Last Updated on July 21, 2023
Everyone feels anxiety in different ways. There is no universal feeling but more of a sense of dread from something that may or may not happen. Sometimes, we cannot identify why or where these feelings intrude on our minds.
A fundamental way to alleviate this pressure is to purchase fidget toys for anxiety that can take our minds off potential outcomes and refocus on fun toys that occupy our hands and other senses.
Here is a quick collection of some of the more reliable stress toys we have found that get the job done.
Why Do We Feel Anxious?
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress. It helps you handle pressure and cope with a difficult situation. For example, it may help you perform better on a test or drive more carefully in heavy traffic.
Anxiety disorders involve more than temporary worry or fear. For a person with an anxiety disorder, the anxiety does not go away and can get worse over time. The symptoms can interfere with daily activities such as job performance, school work, and relationships.
There are several different types of anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Panic disorder
- Phobias
- Social anxiety disorder (SAD)
- Selective mutism
- Separation anxiety
Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the United States. It’s more than just being worried about an upcoming test or being nervous before a big game.
People who have anxiety usually focus on things that could go wrong rather than what might go right when trying new things or meeting new people.
Fidgeting is a common way that many people release nervous energy. For example, if you are sitting in a chair feeling anxious, instead of sitting still while the anxiety builds up in your body, you may start to fidget with your hands or fingers and pull at the skin around your nails. This is an attempt to release some of that nervous energy and direct it somewhere else.
If you find yourself feeling tense often—especially if you are in a high-pressure situation—the best thing to do is stop biting your nails right now and get yourself toys for anxiety.
What are Fidget Toys?
Fidget toys are small, discreet objects designed to keep the hands busy and allow the mind to focus on a task. They can be helpful for people who have anxiety, stress, or ADHD. Many popular fidget toys feature a small size that allows them to fit in pockets easily so they can be brought along anywhere.
You have probably heard of fidget spinners, but there are also sensory fidget toys for adults like rings, cubes, things that twist, and more options available, from discreet things you can keep in your hand to fidget jewelry you wear on your finger.
Do Fidget Toys Help With Anxiety?
Fidget toys have been shown to help people with anxiety. Fidget toys for anxiety have not yet been approved by the FDA as a medical device, but the science behind how anxiety toys work is growing. However, they can be beneficial to those suffering from anxiety symptoms or nervous energy in general. They allow you to release nervous energy and anxious feelings without causing harm to yourself or others.
If someone is experiencing any of these things, then it is likely that any type of stress relief tool could potentially help them!
Types of Fidget Toys for Anxiety
🤫 Discreet Fidget Toys for Adults
Toys designed to allow you the chance to exercise all that pent-up energy without distracting others around you.
1. Worry Coins
These are two pieces of coin-like metal with carved edges that can be rotated against one another. They are small enough to fit in-between your fingers while you listen to a lecture or sit in on a meeting.
2. Flip Slick Stainless Steel Fidget
You will see many layers of complex welded rings laying on top of one another that can be rotated, spun, flipped, and manipulated. Your hands will stay endlessly busy with this stainless steel calming toy for anxiety.
3. Spinner
For all the Legend of Zelda fans out there, this is a triangle metal object with unique rivets and a central hub. This way, you can spin the outer triangle discreetly in your hand without ever having to look down to catch it before it falls.
4. Chill Pill Mix & Match
One of the more unique anxiety relief toys on our list is this oversized magnetic pill. You can select different materials that separate and reattach as you move them around in a single hand.
5. Skin Picking Fidget
Many people have the urge to pick at their skin while fidgeting. This device has a durable layer around a geometric metal ball that allows you the same sensation without the scars. The different materials and unique shapes make this a popular choice for those looking to manage a habit.
🙃 Fun Fidget Toys
Entertaining fidget toys that offer relief from anxiety and a bit of whimsical design features.
6. Tray Fidget Slider
Kids from the 90s will appreciate these fidget toys for adults because it looks like those old puzzles from the early days of Windows. You move around two shapes inside a metal frame, happily sliding them around until you have calmed down.
7. Chocolate Cream Cookie Haptic Fidget Toy
Anyone with anxiety knows the extreme satisfaction of separating an Oreo cookie. This toy provides that same feeling with three metal parts that can be interchanged using magnets inside the toy.
8. Magnet Worm Fidget Toy
Imagine a small belt that can move similar to a worm from the magnetic force of the metal inside a fabric covering. Using one or two hands, you can bend, fold, pull, and play with this fidget toy.
9. Mechanical Keyboard Fidget Switch Cube
Users who love the feeling and sound of a mechanical keyboard for typing will happily embrace these anxiety relief toys. There are 6 keys around a cube with different colors that allow immediate satisfaction and can be removed and interchanged.
10. Fidget Slug Articulating Stim Toy
Chose from a wide variety of colors and shine with this life-like slug toy that moves in a reticulating pattern. You can bend, twist, and shape the stim toy in anyway you would like for hours on end.
😎 Premium Fidget Toys
Fidget toys for adults that prefer a more modern or refined offering made from exceptional materials.
11. Infinity Cube
This is an aluminum cube that can be flipped and rotated in all kinds of ways, sure to leave your fingers occupied while you listen or focus on other topics. The hinges and premium metal quality make this look straight out of an executive’s office.
12. Fidget Slider / Modular Toy
If you have ever seen the inside of a door lock, this is it. The fidget toy is made from stainless steel and brass and looks like a lock pick’s dream that can slide and separate into four different unique pieces.
13. Fidget Slider Brass
The brass craftwork on this fidget toy really stands out in both the overall design and cover textures. You can slide, spin, and work with the toy in numerous ways because of the strong interior magnets.
14. Gyroscope Rotation Balancing Spinner
As the name suggests, this is a multifunctional gyroscope like those ones at old fairs you could stand inside when you were a kid. It is both satisfying by the sensation of spinning on your fingers and the visual appeal of the multi-piece rings inside of rings.
15. Magnetic Thinker Ink Pen
This is hands down a unique fidget toy. It is a functional pen that has bendable and movable metal rings all along the stem with steel balls at the end that can be spun as well. This is an excellent gift for professionals that want a functional device they can play with between editing or signing documentation.
FAQ
1. What Kind of Fidget Toys Help With Anxiety?
Anything that provides an energetic outlet that keeps your hands busy and is safe to play with as you focus on other tasks could be considered a fidget toy. It should be easy to handle in your hands and durable for endless use.
2. What to Consider When Looking For a Fidget Toy?
Consider the quality of the materials used and whether or not is will be quiet when you are using the fidget toy. It should fit in your hand and offer plenty of manipulation (twists, spins, flips, etc.) to keep your hands busy.
3. Can Adults Use Fidget Toys?
Yes, adults can use fidget toys. Anxiety relief toys are not just for children: they’re helpful in a variety of situations. Some high-powered executives and entrepreneurs even keep fidgets on their desks to help them focus!
4. Are Fidget Toys Allowed in School?
It depends on the school. Some schools have a “no fidget toy” rule in place to reduce distractions. But many schools do allow fidget toys because they can help students concentrate and focus.
5. Do Fidgets Help With ADHD?
People who have ADHD often experience difficulty focusing on one task and controlling their impulses. They may also be prone to hyperactivity and a general inability to relax. While these symptoms of ADHD can become overwhelming, it may be possible for fidgets to help with these issues.
Final Thoughts
Fidget spinners and similar toys provide you with the mental and physical outlet to refocus your energy on more productive concerns than anxiety. There are plenty of options to choose from that fit your lifestyle, including discrete toys for use in the office or school settings.
We hope this list will provide you with the outlet you need to lower your anxiety levels and enjoy the world around you.
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