What gifts to get for a friend or loved one with anxiety for the holidays

Donovan Banks, Staff Writer

A weighted blanket  Image result for weighted blanket
Weighted blankets help relieve stress or anxious feelings. Keeping a light weight on your body while lying down, compresses you further to the ground, (aka “grounding exercise,”) and sends you into a deep, calming, relaxation state. Image result for essential oils

Essential Oils / Aromatherapy Diffuser

Our sense of smell and emotions are closely linked; meaning, a calming scent can relax and destress from all the negative emotions within the body. 

 

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A White Noise Machine

White noise drowns out other distracting noise that may be preventing you from sleeping or focusing.  

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Mindfulness Stress relief Coloring book

Coloring is powerful enough to relax the “fight or flight”  center of the brain, the amygdala; inducing the relaxation state of mind.

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Journal 

Journaling is a great way to keep anxious thoughts in check. Try writing down your worries on a page, and just keep writing day after day; without going back and re-analyzing and overthinking. 

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A vintage box to write worried thoughts down and talk about them later

It can be hard to keep thoughts in your head, lingering long enough until you finally get a chance to tell someone about them; as each worried thought passes, write them down and let them go! 

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Yoga mat 

For guided meditation or for individual use, practicing yoga exercises and deep breathing might be the best way to end any day; good or bad. 

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Worry Stones

Worry stones can be really helpful to feel and observe during an anxious or stressful moment; dive deeper into your five senses and focus on the edges, surface and size of your worry stone!