It’s important to note that research doesn’t suggest that stress balls can reduce stress and anxiety. We have a wide range of stress balls ranging from squishy stress balls to the original stress ball, we have giant stress balls, plain stress balls, colour changing stress ball, dna stress ball, rainbow stress ball, novelty stress ball, giant stress ball, branded stress balls like the Nee doh ball or character ones that are favoured by children such as our animal stress balls or fruit stress balls such as a pineapple stress ball. Squeezing a stress ball can release tension and help to relieve stress. Many factors—from genetics to your environment—can cause increased anxiety, feelings of restlessness, and rumination.Fidget toys, such as fidget spinners or stress balls, are thought to aid in relieving stress and distracting individuals from boredom. As such, using a stress ball to expel energy and calm fidgeting might be helpful for anyone who struggles with stress and anxiety. What’s most important, Hunt says, is that you select something that speaks to you in some way, whether it’s the squishability of the ball itself or its shape or color.

According to Reinhardt, stress balls can help manage symptoms of frustration, stress, or anger. However, she adds that it’s important to monitor the benefits of using a stress ball in reducing these emotions. Clinical studies haven’t found evidence to support the idea that stress balls reduce stress and anxiety. The benefits of using a stress ball also includes boosting blood circulation and helping with hand co-ordination and exercises. Many also use a stress ball as a tool for meditation or as a fidget toy. To compile our list of the best stress balls, we consulted with Lisa McCrohan, MA, a Somatic Experiencing Psychotherapist, Integrative Coach, and author of Your Light Is Rising: Kindling the Courage of Your Soul. Based on her expert recommendations, we conducted extensive research on top products, focusing on high-quality stress balls that provide different sensory features, such as aromatherapy and color.Another consideration is size and strength. Stress balls come in various sizes and different levels of soft or hardness. Being able to test out a few balls can help you choose the right one for you. Children that find transitions difficult may find a stress ball useful as it can help focus and calm the mind, alleviating the anxiety that autistic children and adults or children with ADHD may feel/experience otherwise, acting as a fidget toy to distract. While Hunt says that stress balls can be great tools to use in the moment to help ease the physical discomfort of anxiety, they won’t solve the cause of that stress. A user can hold the stress ball in their hand and squeeze the ball for up to 5 seconds and then release,” Reinhardt says. “This process can be repeated several times until the user experiences a reduction in tension.” More often than not, she adds, the physical release created by stress balls can actually decrease physical sensations of stress, and other powerful emotions.

However, according to experts we spoke to, stress balls may be a beneficial tool for easing stress because they alleviate the physical experience of intense emotions. As Michelle Hunt, a mental health counselor and therapist at Empower Your Mind Therapy, explains, stress is not only an emotional and mental reaction, it is also a physical experience. When a person is stressed, frustrated, or overwhelmed, they may sometimes want to squeeze something, says Lisa McCrohan, MA, LCSW-C, SEP, a Somatic Experiencing Psychotherapist, Integrative Coach, and author. This is where stress balls can help. They're also helpful for anyone looking to strengthen their grip or recover from a hand injury. How does this work exactly? According to Vianey Reinhardt, a licensed professional counselor at Connections Wellness Group, the repetition of squeezing and releasing the stress ball creates the overall effect of stress or tension reduction.However, many people find these products help them focus, calm, or distract themselves, as part of a useful tool in their overall stress management. Do stress balls work for anxiety?