How to Create Your Own Anxiety Kit & Calm Box

What’s an anxiety kit and a calm box?

An anxiety kit is a lot like a tool kit. It has the tools that you need to feel better in any stressful or overwhelming situation you may face in public settings. A calm box has a similar to the anxiety kit but is something that you’d keep and use when your feeling stressed out or overwhelmed. Both the anxiety kit and the calm box are tools to help you beat anxiety caused my overwhelming or stressful situations. You can choose to carry an anxiety kit in your purse or stash a few comforting items in their car or keep a box of comforting items at home.

Why should you have an anxiety kit or a calm box?

“Nothing diminishes anxiety faster than action.” -Walter Anderson

Anxiety isn’t something you can predict. Sometimes you’ll be waiting in line at the grocery store and have an unexpected panic attack. Other times it might be a comment from someone that brings up past trauma, and you’ll find yourself struggling to get past it. Whatever situation it may be, having an anxiety kit or calm box comes in handy.

What should you keep inside your anxiety kit or a calm box?

It’s up to you to determine what comforting items to include in your anxiety kit or calm box. You can choose to create a list in a notebook or your phone of things to do when your feeling overwhelmed. Or carry around comforting items. When you’re creating an anxiety kit or calm box, think about the ways you deal with your anxiety. Do you stop eating, fidget, bite your nails, think negatively, or turn to self-harm?

By identifying the ways you deal with anxiety, you’ll be able to create a calm box or anxiety kit, that is effective and tailored to your needs. But if you are unsure of how to start here are some useful items, actions, and reminders to include in your anxiety kit or calm box.

Fidget Toys

Fidget toys can help you stay grounded and reroute anxious energy. If you find yourself biting your nails or picking at split ends fidget toys can give your hands something else to do.

Candy or Granola Bars

When things start to become overwhelming, we tend to forget to eat. Consider keeping a granola bar or a few pieces of your favorite candy in your kit or box. Having something to eat when you’re feeling overwhelmed may help you calm down.

Headphones

Headphones and music can help drown out the rest of the world when you’re having a break down in public. So pull up your hoody and close your eyes and go to your happy place.

Journal

Bottling up your thoughts and feeling can be toxic. So consider carrying a notebook and pen so you can write get your thoughts on paper so you can sort out and process difficult thoughts.

Crossword Puzzle, Coloring Book or Word Search

Having something to work on is a great way to shift your focus from an anxiety attack. Consider keeping crossword puzzles, coloring book, or a word search inside your kit or box, and pulling them out when your anxiety hits. It may help take your mind off what’s bothering you.

Tissues
There’s nothing wrong with crying or wanting to hide the fact that you’ve been crying. Sometimes that’s all you need is a good cry session and you’re ready to push forward. Give thought to keeping a small package of tissues in your kit or box to clean yourself up afterward.
List of Resources

You don’t have to go through things alone, and It’s ok to reach out for help.  Keep a list of phone numbers you can call when you need help. In my post Ways to Help People Struggling With Their Mental Health, there’s a free printable that has a list of suicide prevention resources. You can print it out an carry it with you and reach out if you need extra help getting through an anxiety attack.

What to leave out your anxiety kit or calm box?

Extra Anti-Anxiety Medication
If you take anti-anxiety medication for quick relief for panic attacks, that’s fine, but they shouldn’t be the backbone of your anxiety kit or calm box. Take the medication as directed by your doctor, but leave them out of anxiety kit and calm box. Keeping extra medication handy makes it easy to misuse your medication. Taking more pills in high-stress situations can turn into a habit and cause you to become addicted to the medication.
Drugs & Alcohol

Any type of alcohol or drugs can be far more harmful than helpful. They may offer instant relief from anxiety, but that relief is only temporary. The more often you drink or use drugs, the higher your chances are to develop a substance use disorder.

If you are currently having suicidal thoughts or are considering hurting yourself or others, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. This hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and representatives can help you understand and overcome suicidal thoughts and tendencies.

Pin Me!How to Create Your Own Anxiety Kit & Calm Box Pin

Angela Louise
Written by Angela Louise
Angela is the owner and chief content creator for Weird Louise and is working towards becoming a full-time blogger. In addition to blogging here on Weird Louise, she is an artist and owner of the Social Awkward Club. She also has a passion for helping others discover ways to live their best lives.