Gift ideas for yourself or those you know who suffer from anxiety

Those who deal with anxiety can have trouble with daily activities like school work, job performance and personal relationships. It’s estimated that 31.1% of adults in the U.S. suffer from an anxiety disorder.

“With other medical illnesses, you may be able to see physical symptoms. But with anxiety, you don’t necessarily see what the person is dealing with,” said Joseph McGuire, Ph.D., a pediatric psychologist with Johns Hopkins Medicine. “So it’s important to be sensitive to what the person with anxiety is going through, even if it doesn’t make sense to you.”

If you or someone you know is suffering from anxiety, a good way to be there for them is to listen. If you want to take it up a notch, getting them a present can help show your support, care and love.

Here are four gift ideas for those who suffer from anxiety.

Therapy dough

When someone is dealing with anxiety, they can experience restlessness and sweating. Sometimes a leg will bounce or they’ll move their fingers a lot. Therapy dough is a great way to keep nerves calm and occupied.

Companies like Pinch Me Dough offer a variety of putty infused with calming aromatherapy and come in calming and playful colors.

The dough works by providing “a purifying release of muscle tension. It naturally creates a redirection of focus from the mind to the hand where the current tension can be squished and released,” according to the...