Above Art by Katie Abey Design
While Mental Health Awareness is growing in fits and starts, there is still so much that people do not know about it. I’ve been living with Depression and Anxiety for years now, and until a few days ago I didn’t know about Anxiety Relief Kits. And now that I know, I totally want one for myself. And so here I am discussing how to make your own Anxiety / Stress Relieft Kit!
I believe I’m an Artsy-Craftsy person and I enjoy DIYs; so when I heard about these kits, I decided to make one for myself. Then, as is ‘normal’ with anxious people, I thought about it some more and realized that I could curate a list of stuff that could go into an Anxiety / Stress Relief Kit, and who knows who it might make a difference to… in today’s world everyone knows someone who is stressed out at the least.
So here are some suggestions of what can go into your kit. Remember this is Not a cure, it’s just going to help you cope with that moment; You can carry one with you everywhere, or stash it somewhere or in several in strategic places.
Aromatherapy*
- Scented Soap (lavender, jasmine, rose)
- Soothing Cream (aloe vera / lavender )
- Scented Candle (lavender, rose, chamomile)
- Room / Pillow Spray
- Essential Oil (lavender, lemon, peppermint, vanilla, jasmine, rosemary, cinnamon)
*if other fragrances work for you, do include that in your list
Tactile Relief
- Stress Ball
- Fidget Spinner
- Bubbles
- Slime / Putty
- Bubble Wrap
- Stuffed Toy
- Octopus Head Massager
- Coloring Book / Color Pencils
- Blank notebook / Crayons
For the Stomach
- Dark Chocolate
- Honey
- Herbal Tea – Chamomile, Peppermint, Oolong, Mint, Ginger
* Avoid Alcohol and Coffee because both can be anxiety triggers and also increase feelings of anxiety,
Other Stuff:
- Stress / Anxiety Journal (if writing helps you)
- a Book (if reading helps)
- Pictures that make you smile
- Ice Pack
- Sleep Mask
- Ear Plugs / Noise Cancelling Headphones (if noise increases your anxiety)
- Contact Numbers of people who can be with you through this
Stuff that doesn’t go in a Box:
- Playlist of Music that calms you
- (Music for) Yoga / Dance / Breathing
- Any other activity that calms you down
No Medication?
I am not going to recommend any medication for Anxiety, nor should you take advice from just anyone about this. If you feel that you do need medication, do consult a qualified Mental Health Professional / Psychiatrist. Almost any drugs that work for Anxiety are prescription and must be taken under supervision. If you do have a prescription drug for emergencies, of course you may include it in your kit.
Do remember that different things work for different people, so don’t hesitate to try out various options to figure out what works best for you.
So what would you put into your relief kit? Leave a comment.
And go ahead, make a Relief Kit for yourself or someone you know, and do share pictures and/or the story behind it with us.
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1 comment
I absolutely loved this!