I can't believe it's already December 3rd and just how quickly the Holidays are approaching! Every year when Christmas ends I have a bit of a post-holiday depression, but it doesn't last too long, because it actually comes around again in a blink of an eye!
Gift ideas for those who have a chronic illness can sometimes be tough. Taking into account things like food restrictions, allergies, and avoiding harsh chemicals are all really important, but can also leave a gift giver feeling a little overwhelmed. But have no fear! Below are gift ideas for every age, gender, restriction etc. None of the items were given to me for free, these are all items I have purchased myself and use.

So without further adieu:

Dammit Dolls: These are genius little characters to be used for stress relief. The idea is that for times when life gets a little exhausting or frustrating you can whack these dolls on the bed/against a wall etc. They have an adorable poem on their stomach and make a wonderful gift that is sure to get a good laugh (and probably quite a bit of use)

Fidget Rings: In the same breath as Dammit Dolls, Fidget Rings are great for stress relief and anxiety. "Fidget" is useful for, you guessed it, the tendency to fidget (which happens often with anxiety and times of pain).  The rings to mimic the natural way our hands move when we fidget.  These rings are a tool to focus those movements and keep the brain busy.  "Fidget" benefits both young and old, but isn't recommended for children under the age of 6. There are many different design choices available. I have one of these and love it! I find it really soothing when I need an idle distraction, usually when pain or anxiety flares up.

Colorama Coloring Book For Adults & Colored Pencils: If you know an adult who enjoys art, coloring, or just a night in relaxing then this coloring book gift set is perfect. The designs are of intricate Mandalas and other beautiful shapes/images. I like the Colorama one because it includes colored pencils so it makes a great all together gift for someone. A great second alternative is this "Today Is Going To Be A Great Day" Inspirational coloring book, which includes a lot of words of encouragement mixed in with designs, gift tags, bookmarks & cards that can all be colored.

Conair Sound Therapy Pillow: Everyone with or without a chronic illness understands the frustration of insomnia. This pillow is 100% polyester and gently plays music to lull you to sleep. You can choose from the 10 soothing sounds included or use your own music from an mp3 player. The sound can be adjusted to your needs, and it also has a 15, 30, or 60 minute timer.

Q&A A Day 5- Year Journal: Do you ever stop to wonder how you got where you are? The Q&A a Day Journal shows you what was going through your head each day—for five years of your life. Simply turn to today’s date, answer the question at the top of the page, and when you finish the journal, start over. As you return to the daily questions again over the years, you’ll notice how your answers change. With questions that are sometimes provocative (“On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you?”), occasionally quirky (“What can you smell right now?”), and inevitably interesting (“If you could travel anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?”), this classically designed journal—embellished with beautiful details—is the perfect gift for someone with a chronic illness as a reminder of the beautiful things in life.

Plush Robe: There is nothing more comforting then a giant soft plush robe. It feels so good when everything else feels so achey and sore. Whether you are looking for a Women's robe, Men's robe, or Children's robe, it's a gift that can't go wrong. You can buy matching slippers or other soft cozy add ons so everything needed for comfort in all in one spot (which I like for convenience). My robe collection is huge and I can honestly say I could still use more, so a robe is a win for pretty much anyone on your list!

Sootheze Pals: These adorable stuffed animals are soft and huggable plush which stay warm or cold to soothe your aches and pains. They can be put in the microwave to provide hours of soothing warmth, or in the freezer for cooling aromatherapy. They provide both hot or cold therapy as a source of pain relief and are also lavender scented for aromatherapy benefits that are very calming. They hold the temperature for hours, and come in a wide assortment of animals. These make great gifts for children and adults alike, and is a cute way of combining pain relief with something soft and fluffy. For those who wouldn't like a stuffed animal, Hot Headz has a wide variety of herbal heat packs you can microwave and use on the go.

"Send Me Gluten Free" Monthly Subscription Box: Most people who have a Chronic Illness also are on a special diet, most commonly a Gluten Free diet. This is a monthly subscription box which you can gift for just 1 month,  3 months at a time, 6 months at a time, etc. So what comes in the box? Each month they will send you 8-10 new gluten free products to try that will include at least 1 full-sized item. You’ll get full-size and sample size food, personal care items, supplements and household products that support a gluten free lifestyle.

100% Pure: 100% PURE is an organic beauty firm focused on providing healthy skin care, color cosmetics plus bath and body products. Completely free of all harmful toxins, 100% PURE is a healthy and pure line of nourishing personal care items made only with the highest quality ingredients. 100% natural and 100% cruelty-free, all products are completely, 100% free of artificial colors, artificial fragrances, synthetic chemical preservatives and all other toxins. The range of products sold at 100% PURE ranges from face wash, eye cream, body wash, body scrubs, body cream, shampoo, conditioners, fruit dyed makeup, nail polish etc. They even have items for babies/young children. Every single item is extremely natural and pure (hence the name), and is awesome for those with a Chronic Illness. A lot of times there are many sensitivities to chemicals when someone is ill, and finding good luxurious quality products that are genuinely good can be hard to find. They disclose all the ingredients on every item and have pre-made gift sets, or you can put one together yourself. This makes a great gift for all ages, men and women alike. They offer free shipping, a 100% guarantee on returns, and amazing customer service (which is all just icing on the cake).

Fitbit HR (or other health tracker): This is a pricier gift, but one that could be useful for someone with a chronic condition. Being able to track steps taken can be helpful to see how good days vs. bad days differ. You can also set goals which can be motivating (if someone is in that position). Some of the more advanced trackers can also track heart rate, which I have found to be immensely helpful. I can track heart rate spikes and correlate it to events, or even a time of day. The Fitbit HR also tracks sleep, so you can see how much sleep you got and the quality of it (deep/light). There are a lot of options on the market, one that is a little bit different is the Bellabeat Leaf, which can track stress levels and women's menstrual cycles.

Signature Bracelet: This is a wonderful sentimental gift, that can be a great personal gift for anyone really. This shop will take a piece of handwriting that you submit and turn it into a bracelet. A mother can gift this to their daughter with a handwritten word of encouragement or love, and it's something which is always with them. You could give this to absolutely anyone, and it can be adapted into a key chain for a man if need be.

Audible Gift Cards: Audible makes audiobooks extremely convenient to buy and listen to absolutely anywhere. I have been using Audible for about a year now, and have become completely obsessed. I wasn't aware just how incredibly entertaining it can be to hear a book be performed until I tried it out and got instantly hooked. Audiobooks are wonderful companions on days when my neurological symptoms are flaring, or I have a migraine, which leaves me unable to use my eyes. Listening to an audiobook transports me into the story while I can lie in the dark, lie in a bath, or lie anywhere else. They also have an app which makes it seamless to listen between devices, or on your computer, or even in the car. A gift card for Audible is a great idea for young and old, they have every book and genre imaginable. The way Audible works is that you gift "months" of books via gift memberships, so gift cards are sold that way, not in your traditional $10, $20, $50 increments.

The Pillow Fort: This wonderful site, based in the UK was shared with me & it's simply adorable. The site itself is a whole community for those with any chronic illness, but it features a gift shop with tons of great gifts! The shop contains little trinkets, journals, jewelry, pill holders, cozy socks, you name it!

EMF Blocking Jewelry: EMF's are electromagnetic fields, which are emitted from all electrical devices. Often times, those with a chronic illness are extremely sensitive to these, and it tends to make them feel much worse off. I know personally that once I lowered the amount of EMF's that got to my body I felt a genuine change. In the world we live in it's nearly impossible to stop all EMF's unless you unplug everything in your house, so these wearable jewelry pieces are amazing and convenient. I have the REN pendant, but there are others such as the q-link which are also stylish and can easily be worn anywhere. They work by blocking EMF's in a radius around itself, therefore keeping you protected at all times. These can be kind of pricey but worth every penny, and is often a gift that those with a chronic illness wouldn't splurge on for themselves.

Blue Light Blocking Products: In a similar breath, blue lights are something which get emitted from all screens (tv, computer, phone). If you have ever noticed that using your phone or computer before bed leaves you feeling wired, then blue lights are to blame. They significantly lower melatonin levels in the body, which is what makes you sleepy at night. Some people use blue light blocking glasses which can be worn before bed to ensure a good nights rest, and other people buy screen protectors for their computers and phones which block blue light around the clock. Whichever you choose, they are a great and thoughtful gift for anyone who is ill and needs a good night rest!

Stocking Stuffers: Some great ideas for small stocking stuffer add ons would be things which can be used for detox such as bentonite clay (can be used internally, in a bath, or as a mask), magnesium oil, dry skin brushes, & glass water bottles with a side of lemon essential oil.

Do you have a gift item to add to this list? Do you have an shop or make a craft/offer a service that is helpful for those in the Chronic Illness community? If so please contact me via comment or email & I would love to add to this list! [email protected]

Wishing you all a wonderful Holiday season & a very Merry Christmas

xoxo,
Christina