You find yourself tossing and turning at night, and the only thing that helps you out is your blanket. It seems like they have magical power and with them covering us, we fall asleep faster. Even hot nights are no different. There are a few reasons why we are so attached to them and once you learn why, it will all make sense.
We are warm-blooded creatures, which means that our body regulates its internal temperature, and this is what helps us stay warm. However, when we are in a deep sleep, all our control fades away — this is when we seek help from the things around us. And blankets helps our body adjust and maintain the temperature we need.
We are also “creatures of habit” and this has a huge impact on why we need our blankets. Even if it is not about feeling safe, we have been using blankets our whole life and it has been engraved in our routine since then. So, when we go to bed and cover ourselves with a blanket, our body receives a signal that it is time to sleep.
Serotonin is one of the “feel-good” chemicals that plays an important role in keeping us happy and calm. When we are stressed and anxious, it is hard to fall asleep. However, once we cover ourselves, the amount of this chemical increases and those feelings start to go away.