Kocoono weighted blankets as a therapeutic tool for ADHD| ADHD awareness

Kocoono weighted blankets as a therapeutic tool for ADHD| ADHD awareness

People diagnosed with ADHD have irregular sleep patterns and are constantly battling the inability to have a good night's rest. This may be due to the constant feeling of anxiety and the constant inability to stay still, relax the nervous system and remain restful.

Various therapeutic measures can be put in place to help such individuals, one of which includes the use of a weighted blanket. 

But before we delve deep into how Koccono weighted blanket can serve as a good therapeutic tool for ADHD, let’s go into more detail about ADHD.

What is ADHD?

ADHD is a behavioral disorder that begins in childhood and manifests in an individual with impulsivity, hyperactivity, and the inability to concentrate.

 

 

What percentage of people in Ireland are affected by ADHD?

The data from Irish examiner estimates that about 5% of adults in Ireland have ADHD and with boys four times more likely to be affected than girls. In total, 170,000 have been reported to be affected by the condition.

What causes ADHD?

There is no exact known cause for ADHD, but studies show that genetic factors play a huge role. Most people diagnosed with ADHD have relatives diagnosed with ADHD before. But there are still possible causes which include - 

  • Lead exposure during pregnancy
  • Having a low weight at birth
  • Being delivered before 37 - 42 weeks of gestational age
  • A disorder with the brain function and structure

Other causes like non-strict parenting, family discord, and others have not been proven to cause ADHD, although they have been falsely held as one of the causes. 

How to recognize a child who has ADHD

A child with ADHD can be recognized by 3 major typical features which are:

  • Impulsivity
  • Hyperactivity
  • Inattentiveness

 

 

All kids with ADHD will manifest all these features to some degree. Some might show more impulsivity than hyperactivity or none at all. But it has been proven that boys are more commonly diagnosed with ADHD compared to girls, as girls only show inattentiveness some of the time. 

Inattentiveness in such children can be demonstrated as:

  • Repeatedly making mistakes and forgetting things
  • Failure to carry out simple tasks
  • Difficulty to stick to an activity
  • Getting easily distracted

While hyperactivity and impulsivity can manifest as:

  • Constant talking and interruption
  • Inability to sit still
  • Inability to complete a task but rather jumping from one task to another
  • Doing things without no preceding thought

This can continue into adulthood where it manifests in a very obscure way. Some of these symptoms include:

  • Constant anxiety and edginess
  • Inability to be patient
  • Taking unwarranted risk
  • Going through random mood swings
  • Lack of attention to detail
  • Inability to work well in a team and many more

How does ADHD affect personal life, relationships, and work?

With relationships - Individuals with ADHD find it difficult to maintain healthy relationships with others because of their constant inattentiveness. This can leave others feeling frustrated and eventually lead to arguments and misunderstanding.

Also, due to their impulsivity and frequent emotional outbursts, they might tend to hurt others while still making them feel unseen and stressed.

With work - Due to their impulsivity, lack of discipline, and interpersonal skills, such individuals are known to have problems seeking or maintaining employment. They may have difficulty learning, upskilling or may have struggled in education so qualifications can at times be hard to attain which is often sought after from employers

People who are neurodiverse are forced to fit into a world that does not always compliment their abilities or strengths and this can lead to constant anxiety, chronic stress, and trouble keeping up with deadlines and other things that may prove difficult in the work environment.

Personal life - Individuals with ADHD may give into impulsive behaviours and may experience challenges with the use of drug substances, chronic stress, impulsive eating, excessive spending, and financial issues.

How does ADHD affect Sleep?

Those with ADHD find it difficult to fall asleep or even stay asleep. Such individuals experience nightmares because of their inability to rest. Eventually, this lack of sleep leads to forgetfulness and excessive fatigue, and problems concentrating. 

Examples of Sleep disorders that occur in ADHD individuals

  • Restless leg syndrome

This means having a tingling sensation in your leg. This links to ADHD because studies show Resting leg syndrome happens due to a deficiency in iron that eventually leads to a decrease in dopamine level, also implicated in ADHD. 

  • Narcolepsy

There has been a link established between Narcolepsy and ADHD. Those with Narcolepsy experience sleepiness which can provoke ADHD symptoms. Here is a research study that states that people diagnosed with narcolepsy have a big prevalence of 15% - 30% ADHD.

  • Sleep apnea and other sleep breathing disorders

Such disorders affect nighttime sleep and cause excessive daytime sleepiness, which can also provoke the symptoms of ADHD similar to Narcolepsy. Check out one of our blog posts on sleep apnea and how Kocoono weighted blanket can help.

Sleep management options for people with ADHD

The effective management options for someone diagnosed with ADHD are a step further in cutting down the symptoms and increasing their quality of life. Some of these sleep management options include:

  • Creating a good bedtime ritual that does not involve any hyperactivity
  • Engaging in adequate exercise during the day
  • Avoiding any form of screen time an hour before bed
  • Use of melatonin supplements: Melatonin is a hormone that helps regulate the body's sleep-wake cycle, and its production increases as we approach the night. Taking this can rapidly help you regulate your sleep-wake cycle as studies show that melatonin onset happens late in ADHD individuals.
  • Workout: Engage in workouts, not just for your body but for your mind too. Regular exercise will help promote the production of dopamine and norepinephrine which will improve your attention span.
  • The practice of mindfulness: Mindfulness does a lot for the mind, and as little as talking walks in the mornings or doing a five-minute meditation, can help ease the mind and relax every anxious racing thought you might have. Find out the 6 top benefits of mindfulness here
  • Healthy eating: Taking your veggies, fruits, and water is good food for the mind. And when you feed your body with good food, your body is sure to respond well to its surroundings.
  • The use of weighted blankets

What is a weighted blanket?

A weighted blanket is typically a blanket that contains heavy materials that make it weigh between 5 - 30 pounds and provides therapeutic measures through deep pressure stimulation.

It has been recommended for so long to help people dealing with anxiety, autism, insomnia and ADHD, and other anxiety-related conditions. A weighted blanket provides that gentle consistent pressure that makes it feel like you are being hugged, giving that sense of calm and ease.


How can Kocoono weighted blankets help people diagnosed with ADHD?

Studies proved that a weighted blanket works well for ADHD. This was proved by an American 2014 study done on children to examine the effectiveness of using weighted vests in improving attention, impulse control, and hyperactivity. Also, here is British-based research done in 2016, that showed a significant improvement in school performance.

Here are the benefits a Kocoono Weighted blanket can serve as a therapeutic tool

  • Stimulate the production of melatonin and serotonin: Kocoono blankets can help release melatonin, which is a hormone that promotes sleep and lets you stay asleep. In a person diagnosed with ADHD, melatonin production from the pineal gland takes a longer time for it to be produced. But, with our weighted blanket, the melatonin is produced in less time through naturally relaxing the nervous system, and you can fall asleep faster. Naturally produced in response to darkness.
  • Promote focus: Our Kocoono weighted blanket up-regulates the parasympathetic nervous system that gives this sense of ease and calm. With the body in a state of calm, your mind can think through problems and focus on a particular task at hand.
  • Relax the body: As we discussed earlier, weighted blanket works via a technique called deep pressure therapy which promotes calm, stillness, and a relaxed mind. 

What to consider when choosing a weighted blanket

  • Pick the right weight + filling: The weight of a weighted blanket should be 10% of your body weight. Anything less or more than that won’t do the work. Instead, it might be too suffocating or ineffective in providing the desired outcome.
  • Consider the material use and breathability: You have to check the blanket material that suits your skin well and if it allows good airflow through your body.
  • Consider the style and sustainability: When purchasing a weighted blanket, consider what you want to feel in your home and what you want your home to reflect. This will determine the style of weighted blanket you choose. Also, ensure that whatever style you choose, you keep in mind its sustainability.

Why Kocoono blanket is the best blanket for you.

Here is a pictorial representation of why you should choose Kocoono weighted blanket. You the reviews we have been getting concerning our product here.  

 

Which is the best Koccono weighted blanket for me?

We have two versions of Kocoono weighted blankets available - Kocoono Basic and Kocoono LUXE. You can read up on the differences between these two here

Nevertheless, we recommend the LUXE version for older people, pregnant women, people with sensitive areas on their bodies, and children due to the special customisation. The customisation allows the user to remove some of the weighted bands to apply less pressure on certain areas and make them lighter. 

When purchasing a Kocoono weighted blanket either for yourself or someone else, ensure you get one that weighs around 10 percent of your body weight or that of who you are getting it for. 

We have 3 different weights for our Kocoono Weighted Blankets:

  • 5kg - Suitable for someone who weighs between 50 - 70 kg (8- 11 stone)
  • 7kg- Suitable for someone who weighs between 70 - 90 kg (11- 13 stone)
  • 9 kg- Suitable for someone who weighs over 90 kg (over 13 stone)

 

Final words 

Over time, ADHD has become a major concern, especially among parents with kids diagnosed with this. For this reason, they eagerly seek different therapeutic measures.

Amongst all the known therapeutic measures, weighted blankets play a very significant therapeutic role in helping individuals diagnosed with ADHD. Our Kocoono weighted blanket is a good weighted blanket to invest in because it offers a good weight distribution and is also very sustainable. 

Are you curious to know if kocoono weighted blanket is safe for your kids, find out more in one of our blog articles here

Do you have any questions?

Are you interested in buying a Kocoono Weighted Blanket and have any questions? We love to hear from you! Send us an email at info@kocoono.com or use our contact form to get in touch. 

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Disclaimer

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or mental health professional. In combination with your doctors' recommendations or other health care professionals, every little step will help to escape the depression spiral.

 

 


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