"A 24-year-old man who sleeps with a bear in the middle requires a deeper analysis, not from me but from a psychologist," Xuxi recently said on "BBVK" about Gjesti, but we don't know if Xuxi is aware that the psychologists themselves say that sleeping with a bear at night has positive effects on a person, even many psychologists encourage this habit.
How can sleeping with stuffed animals relieve anxiety?
Gesture isn't the only one who wants to cuddle something before bed and that's OK! High anxiety often rears its ugly head when we are trying to fall asleep.
It also doesn't help that over the past few years, the line between home life and work has blurred. "Many bedrooms have become offices, gyms and home schools, which can create a negative correlation between our increased stress levels and where we sleep," says sleep psychologist Sarah Silverman.
Anxiety affects about 20% of adults, creating sleep problems that include insomnia. In January 2022, the term "sleep aid" reached a five-year peak for Google searches, and sales of melatonin have increased year over year, with numbers nearly quadrupling from 2016 to 2020.
For those not interested in medications or oral sleep aids, it's not uncommon to turn to objects that we associate positively with bedtime. This may be why convenience-centric facilities are starting to grow in popularity. Blankets, teddy bears, and even a sleep robot for adults have flooded the market.
There is science behind the convenience. Studies of electric blankets have shown that they can help reduce anxiety and even improve sleep by reducing insomnia. The comforting, hug-like sensation was shown to reduce stress, increase feelings of relaxation and improve sleep in a 30-person study published in 2020 in the journal Sleep.
Although stuffed animals are often marketed to children, studies show that they are able to help children and adults feel less anxious and more calm and safe at bedtime.
"We've learned and made connections about what brings us comfort," says Silverman. "And sometimes we feel comfort just by having our favorite things close by."
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