Gift Giving Guide for Anyone with Anxiety & Depression

A Gift Guide for Depression and Anxiety

Alright, here we are the last weekend before Christmas, there is still time to find those gifts for your friends and family.  I have created a gift guide for depression and anxiety, as we all have someone on our list who deals with some of these mental health challenges.  This is a shortlist of ideas for those who might struggle with depression or anxiety or even ADHD.  I have spoken about some of these in earlier posts but wanted to add a few more to help you out if you are feeling stumped.  

Included in my gift guide for depression and anxiety are my thoughts and feedback about different gift ideas along with some links to purchase if you would like.   As is always the case I encourage you to read the reviews and make sure this is the right product for you.  

Top 11 Gifts that will Support Self-care and Mental Health

#1 Online Courses on Depression and Self-Esteem

One thing the COVID era has taught us is how effective online learning can be.  Recorded courses accessed at your own pace is a great way to build skills and gain knowledge in the comfort of your home, additionally, online learning can be preferential to a classroom or office as it offers a non-threatening learning environment in which you can pace yourself.  Given the benefits of online learning and the challenges many have faced in finding a therapist or mental health support, I have created 2 online courses.

The first is called “Self Esteem Builder” and the second, “Overcome Depression Online Course”.  

Below you will find more information about both courses and what they include.

My “Overcome Depression” course is a comprehensive 10 module course (6+ hours of instruction) with worksheets to facilitate reflection and self-assessment, to help you implement the strategies being addressed in the class.  Both courses include audio and video recordings.  You can access more information by clicking on either graphic or here.

#2. Coloring Books

Coloring books have been a thing for… forever!  Turns out they don’t just occupy kids when adults are doing adult stuff, they can also be helpful for teens or adults who suffer from anxiety.  I have worked with many teens and young adults over the years that have loved their coloring books! During sessions, I will even get to partake and it’s always a good reminder of how soothing and relaxing it can be.  Something that we can take just about anywhere and do while engaging in other activities.

I bought the Harry Potter book for an adult family member one year and they loved it!  There are lots of great themed books for those into a particular series such as Harry Potter for example 🙂

          

#3. Paint by number or painting kits

I received a paint by number kit once and although I was skeptical, I have to say it was not just fun and relaxing but very gratifying to see the end result.  I really got into it!  I kinda think it could also fall into the category of those paint and wine nights that we used to do pre-COVID, with our friends… remember those days? Anyway, makes it a very COVID-appropriate gift.  I gave you a few options below and just so you know… today’s paint by numbers is not what yesterday’s paint by numbers was from our 80s and 90s childhoods.  Click below and be amazed!

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#4  Weighted blankets

I first introduced the benefits of weighted blankets in my post “How to Conquer Panic Attacks”. There is lots of evidence that weighted blankets will not only reduce anxiety but also enhance sleep.  When it comes to weighted blankets there are many options, again do your research and find one that aligns with your budget.  Most will fit the bill, just depends on personal preference and also keep in mind the overall weight of the blanket as it is not recommended that the weight of the blanket exceed more than 10% of the person’s body weight. I have given you a few adult-friendly as well as kid-friendly options which should work within a few different budgets.

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#5. Sun lamps

Another science-backed gift to combat the SAD effect.  The SAD effect, for those not familiar, stands for Seasonal Affect Disorder and is especially felt by those who live in a northern, colder climate.  It develops from depleted exposure to the sun which helps to produce the mood supporting vitamin D.  It has been stated, that anyone who lives north of Atlanta is vitamin D deficient.  Again this is where tracking our moods can help us identify the trends and let us know if we battle SAD.  Many of us will start to see it around daylight savings and as we go through the winter it can be more and more noticeable.  Sun lamps are designed to substitute the sunlight that we are not getting during the winter months.     

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#6 The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

This is a book that was given to me years ago when I was going through a really tough time in my life and is a book that I consistently pull out for reference or when working with clients.  The message is to embrace the present and harness the energy of the “now”.  This might be one of the books that launched the mindfulness movement forward into the mainstream.  It is over 20 years old now, but still very relevant.  Highly recommend it if there is someone on your gift list who likes to read and is able to get into some of the philosophy in the book.

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#7 Worry Stone

This is a favorite of mine.  What is more grounding than an actual stone?  Not much!  If your giftee is experiencing anxiety or depression this is a really easy and very concrete gift that can give someone assurance and confidence simply by putting their hand in their pockets and feeling the stone.  And the benefit is that they will also be able to connect the gift to you and maybe the occasion for which you gave it to them.  There were many years where I would just carry my stone with me in my work bag or sometimes in my pocket if I needed it close by.  It is also something that can be a reminder to take that deep breath when walking into a difficult or challenging situation like a job interview.  You can choose from the options below or if you have a nice stone from the beach or your travels, that can work just as well and may even be more meaningful!

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#8 Diffuser

I have these all over my house and office.  These are great to create a mood or ambiance and also to spread some of the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.  Some light up and will change color or even have Bluetooth capabilities, which is especially nice for the office, which is where my Bluetooth diffuser lives.

   

#9 Essential oils

Could be combined with the above gift idea, (diffuser), or a stand-alone gift.  Essential oils have a variety of purposes and healing properties, all of which are therapeutic.  Oils that are known for specifically reducing anxiety and some of my favorites are; Lavender, Jasmine, Frankincense, and Clary Sage.  Some others include Patchouli and Lemon balm.

A few notes of caution: Not all essential oils are created equally, so you should do your own research.  Also keep in mind that some people do have allergic reactions, another reason to possibly consult with a doctor before using.

#10. Spa Treatment or Hair Salon

Who doesn’t love a little extra TLC which is exactly what a spa treatment or trip to the hair salon can provide.  And for those that are having a tough time feeling positive anyway, it can be a nice gift to help boost spirits.  Find out if your friend or a family member has a favorite spot and get them a gift from there or sometimes this is where Groupons and Living Social deals can come into play.  If buying from one of those apps, make sure you read the fine print, that will get you sometimes.   

#11 Subscription to a mediation app

There’s a bunch of great apps out there to help people build healthy self-care routines, such as mediation or tracking moods, sleep, etc.  Again, I talk a lot about this in My post “How to Conquer Panic Attacks“.  I can’t overstate the benefits of tracking our moods and daily habits around sleep etc, information and data is one of the tickets to getting life back on track.  I will send you my free data collector when you sign up here.

Tools to track our moods or daily living habits can help us understand our patterns more completely and when we better understand something we can create a better plan to address the challenges.  Many apps have free versions but they are often limited, it might be a nice gift to give a year-long subscription to an app such as Calm and Head Space, which are my two “go to’s”.  Some others that also have free versions are What’s Up and My Life.  There are many of great apps out there for supporting mental health and mindfulness, so it would be worth you looking into the app that you are considering to make sure they have the features that you need.  Also, maybe your giftee is already using one?  Find out their favorite app and give them the gift of one more year.

I hope this gift guide for anxiety and depression gave you some good gift ideas for your friends and family. If you found this article helpful, please click on the like button below and share it with your friends on social media.  Also, you can get my free data collector below by subscribing to my email list here.