to remind the nervous system, but deep stress is Relax and calm.
Multipurpose therapy
In the beginning, deep touch pressure stimulation was used to help children with ASD or SPD. These children often experience sensory overload, which means they have difficulty filtering out background sensory information. This can cause anxiety, anxiety, and trouble participating in sitting activities and ongoing tasks. Of course, sleeping in this state is also very difficult.
Research shows that weighted blankets can help children with ASD fall asleep. Children not only benefit from the release of serotonin from the blanket, they also benefit from the reduction in heart rate and blood pressure caused by the sedative effect. This allows more control and, in turn, better opportunities for rest.
Heavier blankets and deep touch pressure also benefit those who do not have specific sensory impairments. A 2004 study involved participants complaining of sleep dysfunction, stress, and pain, and "grounding" the patient with blanket-weighted sleep while cortisol levels were decreasing at night. The reduction in cortisol (a major stress hormone) leads to better overall sleep quality.
Another paper found that 63% of study participants reported lower levels of anxiety after using a weighted blanket. This benefit has been confirmed in subsequent papers. Because the treatment is safe, patients with multiple diseases are given weighted blankets at once and they benefit those with post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and all types of anxiety.
Like any medicine or therapy, deep pressure stimulation does not help everyone. However, as a therapy with almost no side effects or dangers - except for those with previous breathing or circulation problems - weighted blankets can provide a sense of calm and comfort that has been escaped for a long time.
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