I am not a doctor or mental health professional and all of these opinions are my own.
Anxiety is something I have struggled with for a very long time. My bet is if you are reading this post, it is probably a struggle for you as well. The levels of my anxiety vary from day to day (even month to month) depending on what is happening in my life. Some days I feel completely calm and other days the slightest things can cause my anxiety to creep in. It is days like the latter that I need to take extra care of myself and work harder to keep my anxiety in check.
I have done a lot of research and used many different products over the years to help control my anxiety. By sharing what has worked for me, my hope is that I can reach out and help others that suffer as well (because we shouldn’t have to)!
Before I share, I want to mention that these products are in no way a cure for anxiety. Believe me, I wish it were that easy. I wish I could tell you to drink a cup of special tea or take a hot bath and you would feel instant relief. Unfortunately, that’s not how anxiety works.
If your anxiety is out of control and getting in the way with living your everyday life, PLEASE seek professional help.
Take medication if you need it. If you need therapy, go talk to someone. No one should ever have to suffer or be judged for getting the help they need to feel well. I have used medication and therapy (and many other things!) at some point in my life to control anxiety. You MUST make yourself and your mental health a priority.
It’s not being selfish and it is nothing to be ashamed of. It is necessary.
With that being said, here is a list of my favorite products to control anxiety.
All you need to do is click on any pictures of the products and it will link you to a more detailed description and prices.
Essential Oils with an Essential Oil Diffuser
There are so many great relaxing oil scents to choose from. Some of my favorites are:
I use essential oils in my diffuser EVERY day. Believe me when I tell you that if you suffer from anxiety, you NEED a diffuser in your life! Mine also has different colored lights which adds to the calming effect.
Sometimes I run the diffuser during the day, but mostly I do every night before I go to bed. Relaxation before bedtime is so important. If I do not sleep well, my anxiety is ALWAYS at a higher level the next day.
Be sure to check out my full post about my love for essential oils HERE.
Lotions with Essential Oils
Not only do I run my diffuser with calming scents before bedtime, but I also love using aromatherapy lotions. You can imagine how nice my bedroom must smell at night 😉 Bath and Body Works sells some great aromatherapy lotions.
Essential Oil Diffusing Bracelets
Essential oil bracelets are great because you can take your favorite scents with you 🙂 Maybe you know it’s going to be a long day or you feel stressed about something at work. Put a few drops of your favorite essential oil(s) on these bracelets and carry the calming effect around with you when you aren’t in the comfort of your own home.
Plus it helps that they are cute and come in a lot of different colors. There are bracelets for men, too!
Pinch Me Therapy Dough
My boys are at the age where they love slime and putty. We have tried making slime on our own (finally with success!) and I’ll be the first to admit that I enjoy playing with it too 🙂 It is a good stress reliever.
I first saw this therapy dough in a gift shop and thought I would give it a try. It is more of a Play-doh consistency. I love the scent and it is a great stress reliever to use any time you need it. Keep one next to your bed, keep one at work……wherever you think you would benefit from it!
Adult Coloring Books and Calendars
One of the best things to do when anxiety strikes is to find something to do that completely shifts your focus off of worrying and onto something else. Coloring is great for this, especially designs with small details. I usually turn on some of my favorite music and not think about anything besides picking out what colors look the best. It’s a great way to give your mind a rest.
These are some of my favorite coloring books and calendars. I added a few that I think are quite humorous as well (pardon the language). Sometimes getting a good laugh along with coloring is a GREAT thing!!
Don’t forget your colored pencils or gel pens 😊
Puzzles
Another great activity that requires your full focus and attention is puzzles (especially the ones with a lot of small pieces). Give it a try and see if you are still able to worry when you are trying to put together an 1,000 piece puzzle 🙂 The designs are endless, but I always enjoy beautiful scenery. Find what image is relaxing for you and give it a try.
Books
Sitting down with a good, positive book works wonders for me. I am a huge fan of self-help books and have come up with a great list that would benefit anyone with anxiety. In the past, a huge part of my anxiety has stemmed from lack of self-confidence. If you find that to be yourself as well, try reading some of these books. Not only do the books help bring more positivity into your life, but reading is a great way to focus on something other than the thoughts running through your mind.
My blog post with all of my recommendations can be found here. Below are a few of my favorites 🙂
Weighted Blanket
I did a whole blog post on the benefits of using a weighted blanket, which you can read here. My weighted blanket has been one of the best purchases for my anxiety. Even if I am not feeling anxious before bedtime, I still cover myself with this blanket every night. It form fits my body and makes me feel very secure.
The additional weight of the blanket causes DPTS, or deep pressure touch stimulation. People sometimes describe this as the feeling you get when you are hugged, but in fact, it is much more than that. DPTS works in similar ways to a full body massage, by reducing muscle and joint stiffness and soothing aches and pains.
Click on the following picture to be directed right to the Mosaic Weighted Blankets website. They have a lot of sales going on throughout the year and I have always seen free shipping in the U.S. if you spend over $149.95.
For such a long time, I fought my anxious feelings. Pushed them away. I would get angry with myself for feeling the way I did. Now that I have learned how to better manage my thoughts (along with using some of these products), it has made a world of positive difference in my life.
I’m always trying out new products and will be sure to share anything new that I find helpful.
What products do you use to relax and keep calm? I would love to hear from you!
Comment below with some ideas to share with us all 🙂
