Sometimes small gestures of care and support can mean the world to someone dealing with chronic pain or illness
If you’re wondering what kinds of gifts might be useful for a friend or family member with chronic pain or illness, hopefully this little list can give you some ideas!
7 - Activities and creative distractions
When you’re suffering from chronic pain, fatigue, or illness (or all three), sometimes you need a little distraction or a way to keep your hands busy. If the person you’re shopping for wants a creative and funny outlet, check out these awesome coloring books and some colored pencils
Coloring Book: Unicorns are Jerks
Coloring Book: Mer-World Problems
Colored Pencils: Prismacolor 72 Colored Pencil Set
6 - Something cozy to sip on (and from)
There’s not much more comforting than a nice cup of tea or hot chocolate, and if you’re sipping it out of a great mug, one that keeps your hand warm even, it seems even better (or is that just me). If your friend or family member has chronic pain, small comforts are going to mean a lot, so check out some ideas for some cozy sipping!
Hot Chocolate: Land O Lakes Cocoa Classics Variety Pack
Tea: Yogi Stress Relief Herbal Tea Variety Pack
Mug: Handwarmer Mug
5 - Getting comfortable
Getting comfortable is hard AF when you’re in pain, and for some, temperature control can also be difficult, so how about helping someone by getting them set up with some body pillows and a heated blanket, complete with a little foot pocket?
Blanket: Heated Blanket with Foot Throw
Pillow: Full Body Pillow with Memory Foam Fiber
4 - reading material
Many people with chronic illnesses or chronic pain struggle with their body image. It can be difficult to love a body that gives you such a hard time. Here are a few reads that can help your friend or family member process the difficulty of chronic illness or disability, while supporting the idea that we’re all worthy and valuable, chronic illness or not.
Book: The Body is not an Apology
Book: How to be Sick
3 - Bath and spa time
Self-care isn’t all about baths and spa treatments, but it sometimes includes those things, and that’s great. If your friend or family member is able to take baths, I have some good recommendations below, but if not, there are also a few recommendations that can ‘bring the spa’ to them! If you want to really go all out, consider getting them a massage gift certificate!
Overflow Drain Cover (to give a few more inches of water in the bath): Bottomless Bath Overflow Drain Cover
Bath Salts: Dr. Teal’s Milk & Honey Epsom Salt Bath
Bath Bombs: 24 Organic Bath Bomb Set
Bath Pillow: Ultimate Relaxation Bath Pillow
Bath Tray: Royal Craft Wood Luxury Bathtub Caddy Tray
Foot Spa: Foot Spa Bath Massager with Heat
Back Scrubber: Exfoliating Back Scrubber
2 - Waterproof kindle
People with chronic illnesses spend a lot of time waiting. Waiting to feel better. Waiting at doctor’s offices. Waiting for test results. Waiting for meds to kick in. There’s just a crap ton of waiting. Sometimes it’s nice to have a light and easy e-reader to carry around that has some favorites books on it, so if you’re going for a larger gift, perhaps a waterproof kindle is a good way to go.
E-Reader: Kindle Paperwhite Waterproof E-Reader
1 - Your help and support
Here’s a secret you may not know about your friend or family member with a chronic illness; They need more help than they are asking for. Give them some help coupons, offer to assist them with household chores or errands, or just ask how you can best support them. It all helps, and means more to us folks dealing with chronic pain or chronic illness more than we can say.
—Sam