An ADHDer’s Honest Review of the Quiet Mind Weighted Pillow
Stress-relieving hugs and a different kind of pillow talk.
As a millennial with ADHD, I have an impulsively curated collection of wellness-adjacent products, including an eye massager, a vitamin D lamp, an acupuncture mat, fidget devices, and a posture corrector. While these products have served me well, some have better marketing than benefits.
As such, I’m not a fan of being bamboozled, swindled, or tricked (by brands or my own impulsivity). So it’s with great pleasure to share that I’m genuinely enthusiastic about this product and expect to use it a lot.
You know when you try something that seems overhyped or overpriced, and then it clicks? “How nice could an $80 t-shirt really feel,” you may wonder, only to later buy it for yourself. It was kinda like that.
Honestly, I considered whether or not I’d even reply to their email, struggling to visualize how a weighted pillow would work. To be fair, it was more appealing than some of the… weird… things people try to send me.
I went into this thinking it would be a gimmick and immediately fell in love with it.
Sure, “weighted pillow” could pass for a random hallucination made by ChatGPT, but for me, it lives up to its claims.
Disclosure: Quiet Mind reached out after seeing my ADHD lifestyle articles. They sent a free pillow in return for feedback but have had no role in approving the contents of this review. I have no incentive tied to sales made to my readers. (There is a discount code for you to use, however — more on that later.)
Weight, What?
This will be quite the leap if you’re not already sold on weighted blankets. So let’s start there. Weighted blankets gained a lot of popularity on apps like TikTok, where users shared their improved sleep and relaxation due to the “pressure therapy” they provide. (More on that later.)
Basically, the weighted blanket creates a calm, hugging effect by distributing anywhere from a few pounds to twenty pounds across your body. The weighted pillow has a similar purpose with a different form factor.
FWIW, the US weighted blanket market is expected to exceed $1b in market size in the next few years. Yours truly loves his weighted blanket.
How the Weighted Pillow Works
The Quiet Mind pillow is designed to provide deep-pressure stimulation, which has been shown to have a calming effect on the nervous system. This pressure can help people relax and focus, lower their stress levels, and improve sleep quality.
Deep-Pressure Stimulation
Deep-pressure stimulation is based on the idea that applying pressure to the body can help regulate the nervous system. This type of therapy has been used for decades to treat various conditions, including anxiety, autism, and ADHD.
The Quiet Mind pillow combines weight and pressure to provide this type of stimulation. The pillow is filled with shredded foam and glass beads, evenly distributed throughout to provide a consistent pressure level.
Who Can It Help?
Quiet Mind suggests that the weighted pillow can help with anxiety, sleep, pain and stress relief, and other sensory experiences neurodivergent people commonly experience.
The pillow’s weight and pressure can provide comfort and security for people who experience sensory processing issues, autistic meltdowns, and emotional overwhelm.
You don’t have to have ADHD, insomnia, autism, or anxiety to experience these calming benefits — some have made a case for adults sleeping with stuffed animals, and the science itself is the same.
I’m editing this on the 5th of July and thinking about how much the ThunderShirt helps my dog in stressful times, like during fireworks. If you’re familiar with the idea, it’s kinda like that!
How to Use a Weighted Pillow
You can lay it on your lap, hold it to your chest, place it under or between your legs, or whatever best suits you.
I’ve used it in all of these suggested ways and to support my posture while watching TV in bed or using my laptop on the couch. I’ve also laid on my stomach with the pillow raising my upper body at an angle to avoid putting weight on my knees when crossing my legs (a habit I realized I had after starting acupuncture).
Many of the reviews focus on sleep benefits, but I was drawn to it more for when I was awake and reading, working, or watching TV.
Meeting the Creator and CEO of Quiet Mind
I spoke with Mikey Goldman, creator and CEO of Quiet Mind, who shared how his ADHD experience inspired him to create the pillow. He emphasized the importance of finding tools and strategies for each person.
It would be hard to miss the enthusiasm behind his creation.
“I have passion now, and I never had that in anything I was doing before.”
Mikey explained how simply hugging an object for a few seconds can release oxytocin, which makes the weighted pillow a “stress ball equivalent for your body.”
Quick Notes
Although I focused quite a bit on the sciency stuff, it’s worth highlighting a few other features:
- Sizes: Like weighted blankets, the pillow comes in different amounts of weight. You may choose between 6, 9, and 12 lb versions depending on your body or expected use.
- Design: the two colors are safe neutrals (Agave Green and Blueberry) without going “greige.” Some may appreciate the rounded edges over pointed corners.
- Material: it’s soft but leans a little warm to me. I’m curious about alternative textures for various sensory preferences.
- Care: the cover is machine washable.
- Price: starting at $179, add $10 for each size increase to medium and large. (If your eyes started watering a bit there, keep reading for an exclusive savings opportunity.)
Considering the weight and material, I asked if anyone had taken the pillow through airport security. Travel, after all, is a great source of anxiety for many.
I imagined TSA pulling this aside after going through the X-ray machine or having issues with carry-on weight limits. The team confirmed users had taken them on trips, including Mikey, who carried all three sizes without issue.
I also shared some thoughts with the team, like how cool it’d be to have a pocket on the pillow for stim toys or materials like reversible sequin fabric or ridges and patterns to trace with your fingers.
Use Code “DYLAN” for $30 Off
Overall, I recommend the Quiet Mind weighted pillow to anyone looking for a unique way to reduce stress, improve focus, and support sensory overload. Importantly, there are no apps, batteries to charge, subscription models, or steps to remember as is often the case with products targeted to ADHDers.
I asked the team for one last thing before writing this review. “Can I offer my readers a discount?” They were quick to say yes.
You can use the code “DYLAN” for $30 off your own Quiet Mind pillow until August 5th, 2023.
Maybe you’ll discover that it helps you find your own quiet mind.
About Dylan
Dylan M. Austin writes with an endless sense of curiosity and caffeine dependence, at a desk surrounded by an excessive houseplant collection. He’s written for Pinterest, Apartment Therapy, Figo, Inflow, and Ollie — some satirical content, too. Dylan is a gay ADHDer, dog dad, and run-on mixed metaphor with a website, Bluesky, and many Open Tabs.
