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Lavender candle? Been there, lit that. We asked women with a mental health diagnosis and great taste for the other home, tech, beauty, fashion, and lifestyle products they rely on. None of this stuff is going to cure your condition (if only). But it can make life a little more manageable, a little less stressful.
All products featured on Mental have been selected independently and editorially. When you buy from our links, we may earn a commission.
ADHD
Oh, rainbow knife set, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways… 1. Your minimalistic acrylic case that lets us know exactly what we’re grabbing. 2. Your iridescent hue that chics up our kitchen. 3. Your titanium nitride coating that makes cleaning simple.
If it helps to listen to tunes while you shower, we love this: It’s cute, it’s moody pink, it’s waterproof, and it’ll hook up to your phone and apps and play whatever you love.
Attach this cute little coin to anything you regularly misplace (keys, cat), then let your iPhone lead you right to it (via actual GPS if you have an 11 or beyond). Free engraving with initials or emojis—no 🍌 yet, but we’re working on it…
Anxiety
Reusable stickers that web designer Laura keeps on her laptop “as a tactile reminder to stay in the moment.” Rub or scratch the gritty surface to, as the brand’s founder puts it, ground yourself through touch.
Late-night anxiety results in perpetually puffy eyes—thank you, next. This instantly cooling vegan eye balm is perfecto to lay over eye cream and feel confident those bags are taken care of. With a dose of perking caffeine.
Better ZZZs = less anxiety. Flutist Elizabeth “loooves” Aura’s hypnosis tracks. “I never get to the end…which is a good thing. When I use them consistently, I definitely notice a difference in my sleep.”
Bipolar Disorder
So what if it’s made for pot? This lil clay trinket is the most whimsical way to carry mental health meds with you when you’re on the go. Open the mushroom cap to access your pills.
Why do we only sleep-train toddlers? Sleep problems overlap nearly every mental health issue. That’s where this gadget comes in. “The sunlight simulation helps with falling asleep and waking up,” one reader says, calling the light “the most important thing I have to manage my bipolar. And it makes me hate mornings less.”
“Anything that takes away the stress of decisions helps,” says Lisa. “I have this turtleneck in multiple colors because it’s the closest I have to a uniform: It works three seasons of the year. You can dress it up or down. It’s super flattering and makes you look instantly put together.”
Depression
Draw bronzy Anise over lids, then dot shimmery Stella around eyes’ inner corners, to instantly perk up your outer appearance, even when your insides don’t quite match. Thrive Eye Brightener features a creamy texture that’s pretty un-mess-up-able and takes like two minutes to apply. Extra perk: Each stick has a built-in sharpener on the opposite end.
“I find this method of journaling, where the journal asks you questions, to be less intimidating than blank pages,” says one reader. “Helps get me out of repetitive thought ruts.” Customize with your name.
“They’re so silky, even though they’re cotton,” says one Mental-ite. “The oversized fit is perfect for curling up. Then you can wear them out without looking like you bought two sizes too big. Pockets are a plus for changes of scenery to carry your phone, glasses, meds.”
Dermatillomania
“I’m always seeking out touch sensations. Having enough stimulation with a dry brush throughout the day helps me not seek self-injurious stimulation,” says one reader, who recos this brush for its on-the-go size.
These thin, hydrocolloid patches keep a picked area moist and clean while it’s still a wound, helping to speed healing. You get 96 patches in two sizes that, once applied, really stay put and can be topped with makeup for further coverage.
It’s a cheapie but a goodie. People who pick use this before their regular concealer to neutralize any redness on the spot. The creamy formula won’t cake, and you just need a touch. On an open wound, be sure to dab the wand onto a clean finger so you don’t get bacteria into the tube.
OCD
Reusable stickers that web designer Laura keeps on her laptop “as a tactile reminder to stay in the moment.” Rub or scratch the gritty surface to, as the brand’s founder puts it, ground yourself through touch.
Teacher assistant Kat uses a tangle toy to calm her down when she’s anxious. This one, from a series of nine (mostly chic) prints, doesn’t look like it belongs in a first grader’s desk—goal, achieved.
“Because of my OCD, I have superstitions—like, if I don’t knock on wood, something bad will happen. Graphic wood jewelry means I always have wood nearby.” —AKL
Trichotillomania
Magnetic falsies—with actual magnets at the base of each strip—make it safer and easier to go faux (the adhesive in traditional lash glue can lead to even more irritation in the area). Glamnetic comes in six styles, and trichsters say wearing them prevents pulling out the lashes they have left.
Four reasons this is a trich-community fave: The precise tip for feathering in brow hairs where none exist. The smooth wax formula in easy-to-apply pencil form. The 12 shades, ID’d by both main hair color and undertone for the best match. And the spoolie brush to create a natural finish.
Seven shades. Strengthening biotin. And, most importantly, actual dimension, not flat, matte coverage—so it doesn’t look fake. Spritz it on to cover patchy spots along your hairline and temples.
