45 Calming Gifts For People With Anxiety

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.