Do plushies help with anxiety? This is one question many psychologists have never ceased to answer. The desire for comfort is becoming increasingly crucial in today’s busy society, where worry and tension frequently permeate our daily lives. In this context, the significance of plush toys—those soft, fuzzy friends from our childhoods—as stress relievers can’t be overemphasized.
Plush toys provide psychological assistance and an oasis of calm in times of increased tension and anxiety, in addition to their endearing appearances. It’s common knowledge that spending time with animals helps to alleviate stress, so it’s no surprise that animals like dogs, cats, hamsters, and rabbits are sometimes referred to as our closest friends.
This article will explore the important question: do plushies help with anxiety? Furthermore, it will look at the benefits of using these toys as a child or adult. Without further ado, let’s get started.
Understanding Weighted Stuffed Animals
Toys with weight are precisely what they sound like; they are called weighted stuffed animals. Most weighted plush toys weigh between 1 and 5 pounds. What makes them unique from other stuffed animals, then? Emotional support stuffed animal for adults, as opposed to ordinary ones, have therapeutic advantages that aid in stress reduction, emotional control, and anxiety reduction.
Weighted plush animals are made of materials that stimulate pressure to help with insomnia. Even weighted stuffed animals are beneficial for autism in studies.
Do plushies help with anxiety?
People use plushies to cope with anxiety, stress, grief, and loneliness. While the beneficial effects of stuffed animals are still being studied, some studies have shown that plush toys and weighted blankets can help people feel less anxious.
Plush toys serve as comfort objects for anxiety and tactile stimulation. People who are stressed or anxious may find comfort in plush toys’ soft, huggable qualities. When you squeeze, touch, or cuddle a plush toy, it releases serotonin and oxygen (two neurotransmitters) that help make you feel good.
Plush toys can also provide a grounding tool. An instant of relief can be obtained by focusing on the toy’s weight, texture, and sensation to help shift attention from worrying thoughts. Handling a soft toy might include repetitive motions that can be rhythmic and comforting.
Additionally, a plush toy’s consistency and familiarity can be soothing, particularly in uncertain or upsetting circumstances. Many people find comfort in the company of a devoted friend who never passes judgment and is always there to offer support.
Although using a plush toy as a coping mechanism can be beneficial, it’s vital to understand that this is not a replacement for receiving medical care for anxiety problems. However, as part of a comprehensive strategy, stuffed animals can help with symptom management and be a material comfort in emotional distress.
Benefits of using Plushies
Even though most people wouldn’t second guess a couple taking a weekend trip to Disneyland, getting a plush toy could make you feel a little uncomfortable as an adult. However, seeing plush toys on an adult’s bed is still unusual in Western society. Plush toys are an excellent mental health ally, regardless of whether you have an affection for them or are searching for a new technique to lower stress. These benefits can give you a clue to the question, “Do plushies help with anxiety?”
Improved Sleep
Proprioceptive input is a type of activity that exerts force on your body. Using a weighted teddy bear or plush toy before bed will control the proprioceptive input, allowing you or your child to fall asleep more quickly. The cuddly animal’s weight can also help you relax by calming your breathing and lowering your pulse rate. Plush animals help with anxiety at night, thereby improving your sleep after a stressful day.
Promote Positive Thinking
Plush toys can serve as a helpful reminder of a happy childhood. Plush toys can help us recall an era when anything and everything looked imaginable, from Disney films and stories about animals to Harry Potter and heroic characters, and this can work miracles for how you feel. As we get older as adults, we frequently experience thoughts of self-doubt, and these feelings can easily lead to a pessimistic attitude toward life.
These days, growing up can feel very lonely, especially for people who move away from school or are responsible for parenting a young family alone. When you’re feeling low, having a few adorable plush toys with big smiles about the house will cheer you up and reassure you.
Reduce Social Anxiety
Do plushies help with anxiety as many people anticipate? You may have social anxiety if you fear going to a group, social, or family gathering. The rising use of social networking sites and technology, according to a study released in September 2020, is to blame for the growth in social anxiety. The more time we spend on our phones, tablets, and laptops—and the less time we spend learning social skills, joining support groups, and engaging in face-to-face interaction—the more frightening, intimidating, and foreign social situations become.
Relationships are essential for mental health, especially for young people, and the more we withdraw behind screens, the more harm is done to civilization. Many people find that having someone who can give them a hug, a warm smile, and mental comfort helps them overcome this problem and develop the mental fortitude to deal with challenging circumstances.
Eases Sensory Processing Disorders
Deep pressure touch therapy assists you in putting your body in a relaxed state of mind, whether you or your child has a sensory processing impairment. Weighted stuffed animals can be used in place of a hug when it’s difficult to receive or offer a hug as part of deep-pressure touch therapy. The teddy animal can be hugged by either you or your child and will appear to be returning the affection.
Why Stuffed Animals Help with Depression
It’s common knowledge that cuddling a pet can ease stress and anxiety. The same argument might be made for plush animals, especially considering how much they resemble cats and dogs in appearance. Stuffed animals help with anxiety and provide warmth and familiarity that can significantly reduce stress, keeping you happy and healthy.
How does depression compare? When you consider the function of cuddling and touch, “feel good” hormones are connected to them. These hormones increase your sensations of happiness and relaxation while also enhancing your mood. All of these can significantly reduce any depression-related feelings you may have. It’s easy to see how weighted plush animals could help treat your melancholy because they can simulate a hug. Both adults and children can benefit from these.
Washing Your Plushies Toys
There is a precise way to clean stuffed animals to retain their special therapeutic effects because they contain organic materials and dried French lavender.
Washing
Avoid submerging your soft toy in water or putting it in the washing machine at all costs. As a result, the filling will group together and stop relaxing. Instead, clean the stuffed animal by wiping it down with a damp sponge or cloth.
Drying
Don’t dry your stuffed animal once it has been thoroughly cleaned. You can simply put it out in a cool, dry area for several hours or overnight to dry. If you want your hair to dry more quickly, use a hair dryer in the low heat setting.
How Much Do Plush Toys Cost?
Plush toys offer an accessible and practical means of caring for oneself or a loved one at reasonable rates. There is a plush toy option that meets your needs and budget, whether you’re searching for something basic and affordable or want to splash out on a high-end stress reliever that’s sure to wow.
Buying weighted stuffed animals for anxiety for adults remains a fantastic option that can offer various advantages at any age, whether you’re purchasing them for yourself or seeking the ideal stress relief present. Today, treat yourself or a special someone to one of these enjoyable activities to relieve stress.
Do adults need Plush Toys?
It’s a myth when people think anyone is too old to use plush toys. Medical professionals and other health professionals who have personally experienced the many advantages these entertaining and engaging toys can provide have frequently recommended them for adult stress relief. Nevertheless, don’t be surprised when people use the term “adults with stuffed animals psychology” because of their love for plush toys.
These toys range from head massagers with soft rubber tips to stress busters with multicolored gel-filled beads and are fantastic for people of all ages! Plush toys can be a great method to maintain your stress levels and encourage better mental health because they provide practical stress management advice at your fingertips.
They’re a great method to keep your mind sharp and happy when things are tough, whether you like squeezing, fidgeting, or looking at these entertaining and colorful stress relievers. So, neglect any preconceived thoughts that plush toys are solely for children and begin taking advantage of the stress reduction they may provide you immediately!
What more?
Do plushies help with anxiety? It is not a debate since several studies have proven these toys are therapeutic. Weighted stuffed animals help with anxiety, making them suitable for everyone as they offer several benefits and emotional support.
