Advice piece by Bri Ryerson, Wellness Operations Intern.

Brianna Ryerson is currently a senior at North Carolina State University studying Biological Sciences with a concentration in Human Biology and a minor in Psychology. She has always been passionate about Psychology, more specifically, how Psychology relates to mental health and the destigmatization of mental health and wellbeing especially for women in STEM-related fields. These fields of study produce a lot of stress, anxiety, and burnout, therefore Bri wants to do everything she can to make sure their needs are met and their voices are heard!

 Everyone’s anxiety manifests in different ways. For me, I notice fidgeting, nausea, butterflies in my stomach, and headaches. Being able to find comfort objects to have around when I am more anxious than usual helps ground me and reduce extra stress and anxiety. With that being said, here are some of my favorite comfort objects that help bring relief on my more anxious days.

I wanted to start with a classic, stress balls. Stress balls are an inexpensive way to interrupt your fidgeting and release some built up tension and anxiety from your body without having to move around or get up from your seat. Amazon offers stress balls such as these, with options of purchasing a soft, medium, or hard ball. If you are someone who enjoys aesthetic-looking items, they even have pineapple-shaped stress balls that are cute and functional.  

Another great anxiety-reducing item that has not been talked about enough until recently are weighted blankets - they come in all different colors, patterns, and weights! While they might be a little more expensive than your average blanket, many say weighted blankets provide a comforting effect to those who have anxiety - it can feel like you are being hugged! They have faux fur, knitted, and even cooling options. This is a great way to ground yourself when feeling more anxious or stressed than normal.

Lastly, my favorite comfort objects when I am feeling anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed are stuffed animals. You have to trust me on this one - stuffed animals are an amazing way to ground yourself and reduce tension/stress in the body when anxiety is high. My two best recommendations? Squishmallows and heatable/weighted stuffed animals. Both of these have been my best anxiety-related purchases of all time. My heatable stuffed animal can be heated in a microwave, cooled in the freezer, and is scented with lavender; I love to cool/warm my stuffed animal and lay it on my chest when I am feeling anxious or stressed - you can purchase one for yourself here! I linked the frog because that is the one I have! Squishmallows are also great for anxiety relief, and can make for fun and cute friends to collect on your bed. There are always new Squishmallows coming out, so there are so many unique ones to choose from. Having a cute and functional stuffed animal can give you a sense of security and companionship, which is what you just might need in a moment of heightened anxiety. 

These are just a couple of my favorite items that help me relieve anxiety and stress in my everyday life. I recommend giving each of them a try if you have not already! While none of these items are meant to cure anxiety, they can ground you and provide a sense of security and strength in your most vulnerable moments.