Weighted Eye Mask Benefits: Do They Actually Work?
Have you ever wondered about the weighted eye mask benefits and if they can really help you sleep more than normal? We have it here.
Do you have that friend or loved one who is always complaining about their lack of sleep? They tell you they simply can’t sleep at night and are constantly looking forward to the weekend so they can sleep all day. Maybe you are that actually person. Now, you don’t want to take the medical route in helping with your sleep troubles, so another solution is needed. Maybe an eye mask is the answer. Not just any ordinary eye mask though, but a weighted eye mask. What’s the difference and are there any weighted eye mask benefits?
WHAT DOES A WEIGHTED EYE MASK DO?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults between the ages of 18 and 60 require 7 hours or more of sleep each evening. School-age kids should be getting 9-12 hours of sleep per night and those rascally teenagers should be pulling in 8-10 hours of slumber each evening. Do any of us get that?
By sleep, the CDC calls for uninterrupted z’s. Forty winks, not 25 here, 10 there, but forty winks of blissful sleep. Chances are, not many get this. The stresses of work, school, and gas prices all play a large part in how restful we are at night. We can be dead tired, but that doesn’t mean sleep comes easy. If it does, it doesn’t mean it’ll remain uninterrupted. So, could a weighted eye mask make a difference?
Traditional eye masks are good for keeping out the light. It stands to reason then that a weighted eye mask does the same thing. True, but studies have shown adding some heft to your eye mask has additional sleep aid benefits. These studies say that the weight from a weighted eye mask improves relaxation, which helps you fall asleep much faster than normal and keeps you asleep for a much longer period of time.
If you are looking for a solution to your sleep troubles, then a weighted eye mask has numerous benefits. They can help with getting you to sleep faster, longer, and even better. Not only are they a great solution for adults, but they are also a wonderful, non-invasive choice in helping children with sleep issues get a better night’s sleep.
Those with insomnia are not the only ones who can benefit from a weighted eye mask. People with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder could be helped by one. If you suffer from depression and anxiety, a weighted face mask would be able to calm and soothe you as you lay your head down. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and even those with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other neurodegenerative diseases may also find weighted eye masks to their benefit.
Think of a weighted eye mask as you would a weighted blanket but with the added benefit of blocking out any light. Along with the removal of light, there are a number of other weighted eye mask benefits that you may not have considered. Let’s take a look at some of them.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A WEIGHTED EYE MASK?
There are plenty of benefits to wearing a weighted eye mask. “Think of these types of masks as a weighted blanket — but for your eyes. The gentle compression on your eyes brings comfort and helps you doze off to sleep,” claims Jana Lacey via the Sunday Riley. Lacey is the CEO and chief sleep officer of After Sunset. So, how could a weighted face mask benefit you?
1. Improvement in Quality and Quantity of Sleep
Of course, this is what we are all looking for and this is where a weighted eye mask differs from a traditional one. While both face masks shut out the light, which is a major plus, the weighted eye mask also delivers the extra punch of pressure therapy, something we will discuss further down the line.
2. The Ultimate Light Blocker
Apparently, the chemical in our brain, the chemical which tells us it’s sleepy time, is light-dependent. It’s possible you’ve heard of this moody chemical, it’s called melatonin. Perhaps some of you are currently taking over-the-counter melatonin to try and help you sleep. How’s that going?
Melatonin is the natural hormone chemical that releases when you are exposed to darkness in order to help you sleep. Any sort of light disturbance decreases the amount of melatonin released, which makes you more alert and unable to relax and sleep. So, the benefit of something like the Gravity weighted eye mask is that you will not see the light of day until you truly want to.
3. Deep Pressure Therapy
Deep Pressure Therapy, also called Deep Pressure Stimulation or Deep Pressure Touch, is the idea that the benefit of pressure is that it helps you relax, hence weighted blankets. The same thought goes into weighted eye masks.
Studies have shown that pressure distributed evenly across the body (almost like a firm hug) leads to relaxation. The thought is that this even pressure lessens our body’s fight or flight response. In this case, the anxious feelings dissipate, leading to a more relaxed body.
So, it stands to reason that a weighted eye mask benefit would be the even and balanced pressure around your eyes. Tension is removed, relaxation improves, and sleep comes much easier. Hopefully, it also allows for longer periods of sleep.
4. Go Away Pain
One of the benefits of Deep Pressure Therapy is that it alleviates pain. If you are one who deals with headaches, this could be music to your ears. Combining the complete blocking out of light with the acupressure of the weighted face mask could benefit those who regularly are in a battle with their headaches or migraines. In fact, many people have reported that weighted face masks have shown to be a significant benefit in their nightly struggles with pain.
5. Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Talk about a mood swing in the morning. We all know just what kind of mood we wake up in if our nights are restless. Sadly, our significant others know, our children know, our co-workers know, and that dog who simply “will not stop barking” also knows.
A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that those of us who got half or less than the CDC recommended amount of sleep at night were angry, sad, stressed, and exhausted. Imagine that. So, imagine the mood change you will feel by benefiting from a weighted eye mask. Your family and co-workers will thank you and that dog can bark until he’s blue in the face.
6. A Cost-Saver
Who out there doesn’t like to save money? Given the way prices are skyrocketing across the country, penny-pinching is the new pastime. One great benefit of wearing a weighted eye mask is that it may be the perfect solution to sleeping medication.
Over-the-counter meds can be a pricey proposition, as can those prescribed to you by your doctor. Besides, who wants to keep taking meds when a perfectly viable and non-pill swallowing solution is right at your fingertips? It lessens the dent in your wallet, and it also lessens the hassle of trying to remember to take your sleeping supplement each and every night.
HOW HEAVY IS TOO HEAVY?
So, you’ve decided that you want to test the benefit of wearing a something like an Asutra weighted eye mask to bed. How do you choose one? As one would guess, there are different sizes and different weights to a weighted eye mask. Some weighted eye masks are as light as four ounces. Some are as heavy as one pound.
The heavier weight may be too much for some. They can’t sleep with that much pressure so instead of the weighted eye mask being a benefit, it instead becomes a hindrance. The heavy ones may also not work for those of us who side sleep. The lighter ones may not offer the heft needed for deep pressure therapy. Unfortunately, you may need to play around with some of the weights before you find a good fit. There’s sure to be a good match out there for just about all types of sleepers.
FABRIC, YOU SAY?
Along with choosing the right weight, those who want to test out a weighted eye mask will also have to decide what type of fabric suits them. They come in different fabric styles from fleece to satin to even silk. Most people choose silk or satin because those fabrics are much cooler to the touch than fleece and some people cannot sleep hot. Again, you will have to test the material that suits you best.
IS SLEEPING WITH A WEIGHTED EYE MASK HEALTHY?
Although there are plenty of weighted eye mask benefits, they also have their drawbacks. One of the most common effects of a weighted eye mask is waking up with dry eyes, but one of the biggest concerns is blurry vision. Pressure applied to your eyes messes with your ability to focus. Having weight on your eyes throughout the night can cause major blurriness, making it an issue for those who need to wake in a hurry. It can cause difficult mornings, though not everyone wearing a weighted eye mask will have this issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There are plenty of weighted eye mask benefits. They can help relieve stress and pain and can even take some pressure off your wallet. They may not be for everyone, but they certainly are worth testing out. If you are having trouble pulling in even 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep, a weighted eye mask may offer you the benefit of a good night’s sleep.
