I first stumbled upon the concept of weighted blankets by chance on the internet. It immediately appealed to me and I wanted to try it right away. Because what others research and claim is one thing, but I wanted to experience it myself. Meanwhile, the whole family has a therapy blanket, and I use two more in my practice and at cuddle workshops. Participants at the cuddle evenings also gladly reach for this "unproblematic" and safe form of physical closeness when they prefer to be alone with themselves.

The weighted blanket gives me stability and support. My body feels enveloped, and I immediately notice how it calms my nervous system. "Security" probably describes it best, even though it's really hard to put into words everything that happens. The electricity under my skin immediately subsides, my muscles relax, and everything within me becomes light. Sometimes it's too much for me, then I just push the heavy blanket aside and use it as a side sleeper pillow.
I am particularly impressed by the new Premium Balance weighted blanket. The beads no longer shift, and the blanket uniformly envelops my body. I made a rather amusing discovery when I took my weighted blanket with me on a trip. In hotels, I often suffer from beds that are too small. To find peace at night, it helps my body to have plenty of space. A single hotel bed guarantees a sleepless night. However, with the weighted blanket (12kg), I was able to calm myself down so much that I found sleep even in the smallest bed.

As a trauma therapist, I always keep the weighted blanket within reach. People who have experienced overwhelming and formative events often lose their "grounding," meaning their access to the sensation of gravity. They lack a sense of being rooted and literally float away. Panic attacks are an example of this "shooting upwards," but so are increased reactivity, elevated sympathetic tone, and blood pressure, etc.

One patient (91 years old) suffered from severe agitation. The background was the loss of her husband after over 60 years of marriage. The weighted blanket helped stabilize her, and many of her symptoms were alleviated.

The subjective loss of one's own body boundaries is also an important indication that leads me to reach for the blanket. The applications are very diverse. I simply let my patients or seminar participants try it out for themselves and experience how they feel with a bit more weight and body demarcation. To begin, they might just place a portion of the blanket on their lap or even completely wrap themselves in it. Many then ask for it themselves at the next session.

For me, the weighted blanket has become indispensable. I wouldn't want to be without it in my private life or in my work. It's an important tool and a valuable resource because I know how reassuringly safe it feels to use the weighted blanket. Based on the many experiences I've had with patients, I find it valuable to report that the blanket doesn't have to be used constantly, and everyone has their own personal duration of use. Some feel very comfortable lying under the blanket for just 10 minutes, while others sleep with it all night.