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Does a Weighted Eye Mask for Insomnia Really Help?
Ever wondered if and how a weighted eye mask for insomnia works? Read this article to find out. Plus, testimonials from people who own one.
If you struggle to get good sleep, you’re not alone. According to Sleep Advisor, 1 in 3 adults doesn’t get enough sleep. And 70 million people in the United States have sleep disorders. And speaking of, here’s some data on a major one, insomnia. Did you know that 30% of adults in the U.S. have insomnia while 1 in 10 is a chronic sufferer(1)?
This paints a pretty grim picture of the state of sleep in the country. While it may seem easy to shrug off, we hate to break it to you. The reality is the consequences of poor sleep are serious, including a higher risk of disease.
A sleep mask is a simple yet effective way to help you get a decent night’s rest. And in recent years, a weighted eye mask for insomnia is trending among the sleep-deprived. The question is: Is it here to stay?
This article lays out how one can help, including feedback from weighted sleep mask users. Here are the questions this post answers.
Who is at risk of insomnia and what are the causes?
People who find it especially difficult to fall and stay asleep suffer from insomnia. Some experience it occasionally, which means it's short-term. Others deal with it on a daily basis, making it a chronic disorder.
The scary thing is common factors can predispose you to the disorder. The older you get, the higher the risk. It’s also in the genes. If your family has a history, then it's more likely you’ll have it. Females are more at risk than males, too.
Lifestyle is another factor. Stress and anxiety especially can lead to insomnia. Late-night binge-watching won’t help either. Love to nap in the late afternoon? Well, the longer and later, the more you won’t be able to sleep at night. If caffeine is your best friend, you might want to demote it to an acquaintance, instead.
Believe it or not, the nature of your job plays a role. For instance, shift workers are at risk. Their ever-changing or odd schedules disrupt their sleep-wake cycle. If you’re a frequent traveler, jet lag can also lead to insomnia.
It’s possible your sleep environment is one cause. An example is if you live in the city. Too much light and noise can prevent you from getting the sleep you need. Light can make it really hard to fall and stay asleep. Exposure to light at night can suppress melatonin production and disrupt your sleep-wake cycle.
Sleeping in a dark, quiet room with the right temperature is important. In case you’re wondering, that’s about 65 degrees Fahrenheit (or 18.3 degrees Celsius). If it's too hot or cold, expect a lot of nighttime awakenings.
What are the symptoms and effects of insomnia?
Besides being unable to fall and stay asleep, here’s how to know if you have insomnia, according to Mayo Clinic:
You find yourself getting up too early the next day
Feeling tired, irritable and sleepy during the day
Inability to focus and remember, leading to errors
Accidents
Depression and anxiety
If you find yourself dreading and worrying about sleep(2)
When it comes to the effects of insomnia, think. What would happen if you’re not getting enough quality sleep? Chronic cases usually have exacerbated effects. Here are a few to keep in mind:
Weight gain that could lead to obesity
A weaker immune system
A higher risk for heart disease and high blood pressure
Leave you more prone to other diseases like diabetes
Takes a toll on your mental health
It leads to poor work performance
Poor mood impacting your relationship with others
If you were ever in doubt about how much insomnia can impact health and life, now you know. Bear in mind that it’s important to see a doctor to determine if you have insomnia.
If you have reason to believe that you’re at risk, nip it in the bud by prioritizing your sleep. A weighted eye mask for insomnia can do wonders for sleep quality.
How does a weighted eye mask for insomnia help?
A weighted eye mask for insomnia only differs from your typical sleep mask because it’s heavier. It will usually contain sand or glass beads to give it weight.
Here’s how using one helps.
It blocks out light. Plain and simple but essential.
Remember when we said sleep environment is a possible cause? Well, a weighted eye mask for insomnia helps by blocking out light. And that’s no small thing, considering that darkness is necessary for deep and restful sleep.
There are 4 measurements of sleep quality. The first, sleep latency, refers to how long it takes you to fall asleep. Second, sleep waking is how often you have night awakenings. Third, wakefulness is the length of time spent awake after you first fall asleep. Finally, sleep efficiency is the time you spend sleeping in bed.
Exposure to light at night affects all measures. Unfortunately, when 1 or more of these isn't met, then chronic insomnia isn’t far behind. Vice-versa, when you have insomnia, then your sleep quality becomes poor.
Bottom line: an effective weighted eye mask for insomnia needs to block out all light.
May calm anxiety and stress through deep touch pressure stimulation.
You don’t need to have a disorder to experience anxiety. Anyone can stress and worry over work, traumatic events and relationship issues. And you need to be in a calm and relaxed state to fall asleep and stay there.
Sleep Foundation says that anxiety is often a cause of sleep issues(3). It makes it hard to fall and stay asleep, both hallmarks of insomnia. And being in a calm and relaxed state helps you fall asleep and stay there.
A weighted eye mask for insomnia presumably works like a weighted blanket. Except it's for your eyes. It does so through deep touch pressure stimulation (DPS). It’s when touch in the form of hugs or squeezes calms and relaxes those in an anxious state. It triggers the parasympathetic nervous system. And slows down your heart rate and breathing, according to Penn Medicine(4).
DPS also triggers the release of melatonin and serotonin. This helps prepare your body for sleep and lift your mood.
But the jury is still out on a conclusive answer due to a lack of research on weighted eye masks. Yet, anecdotal evidence suggests that a weighted eye mask for insomnia could help.
Take note that a weighted eye mask isn't for everyone. Sleeping all night long with weight takes getting used to. If this sounds like you, then you can still use a weighted sleep mask for restorative naps. It doesn’t just help with insomnia. There are other weighted sleep mask benefits you can reap from a snooze.
We also don’t recommend pulling an all-nighter with a weighted sleep mask. Putting direct pressure on your eyes is risky. Remember they’re the most delicate parts of your face.
What do people say about a weighted eye mask for insomnia?
There are many available in the market. But of course, you want the best weighted eye mask for sleep out there. We promised you feedback from real weighted mask users. And so we took a look at what our Manta WEIGHTED Mask customers have to say. Here’s a quick overview of its features.
What is Manta WEIGHTED Mask?
This weighted eye mask for insomnia weighs under 1 lb. (about 0.82 lbs.). It’s light enough to stay comfortable and safe. But weighs enough to give deliver gentle pressure.
This sleep mask uses glass beads for weights. If you’ll notice, the front of the mask has ridges. These hold the beads firmly in place with reinforced stitching. This is so the weight is evenly-distributed to massage your pressure points.
It comes with detachable tapered eye cups to protect your eyes from direct pressure and guarantee 100% blackout. We recommend using the eye cups at all times while wearing the mask. Position them anywhere within the interior of the mask to cover your eyes. We considered that eye size and position vary.
Soft yet durable material makes up the head strap. Like the eye cups, it is infinitely adjustable for a personalized fit. The strap secures around your head with a micro hook and loop closure so it won’t snag your hair.
Manta WEIGHTED Mask Reviews
Excellent quality and exceptional results eyemask
"The Manta mask has literally changed the quality of my sleep. No more waking up several times a night due to shadows that came through my previous masks I have worn for years! Fits well and comfortable."
— Paula D.
The best night’s sleep!
"I’ve been a Manta faithful for about 3 years now, ordering my first mask from the US! The weighted mask is even better than the original when it comes to a calming and soothing effect. I have noticed my deep sleep has increased since wearing it. Thank you Manta, keep doing what you do!"
— Jo D.
"The weighted mask is amazing and this is from someone with PTSD and years of interrupted sleepy, nightmares and nighttime sleep avoidance. Ok, yes it’s 3:15 AM right now, but I’m about to mask up and try to be still. Thank you!!! ❤️"
— Becky L.
Perfectly Pitch Black!
"I have really enjoyed sleeping with my weighted mask and have been sleeping like a log, waking very refreshed. It’s very comfortable to wear and I have had no problem with side sleeping with the mask on."
— Martin C.
Relaxing
"It’s larger than I thought it would be, but added weight has helped me relax well. Good add for me as an alternative to the regular Manta I own. Thank you Manta!"
— Deb M.
Simply Amazing
"Didn’t think a sleep mask would help out so much. Crazy quality and feels amazing. Helps me fall asleep faster and get in my deep sleep cycle faster."
— Aaron W.
I love this mask
"I have lifelong insomnia. It's horrible. I've been slowly crafting a sleep routine that works for me. I discovered I liked the weight of a pillow on my face but that's not an ideal situation for obvious reasons. I researched weighted masks but at the time only found another brand that didn't have great reviews. I did buy a regular Manta sleep mask and it was good but I wanted something weighted. On a whim one day I searched again and lo and behold, Manta had since released a weighted mask. I bought it immediately. It's the best thing I could have ever gotten. It still has the adjustable cushions around the eyes, it's comfortable behind the head, and the weight is perfect. It doesn't slip when I put it on. It's very comfortable. If you struggle with insomnia and are looking for ideas, my new routine is wireless ear buds with my Calm app playing a sleep story and the weighted Manta mask, which is also great for keeping the ear buds in place. I cannot recommend this mask enough and actually do recommend it to people regularly. If you are considering it, just get it. You will not regret it. I'm sleeping so much better with it. It's very calming."
— Julie B.
Sleep is one of the main sources of energy needed to live life to the fullest. And there’s always hope, especially when you’re determined to get better, deeper zzzs. Luckily, modern medicine, sleep organizations and companies make it their mission to help. You can count us in.
Let us know if using a weighted eye mask for insomnia helped you get the deep, restful sleep you crave and deserve.
Sources:
(1) “54 Shocking Sleep Statistics and Trends for 2022.” Sleep Advisor, www.sleepadvisor.org/sleep-statistics/. Accessed 11 November 2022.
(2) “Insomnia.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/symptoms-causes/syc-20355167. Accessed 15 November 2022.
(3) “Anxiety and Sleep.” Sleep Foundation, www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health/anxiety-and-sleep. Accessed 16 November 2022.
(4) “4 Ways Weighted Blankets Can Actually Help You.” Penn Medicine, https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2022/march/weighted-blankets. Accessed 17 November 2022.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this website or provided through our blog, e-mails, or programs is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment that can be provided by your healthcare professionals.