Shopping for the holidays can be stressful, but finding the right gift for someone with anxiety can be difficult. You might think that setting up an appointment for a spa getaway might help, but the idea of commitment might bring on anxiety. Better choices include gifts that induce calm or teach mindfulness to help reduce anxiety. People with anxiety sometimes feel a sense of dread for the future, so you’ll also want to steer clear of any gifts that involve planning.
Here’s a list of 45 gift ideas for any friend or loved one who experiences anxiety. Please note that the prices you see might vary.
Extra Cozy Hygge Box
What is hygge? It’s a Danish word for taking time away from your hectic life to spend quiet, cozy time with loved ones (via Denmark). This hygge box includes a speckled campfire mug with your choice of beverage such as spiced chai, herbal tea, espresso beans, or hot chocolate. You also get a pair of cozy socks, an unscented candle, a travel journal, a wooden ornament, and salted caramels. You can find it on Etsy for $45.
Woobles Crochet Kit
Did you know that knitting and crocheting are good for anxiety? Hand movements require the brain to concentrate and help distract from anxiety. The repetitive movement also helps release the feel-good hormone serotonin (via Anxiety Resource Center). The Woobles crochet kits are great for beginners, giving step-by-step tutorials and easy patterns. The beginner kits come with the right amount of yarn, a pre-started piece, and a tapestry needle to make these tiny little animals. A single kit costs $25, but you can purchase a crochet hook for an additional $5. Shop for a kit at the Woobles website, which ships free in the United States for any order over $45.
Spinning Enamel Fidget Anxiety Ring
Story Jewellery
You can call this gift a fidget spinner for your fingers. This sterling silver ring can ease anxiety by sliding the small beads around the ring band. The ring comes in three colors with an inspirational message to remind the wearer that finding calm can be as close as your hand. You can find this fidget ring at the Story Jewellery website for $39.
Yogasleep Dreamcenter Multi Sound Machine
Yogasleep/Target
Insufficient sleep can make anxiety seem worse, and anxiety can make it difficult to fall asleep (via Sleep Foundation). This sound machine made by Yogasleep offers 26 sounds to encourage peaceful slumber. It also has a night light where you can customize the color. You can keep the sounds running all night or use the sleep timer to turn the sound off after 45 minutes to eight hours. The Yogasleep Dreamcenter Multi Sound Machine can be found at Target for $29.99 if purchased online.
The Anxiety Workbook
Arlin Cuncic MA/Amazon
This book offers a seven-week plan to get control of anxiety through evidence-based tools used in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Author Arlin Cuncic has a background in clinical psychology with a focus on social anxiety disorder. The book sells for $12.39 in paperback at Amazon.
Maxsoft Hair Scalp Massager
Maxsoft/Amazon
Gift the gift of self-care with the amazing feeling of a scalp massage you would get at the salon. This massager works for all hair types and gets the scalp deep clean with your shampoo. It will help the scalp and head relax as the anxiety gets rinsed away. Find the Maxsoft Hair Scalp Massager Shampoo Brush for $6.98 on Amazon.
Dartwood Neck, Shoulder, and Back Massager
Dartwood/Amazon
Your friend or family member will love this heated neck, shoulder, and back massager. Multiple nodes within the device find all the little spots of tension that anxiety can bring. The massagers work in two directions and at three speeds, and you can opt for heat or no heat. It’s also portable! You can plug this guy into a car adapter for anxiety relief on-the-go. This massager sells for $59.99 on Amazon.
Meditation cushion
Florensi/Amazon
Meditation can improve sleep, reduce blood pressure, and ease anxiety (via PsychCentral). A meditation cushion is a great gift to make seated meditation a little easier because it helps elevate the hips to take pressure off the lower back. This buckwheat-filled cushion made by Florensi comes in six soft colors, and the cover is machine-washable. Find this cushion on Amazon for $44.99.
Less Anxiety Affirmation Cards
Sunny Present
Affirmations are great tools to help someone who’s experiencing anxiety. This set of 45 cards follows mindfulness principles to inspire people to spend some time reflecting on the positive. The cards are sustainably-produced in Estonia and sell for $14.35 on the Sunny Present website.
Aromatherapy bracelet
All Zen Things
Aromatherapy can instantly change your mood, so this bracelet allows someone to take it to go. You open the locket, fill the soft pad with your favorite oil, and your body heat diffuses the oil into the air. This bracelet comes in 15 different colors and designs. It sells for $18.99 at All Zen Things.
Buddha Board
Buddha Board/Amazon
You can write or draw your anxieties away with this Buddha Board set. This helps people practice living in the moment because whatever is written on the board vanishes as the water evaporates. It allows people to keep their minds focused while doodling. It’s a perfect meditation and mindfulness practice while exercising your creative energy. The kit includes a 12 x 9-inch canvas, a waterproof stand with a water reservoir, and a bamboo paintbrush, and it costs $37.95 on Amazon.
Zen garden for tabletop
DailyDealsWarehouse/Ebay
Create peaceful energy with this Mini Zen Garden. It’s small enough to keep on an office desk to rake away anxiety. Find this on eBay for $18.29.
Roll-on essential oils
Airome/Kohl’s
Lavender essential oils can help with relaxation (via Johns Hopkins Medicine), and some essential oils are blended with coconut oil to rub directly onto the skin. Airome’s roll-on essential oils can be found in this three-pack at Kohl’s for $12.74. The pack includes lavender essential oil, a cinnamon and clove blend, and an invigorating eucalyptus-peppermint blend.
Reflexology socks
USMART LLC/Amazon
Each part of the body has a direct link to a location in the foot, and reflexology can relieve some conditions and help relax the body (via WebMD). These reflexology socks not only bring relief for tired feet, but they point out the places in the feet that correspond with the body. They also come with a rod to dig into some of those pressure points. You can find them on Amazon for $10.99.
Sleep Pod
Hug Sleep
Does your loved one need a hug? This Sleep Pod from Hug Sleep compresses the body in all the right places using a four-way stretch fabric. It’s lightweight, breathable, and machine washable. This was featured on “Shark Tank” and 115 reviewers gave it five stars for helping them sleep better. It’s priced at $78.99.
Muse Headband
Muse
A tech-geek can relieve anxiety with the Muse 2 Headband. It uses EEG brain sensors to gauge your brain activity and determines what type of meditation or sounds that are best for you at that moment. If you feel anxious, you’ll get one sound, but if you’re calm, it gives another. After meditation, you can look at your feedback and track your progress on the Muse app. The Muse 2 Headband alone sells for $259.99, and the premium subscription to the app, which gives you more features and access to meditations without the headband, costs $12.99 a month.
Aromatherapy for men
Relax Away Essentials
If your guy thinks he’s too manly for aromatherapy, try these Bro Shower Steamers for $14.95. The Mountain Fresh scent blends pine and eucalyptus, and the Black scent features cedarwood and lavender. There’s also a Breathe blend of eucalyptus and peppermint. One steamer lasts for a 10-minute shower, and there are six steamers in each pack.
Relaxing teas
David’s Tea
The right tea blend can ease symptoms of anxiety and this Sleep and Relax Tea Sampler from David’s Tea offers 12 different loose-leaf blends to choose from. Included in this pack are the classic chamomile, a cinnamon rooibos chai, and a lavender buttercream sweetened with stevia. This sampler box costs $29 on the David’s Tea website.
Affirmation stones
Engraved Stones Direct
Sometimes we need gentle reminders throughout the day, especially when anxiety overtakes us. Your loved one can carry one or two of these affirmation stones and think of you. These stones are one or two inches and engraved with messages such as “I am loved,” and “I am brave.” You can buy a pack of 10 stones for $24.90 at the Engraved Stones Direct website. If there’s a specific message you’d like engraved, they offer custom-made stones as well.
Shakti acupressure mat
Shakti
Massage your whole body and reset your mind with this Shakti acupressure mat. This mat is made from organic latex that comes from rubber trees, and its covering is made of cotton. Your loved one can make this part of a bedtime routine by lying down on it while listening to music or watching a relaxing show. This Shakti Mat sells for $94 on the Shakti website, where you can also buy accompanying acupressure pillows or rings.
CalmiGo Inhaler
CalmiGo
When we get anxious, we’re often told to “breathe.” CalmiGo helps people with anxiety do just that. The device looks like an asthma inhaler, yet when you inhale through your nose, you breathe in a scent of lavender, peppermint, or bergamot (citrus). By learning the user’s breathing pattern, the CalmiGo helps activate the parasympathetic nervous system by taking slow, deep breaths for three minutes. This device sells for $179 on the CalmiGo website and includes two scented plates.
The Shift Inhaler
Komuso
The Shift is another breathing device that’s less technical and more functional because it also makes a beautiful necklace. The circumference of the breathing tube allows for a 10-second exhale, which invites calm. You can choose the type of chain, and the colors range from matte slate to rose gold. The Classic Shift starts at $65, and the Cuff Shift, which is also a bracelet, starts at $105. You can find The Shift on the Komuso website.
Breathwrk Pro App
Breathwrk
Deep breathing is great for anxiety, and the Breathwrk app has several science-backed breath practices to wind down. You can also keep a record of how long you can hold your breath and challenge yourself to a longer exhale. Although the basic app offers several free calming breath practices such as Panic Button and Auto Relaxer, the Breathwrk Pro app offers access to more than 50 breathing exercises. You can customize the length of each breath practice to help you sleep or wake yup. Breathwrk Pro costs $69.99 per year.
Sharper Image Foot Multipoint Acupressure Massager
Sharper Image/Target
A foot massage can be downright relaxing after a stressful day. You can give your loved one this multipoint acupressure massager from Sharper Image. You can customize the pressure from gentle to intense, and the reflexology nodes target those sore spots that often hold stress. It also holds options for heat and vibration to stimulate blood flow for a refreshing experience. This one is available at Target for $99.99.
Anxiety First Aid Kit Book
New Harbinger Publications/Barnes and Noble
Here’s another go-to workbook that will help someone with anxiety find tools for calm when needed most. The book also offers ways to increase resilience and improve mental health. Written by nine psychologists and social workers, the book is the perfect emergency kit for dealing with mental strain. The paperback sells for $16.95 at Barnes and Noble.
Guatemalan worry dolls
UPAVIM crafts
Worry dolls originated in Guatemala, where children would confide their worries to them. They placed the dolls under their pillows, and the dolls would bless the children with the wisdom to handle their worries (via Common Hope). You can purchase a set of these small worry dolls for $5 at the UPAVIM Crafts website, a fair-trade store that supports the women of La Esperanza, Guatemala.
Chinese Baoding Balls
Mitr Meditation/Etsy
These meditation balls help with stress reduction and improve relaxation. You exercise the muscles of your hand while also exercising your brain (via Mindworks). The balls shown here are made of resin iron and copper, and as you turn them, a gentle sound emerges. Find them on Etsy for $27.20.
Playlearn Cuddle Ball Knot
Playlearn/Amazon
For any child who experiences anxiety, this cuddle ball gives instant calm and security. The soft fabric invites your hands into the gaps to feel a tender embrace. The Playlearn Cuddle Ball Knot goes for $27.99 on Amazon.
Embroidery kit
Cherry Blossom US/Etsy
Paying attention to the details while embroidering helps distract people from their anxieties and brings calm through repetitive movement. If someone is new to embroidery, this kit will get them started with an 8-inch embroidery hoop, an illustrated fabric, two needles, and a set of threads. You also have your choice of pattern and type of hoop. This one sells on Etsy for $17.09.
Weighted blanket
Baloo
Weighted blankets are great for calming because they feel both hugging and grounding. This bestselling throw by Baloo comes highly rated by NBC News and the New York Times and sells for $179. It’s made with 100% cotton and filled with glass microbeads, which makes it suitable for year-round use. The throw weighs 12 pounds, and a king-sized blanket weighs 25 pounds.
Life in Balance Gift Set
Knack
Give the spirit of calm with this collection of small gifts from Knack. This set includes a journal for self-discovery, stacking stones that double as erasers, herbal tea, and a candle. You can customize this set by adding additional items, or substitute items according to your friend’s or loved one’s taste or needs. It sells for $85.
Hatch Restore and Sleep Membership
Hatch
Nothing can jumpstart anxiety like a harsh alarm in the morning. The Hatch Restore takes people from bedtime to morning time using guided exercises to help people wind down, gentle background sounds to help them stay asleep, and a light in the morning that gets progressively brighter. The Restore costs $129.99, and the optional Hatch Sleep Membership with additional sounds and playlists costs $49.99 a year.
Dr. Teals Epsom Bath Salts
Dr. Teal’s/Walmart
A hot bath can calm anyone down, and adding bath salts can help with headaches, stiff joints, and anxiety (via Bettersleep). You can buy a 3-pound bag of Dr. Teal’s Epsom Salt with Lavender for $5.87 at Walmart.
Coloring book
Kara Holmes/Amazon
When someone feels anxious and overwhelmed, turning to a childhood hobby such as coloring can cultivate ease and reduce stress. This book sells for $7.99 on Amazon and offers 67 designs and 21 affirmations to color away your anxiety. Crayons are not included.
Jigsaw puzzle
Woodbests
During the COVID lockdown, people turned to jigsaw puzzles as a low-tech means of calming anxiety (via CNN). This beautiful design from Woodbests comes in four sizes, with the small, 98-piece design selling for $14.96. The pieces are made from Basswood, which gives off a fragrance that will make you feel like you’re deep in the forest. It also comes in an eco-friendly bag.
Breathing Buddha
Mindsight/Amazon
Not only is this little guy cute, but he guides you through the 4/7/8 breath practice that helps with anxiety. He turns green on the 4-second inhale, purple on the 7-second hold, and blue on the 8-second exhale. The Breathing Buddha can sit on the desk to serve as a gentle reminder to breathe. You can buy it on Amazon for $21.95.
Infinity Cube Fidget Toy
Small Fish/Amazon
This gift is a fidget spinner that meets a Rubik’s cube. It keeps anxious hands busy while studying or waiting without having a complex puzzle to solve. The Infinity Cube fidget toy comes in 10 colors and sells for $9.99 on Amazon.
Self-Therapy Pad
Knock Knock Store/Amazon
This 6 x 9-inch pad will help your friend or family member in a challenge. It includes naming the problem, resulting emotions, and any relevant past or present influences to offer some perspective of the situation. Although it’s not a substitute for actual therapy, it will bring a little humor into someone’s life. Find it on Amazon for $9.71.
Building block coffee mug
Poxiwin/Amazon
Why reach for a boring coffee mug when you can relieve anxiety by adding building blocks to it? Create infinite designs by stacking blocks from the three packs included, or you can add from any popular brand of building blocks. Don’t put this in the dishwasher or microwave, though. Choose from nine colors on Amazon. The mug is priced at $10.32.
Stress balls
Candescent/Amazon
This gift helps people squeeze out the stress and anxiety from life. Each ball is made of gel so it gives a little when you squeeze it. It also strengthens the hands. The set of two balls also has a positive message, just in case someone needs a reminder. You can buy them for $12.95 on Amazon.
Online yoga subscription
Glo
Meditation and physical yoga practice do great for anxiety. A subscription to a yoga and health app like Glo offers live and on-demand yoga and meditation classes from world-class instructors such as Jason Crandell, Kia Miller, and Tiffany Cruikshank. A one-month gift subscription costs $24, or you can give a full year for $288.
Therapy Dough
Cammie and Kip Weeks/Uncommon Goods
Let your friend or loved one relive fond childhood memories of playing with clay. This Therapy Dough helps wring out stress as they wring their fingers through the dough. Choose from four different essential oils: lavender, orange, eucalyptus, or pine. Each can of dough sells for $15 on Uncommon Goods. Beware of any allergies — the dough has soy and gluten.
Moment Pebble
Moment
Take a moment. That’s what this pebble reminds people to do — be a little more mindful throughout the day. The Moment Pebble does just that. After it’s charged, hold it in your hand and watch the stone glow. As the stone glows brighter, you inhale, and as it dims, you exhale. Purchasing the pebble for $90 also gives you access to the Moment Program, which features video and audio courses to build lifelong calm and resilience.
Healing water fountain
HoMedics/Amazon
Water is healing, and so is the sound of water. This three-tier water fountain will invite calm into any household. The submersible pump remains quiet so all you can hear is the trickle of water on the small river rocks. The fountain also reflects a small amount of light, and you can find it for $29.70 on Amazon.
Massage ball
Trigger Point
Anxiety and stress can dig deep into your muscles and tissues. A massage ball works like the hands of a strong massage therapist to target areas that hold stress such as your calves or hips. This sturdy MBX Massage Ball from Trigger Point costs $19.19.
