8 Thoughtful Gifts for Friends and Family with Anxiety

Dealing with stress and anxiety can be tough, especially during the holidays. Overwhelming demands, the hustle and bustle of the season and heightened tensions can spike our stress levels, making it difficult to seek peace and joy this time of year. With anxiety disorders affecting an estimated 19.1 percent of the U.S. adult population at any given time, there’s a good chance that you know someone suffering from excessive worry and stress. Why not give them a gift that promotes rest and relaxation? Whether it’s something that helps them take out their nervous energy or lulls their busy brains to sleep, there are plenty of gifts that will help put them in a calmer state of mind.

Keep scrolling to find the most thoughtful gifts for loved ones with anxiety, and we guarantee that their faces will light up when they open up one of these thoughtful presents.

People with anxiety often find it difficult to sleep at night because their brains are going a mile a minute. If you want to buy your loved one a gift that helps them calm down and get a better night’s snooze, you should definitely consider getting them a high-quality weighted blanket. Unlike standard blankets that often contain feathers or polyester-type filling, weighted blankets are typically filled with glass beads to give the user a soothing, hug-like effect that calms their autonomic nervous system. Whether they use their weighted blanket for sleep or to wind down at the end of a long day, they’re bound to appreciate this stress-busting gift.

Coloring books for adults have been trendy for years now, and it’s not difficult to see the appeal. The simple act of coloring is a great way to de-stress, calm your mind and channel your inner artist. It’s also something your loved ones can do while engaging in other stress-relieving activities, like listening to a soothing podcast or an audiobook. Check out Etsy for a host of stylish coloring pages for adults or stop by your local arts and crafts store for the latest and greatest adult coloring books.

Does your loved one suffer from intense panic attacks? They may appreciate receiving a homemade hot/cold pack as a gift. When your friend is experiencing a panic attack, they can press the cold pack to their skin and focus on the cold sensation. This is known as a “grounding” exercise, which is a technique therapists use to pull the mind away from unwanted memories or thoughts and bring the focus back on the body. For general relaxation and stress relief, they can also heat up the pad and place it on their body. This will deliver soothing heat and pressure to help relax their muscles and signal to their brain to calm down. 

You can find out how you can make a homemade hot/cold pack with this simple tutorial. (Hint: You can also add calming scents for additional stress relief!)

Let’s face it: an eye mask is one of those gifts that everyone can appreciate. After all, it’s no secret that many of us are sleeping rather poorly these days. (According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three Americans is sleep-deprived.) Eye masks help you get to sleep faster by blocking out all artificial light, making them a low-risk and budget-friendly way to get a better snooze. For added relaxation, consider picking up a weighted eye mask for your anxious loved one. Like weighted blankets, weighted eye masks can deliver soothing pressure that makes it easier to fall and stay asleep.

What could possibly be more relaxing than spending quality time with the people you love? If your friend or family member already owns the latest and greatest anxiety-related gadgets and products, consider getting them an experience gift instead. An experience gift — whether it’s a cooking class, a golf outing or a visit to the museum — is a great way to make lasting memories and take your friend’s mind off things that are stressing them out. Just make sure that the experience you choose isn’t a trigger for the recipient’s anxiety. For instance, tickets to a concert might not be the best gift idea for someone with a fear of crowds.

Tea is always a fail-safe gift idea for friends, coworkers and acquaintances — and it’s particularly beneficial for people with anxiety. Herbal teas such as chamomile, peppermint and lavender are known for their ability to help soothe the body and mind, making them a must-have for anyone trying to seek a little more rest and relaxation. If you aren’t sure which teas your friend prefers to sip on, pick up a tea assortment box that features a variety of calm-inducing blends.

When you have anxiety, it can sometimes feel like all the different sounds around you are overstimulating your nervous system. A pair of noise-canceling headphones can help block out the noise and make it easier for your loved one to focus on their breathing. If you want to make the gift a little more personal, consider making them a playlist with calming tunes. According to a study in BMC Psychology, music therapy can activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the system responsible for your “rest and digest” mode.

Meditation is a great way to decrease anxiety and find a few minutes of Zen during a busy week. According to one study, just 10 minutes of meditation is enough to improve focus and keep the mind from wandering back to anxious, repetitive thoughts. If your loved ones are new to meditation, consider getting them a subscription to a meditation app — like Headspace or Calm. These apps offer a wide variety of guided meditations, soothing sounds and mindfulness techniques to help your anxious friends manage their anxiety.