My Guide to Last-minute Gifts for Loved Ones with Anxiety or Depression
Monica Drake
| 4 min read
Do you still have last-minute shopping to do before the holidays?
If you have loved ones with anxiety, depression or another mental health condition, here are some gift ideas – curated by me, someone who also struggles with her mental health. These items have personally helped me find relief, take care of myself and get through the hard days.
Weighted blanket
Seven years ago, my parents got me a weighted blanket for Christmas, and it's still one of my favorite presents I've ever received. It feels like I’m getting a hug while I sleep, and it offers a calming pressure that has helped reduce my anxiety and improve my sleep.
Food delivery gift card
When I'm in a depressive state, I often feel too drained to cook for myself or even go pick up food. As a result, I either won't eat, or my dinner will consist of a can of Spaghetti O's or a bag of Doritos. If you know someone who's struggling, the gift of whatever food they want delivered right to their doorstep may be just what they need right now.
House plants
I always feel better when I go out into nature and enjoy the greenery. With temperatures dipping lower and lower and everything looking more gray than green, that’s easier said than done. So, bring the outdoors inside for your depressed and anxious friends with the gift of plants. According to Farmer John’s Greenhouse in Metro Detroit, plants that best combat depression and stress include the peace lily, chrysanthemum, lavender, aloe vera and snake plant.
Journal
According to a small study published in the Medical Internet Research Mental Health, positive affect journaling is associated with lower mental distress and improved well-being in patients with anxiety symptoms. That’s because writing down feelings can help process and organize your thoughts. This is why I’m trying to make it a habit to write in a journal – just one good thing that happens to me each day – and why it’s the perfect gift for someone struggling with negative thinking.
Light therapy lamp
As the days get shorter, colder and darker, it always affects my mood. That’s because I struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is caused by the reduction of sunlight and affects the body's mood-regulating hormones. Light therapy boxes can provide relief by mimicking sunlight, which can help regulate our hormones, circadian rhythm and more, according to Harvard Health.
Fidget toys or jewelry
When I'm anxious, I have the bad habit of biting my nails. A way to counteract that is by playing with a fidget toy, like a spinner or a sensory cube with buttons, which I always keep in my desk drawer. Another more discrete option is fidget rings, which are made of metal and have movable parts, which gives my hands something to do when I’m feeling anxious in public.
Timer cap for medication bottle
There have been many times when I couldn't remember, "Did I take my anxiety medication today?" Because I couldn't remember, I've accidentally skipped my medication or took it twice in one day. Neither option is ideal. A timer cap is a useful gift that shows when the prescription bottle was last opened to prevent a dosage mistake.
Bath products
My favorite thing to do when I'm feeling anxious or depressed, besides sleeping, is taking a bath. According to a small study published in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, regular warm baths may improve musculoskeletal functions, reduce pain and release tension. Bath bombs, bubble baths and Epsom salt are great gifts to enhance the relaxing effects of a bath.
Handmade gift
Maybe it's a scrapbook of photos of you together, a painting you created, a scarf you knitted or a letter listing all the reasons you love this person, these are always the gifts that mean the most to me. When I’m depressed or anxious, I often forget my own worth. When just one person makes me feel like I matter, it means the world to me.
Image: Courtesy of Monica Drake
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