Why an aggravation blanket can be useful for people with ADHD

Why do people with ADHD sleep worse?

ADHD in Dutch stands for "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In the name there could already be a reason that explains the sleep difficulties, specifically hyperactivity. People with ADHD are usually very restless, especially in the younger years, so their brain is constantly processing things. To get to sleep, you just want there to be minimal brain activity. Some people with ADHD take advantage of this by working at night because there are fewer distractions. However, this is not advisable since you then have an abnormal sleep-standing rhythm that makes falling asleep even more difficult.

A second cause that researchers confirm is that someone with ADHD often has a delayed sleep rhythm (or more scientifically, circadian rhythm). As a result, they don't start producing melatonin until a later stage. Melatonin is a hormone that causes humans to fall asleep faster. Because this is delayed in people with ADHD, it takes them longer to fall asleep.

These two reasons mean that someone with ADHD is more likely to suffer from sleep disorders, which can sometimes make their life a lot harder. The most common are insomnia, sleep arrhythmia, restless leg syndrome. Insomnia causes you to be very tired during the day because you fail to fall asleep at night. Melatonin is at the root of sleep arrhythmia (see earlier). You fall asleep more slowly, making activities that require you to get up early, such as school or work, more difficult. Finally, restless leg syndrome has the characteristic that this person cannot keep his/her legs still when lying down. This has the effect of making it harder for him/her to fall asleep.

What can a person with ADHD do to sleep better?

Of course, telling someone with ADHD to "just not think about anything" will not help that person fall asleep more quickly. They can't do much about it themselves at the time, but there are ways - in the run-up to bedtime - to fall asleep more quickly. The well-known tips are: no more screens an hour before bedtime, no alcohol or caffeine at night, cold temperature in the room, ... You have lots of them, but sometimes this is not enough for someone with ADHD.

However, purchasing an aggravation blanket can solve a lot for someone with ADHD. This is a blanket that uses "deep touch pressure. The weight causes you to experience fewer stimuli in the brain while sleeping and a sense of calm. The body makes more melatonin, so you will have less stress and a better night's sleep. It is definitely not a bad buy if you would get this into your home since most people sleep with a blanket on them anyway and this blanket then adds a much more comfortable feeling.