Using Comfort Objects to Reduce Anxiety
One of the many annoying things about anxiety and anxiety disorders is that they are almost always there. Whatever we do, wherever we go, there it is. Another irksome thing is that sometimes it feels even bigger than we are, dominating our entire being. Fortunately, no matter where we are, what we’re doing or how big anxiety feels, we can shrink it.
Meeting Anxiety Where it Is
Anxiety follows us around. In uncomfortable situations, it grows bigger. Waiting until “later” to try to deal with it (“I’ll go for a walk when I get home,” or “Tonight I'll meditate”) sometimes isn’t the best option. It’s often necessary to reduce anxiety immediately just to function in the moment.
This means that we have to address anxiety when it flares, wherever we and our anxiety may be. A great way to do this is to carry with you a small object to use to sooth yourself and calm anxiety.
Comfort Objects Can Reduce Anxiety
A comfort object can be anything. It should be small enough to fit in a pocket, purse, backpack, etc., but beyond that it can be anything you find soothing. A rock, a squishy stress ball, a bouncy ball, a pen, or anything else you can hold.
Your object becomes something you automatically engage with when anxiety flares. Use your senses: look at it, touch it, and manipulate it. Be repetitive in your interaction with the object; for example, rub your thumb across the surface over and over again. Doing so moves your mind’s focus away from anxious thoughts and onto the object. Your thoughts shift, and your anxiety decreases.
In carrying with you and using a comfort object, you are not only reducing anxiety in the moment, you are training your brain to shift its focus when anxiety flares. In the following video, I further discuss the use of objects to reduce anxiety.
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APA Reference
Peterson, T.
(2014, November 27). Using Comfort Objects to Reduce Anxiety, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, December 9 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/anxiety-schmanxiety/2014/11/using-objects-to-reduce-anxiety
Author: Tanya J. Peterson, MS, NCC, DAIS
An interesting idea, never one I've thought of using before.
I've found that my anxiety reduced when I stopped caring if it existed or not, instead I just got on with whatever I had to do no matter how I felt.
I would have thought this just re-inforces the anxiety by having to carry something around with you to remind you of having anxiety.
Maybe best to be called a coping technique rather than a way to reduce anxiety happening in the first place?
For me, what reduces anxiety is prayer. That's probably not being secularly correct, but it does work. I keep a Rosary nearby for those worst moments. It reminds me that
1. There is someone that is bigger than myself who I can tell my fears to
2. The act of praying in itself is a form of gratitude and recognition for not only my troubles, but the troubles of others
3. I feel that there is something I can do about my fear, which helps it fade away.
I have had Anxiety/Panic Disorder for over 30 years...it is not going away but I have learned coping techniques...I think holding something of your choice and Concentrating on it and rubbing it will help even more to calm the mind and body...thank you for suggesting yet another way to help with Anxiety...
Hi Janice,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I'm happy for you that you have learned coping techniques. You're right -- sometimes anxiety doesn't go away, but we can learn to cope and figure out ways to keep it from controlling us. And the more tools we have for that, the better. I'm glad you like the suggestion of an object. May it work well for you!