Items for Your Self Soothing Kit

When you live with a health condition like a mental illness, learning how to “self-soothe” (a dialectical behavior therapy technique for coping with times of emotional stress) can be beneficial in recovery. Fighting symptoms of these conditions can be exhausting, and it can be helpful to have a “self-soothing” kit on hand.

While many choose to carry a “self-soothing” kit with them in a purse or backpack, others may prefer to have a box at home — or even just have a few calming objects stashed in their car.

If this sounds like a cool idea to you, but you don’t know where to start, look no further. We asked our Mighty community to share one item they keep in their own self-soothing kit. We compiled their answers below — and added a few suggestions of our own.

1. Journal and Pens

“A blank journal and a pen. Sometimes the best thing to do when you feel anxious, depressed, hopeless — or simply nothing at all — is to write. The act of writing forces you focus (always a good thing when you’re trying to calm your heart) and organize your thoughts into coherent sentences. Pouring your worries onto paper keeps them from continually rattling around in your head and instead gives you a place from which to view them objectively.” — Sydney W.

journal and pens

Our picks: Leuchtturm1917 Journal and Gel Pens 48 Pack

2. Essential Oils

“A small bottle of essential oil in a scent you like! Closing your eyes and smelling it can help distract so well.” — Tori T.

“Lavender oil. It helps relax me and calm me down when I am anxious and lifts my mood when I’m depressed, and puts me to sleep when I have insomnia.” — Jenna H.

essential oils

Our picks: Lavender Aromatherapy Mist and Essential Oil 8-Pack

3. Bubbles

“Bubbles. A dear friend of mine suggested I try blowing bubbles to help my anxiety because it forces you to take deep breaths without feeling like you’re working on your breathing. I’ve carried bubbles with me ever since. I also have lavender oil that I rub on my wrist when I’m feeling stressed.” — Rachel M.

bubbles

Our picks: Bubble 6-Pack and Big Bubble Wand Pack

4. Weighted Blanket

“Weighted blanket to keep me grounded and feel protected. The pressure from it feels like a big hug.” — Kate L.

“I have a weighted blanket and I looooove it.” — Aine A.

weighted blanket

Our pick: Weighted Blanket

5. Notes to Self

“I write nice things to myself like, ‘You are good enough,’ ‘I believe in you,’ ‘You are loved’ — those kind of things I am not able to feel when I’m low.” — Laura V.

6. Fidget Toys

“My Rubik’s cube. It gives me something to occupy my hands with and something else to focus and concentrate on.” — Maria T.

“Definitely a tangle. I have a textured tangle and it’s the best thing.” — Kelli S.

“My fidget cube. It helps me stim when I’m anxious or overwhelmed. Also, it helps me to move around a bit if I have to stay in one spot.” — Molly M.

fidget toys

Our picks: Tangle Therapy Toy and Rainbow Fidget Ball

7. Ice Pack

“Ice packs because during flare ups, I get so hot, [feel] clammy sweat, dizzy, faint and [have a] panic attack that I need a cold breeze or fan and ice pack just to cool my body down.” — Junior R.

“An ice pack — helps with panic attacks.” — Tia M.

flexikold pack

Our pick: FlexiKold Gel Cold Pack

8. Coloring Book

“Coloring books and a whole lot of coloring supplies! I love coloring! It helps me escape my own mind for a while.” — Cassie C.

coloring book and pencils

Our picks: Secret Garden Adult Coloring Book and Colored Pencils 48-Count

9. Lotion

“Orange scented lotion — the smell makes me feel so good. [I] just rub it in my hands with my eyes closed.” — Addie M.

honest lotion

Our Pick: Honest Company Orange Vanilla Body Lotion

10. Tea

“Peppermint tea. It helps to soothe my nerves after a long day of interacting with people. It makes the day better knowing that at the end of the day, I’ll be able to relax with some peppermint tea.” — Ray F.

tea

Our picks: Herbal Peppermint Tea

11. Books

“My favorite book… I get lost in it.” — Josie E.

“A juicy novel to climb into and escape reality for a while.” — Melanie B.

12. Chocolate

“Chocolate — it never gives me attitude.” — Lincoln H.

cadbury chocolate

Our pick: Cadbury Chocolate Bar 14-Pack

13. Stuffed Animal

“A teddy. Because sometimes when I’m feeling rubbish, all I want to do is curl up in a ball, cry and cuddle a teddy.” — Megan E.

“The muscles in my hands tense up when I have an attack, so I keep one of those mini beanie babies (they’re the size of a stress ball — which would also work) in my purse so my nails don’t dig into my palms.” — Violet S.

panda shark

Our picks: Panda Plush and Mako Shark Plush

14. Throat Lozenges

“It seems outrageous but Halls, or any menthol throat lozenge. They help me so much when I am having a full blown anxiety attack and feel like I can’t breathe. That little burst of menthol makes it feel like my throat is staying open instead of closing up on me.” — Megan M.

halls throat lozenge

Our picks: Halls Throat Lozenges

15. Audiobooks

“Sometimes an audio book when I just can’t find the concentration to read myself, but still want to escape to another storyline than my own.” — Maria T.

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