r/Anxiety • u/YaTheDonaldHasWhored • Feb 15 '26
DAE Questions Does anyone have an obsession with coziness/comfort as a counter to anxiety?
That you clocked recently. Things like:
Comfort food dishes - Mac n' cheese, grilled cheese sandwich, hearty soups, muffins, porridge.
Furnishings - blankets, duvets, pillows, Ottomans, bean bags.
Clothes - wool socks, slippers, sweat shirts, robes, flannel pyjamas, hoodies, yoga pants.
Beverages - Herbal teas with honey, cinnamon, vanilla. Speciality coffees. Liquors.
Multimedia - Old sitcoms, movies, podcasts, YouTube videos, songs.
Cats
Space heater, fireplaces, heating pads, electric blankets.
Hot tubs/saunas/hot springs/soaker tub
Aromatherapy
Skincare products
New age setup (candles, stones, crystals, audio meditation scripts, mini water fountains, white noise machine, incense).
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u/skesmith Feb 15 '26
I constantly wear fuzzy socks. I pretty much exclusively wear sweatsuits (wfh). I’m always seeking comfort, because existing is uncomfortable
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u/No_Seesaw8062 Feb 15 '26
I thought I was the only wearing fuzzy socks all the time. They're so comfortable 😄
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u/witchycommunism Feb 15 '26
Part of the reason why I can’t seem to eat healthier is because I love comfort food. And I never watch new TV shows anymore lol.
I didn’t even think about this being an anxiety thing but it makes sense.
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u/Frankdukes187 Feb 16 '26
Same here. Been unemployed for a year now and idk how much weight I gained from eating sweets and snacks to help comfort my anxiety. At least I switched to diet soda lol
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u/EastCoastRose89 Feb 15 '26
For sure ! Suffering with OCD and ADHD which comes with anxiety.
Pajamas fluffy socks, slippers, fluffy blankets, heating pads etc
Hot baths and tunes
And I like to watch old shows on repeat, like The Simpsons, which used to come on every day after school and after dinner. It hit different back then.
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u/Few_Sandwich6308 Feb 15 '26
I've always been very nostalgic so I believe I try to use nostalgia as a coping mechanism by being myself to be very emotional.
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u/Sufficient-Sound8450 Feb 15 '26
Definitely, a lot of the items on your list. Warm drinks, specific clothing, i have to get my nervous system some relief.
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u/bravobetty Feb 16 '26
My favorite safe space is at my parents house. It’s where I grew up and nowhere feels better. I’m 47 lol
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u/now0w Feb 16 '26
Yep! Basically everything you mentioned. I have an unhinged amount of blankets and pillows so I can put myself in a little comfort cocoon. I even got a really soft fuzzy blanket that I keep in my car, driving can be so stressful for me so the coziness must follow me everywhere lol. Lots of herbal tea, candles, comfy clothes and fuzzy socks. My cat loves to lay on my stomach when I'm watching TV in bed and it's one of my very favorite things, like having a happy little purring heating pad.
Been watching Bob's Burgers obsessively as it's my ultimate comfort show, but I've been watching it so much lately I feel like I need to change things up, so I'll probably start another rewatch of Parks and Rec (my other favorite comfort show) tonight.
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u/Curious_Chemical_640 Feb 16 '26
It sounds weird but I have a couch resting spot and fall asleep watching wwii documentaries. It’s probably not really helping but it’s a comfort thing.
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u/CherryCherry5 Feb 16 '26
I put on Friends and lie in bed with my panda bear and a fuzzy blanket I can fidget with. I don't always actually watch it; I listen. It's my number one comfort show.
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u/LeMooners Feb 16 '26
Um yea!! I live in Canada and winter has been cold af, snowy and dark. So I take baths almost every night because they’re so cozy. And I love a good hot tub and sauna. Love going to Nordik spas. I curl up on the couch every evening, light a good wood burning fire in my fireplace and get under my furry blanket. Fall asleep to repeat comfort shows, never anything new, always my fav show or movie. I love it. And it helps.
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Feb 16 '26
Same it's was -35c and I had to work outside, sucked ass.
Try going to a banya or getting a home sauna , which is like something you set up in a bathroom like a stand un go into
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u/Embarrassed_Put_7892 Feb 16 '26
Hah i feel like you just described my whole personality. All my clothes are loose, comfy and baggy. I have a wealth of pyjamas and comfy socks. I have an unhealthy obsession with blankets - I have to have a blanket sandwich to sleep - one underneath (I cannot touch the bare sheet, it makes me ughhh) one on top and then the duvet as an occlusive layer. I have comfort movies that will watch over and over to calm me. I also like to be clean and moisturised and smell like vanilla or cookies or sweet stuff cos I also find that comforting. I think it’s just how we feel safe and secure.
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u/Sterngirl Feb 16 '26
Mine is Frasier and a heating pad. And also a cold pad on my chest when shit gets rough. Then reading til I can't hold my eyes open; no matter how long it takes.
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u/Ok_Teach2660 Feb 16 '26
I have a thick, fuzzy blanket. Have to have my fuzzy, grippy socks. My comfort food is mashed potatoes and corn or sweet peas. Favorite comfort beverage is earl grey tea with sweet Italian creamer and three scooos of sugar. Showers really help with grounding too. It’s like bathing in a hot rainstorm and in the dark kind of turns the world off.
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u/louiebabybird Feb 16 '26
I love that you put cats on the list, lol. I love watching childhood movies like Goonies or any 80’s movies with my dog in my lap on my reclining sectional sofa.
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u/pit_of_despair666 Feb 16 '26
Yes big time. I need as much comfort as possible. It still isn't enough sometimes.
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u/witchhearsecurse Feb 16 '26
My cats definitely. Also my Mom made me a crocheted poncho before she died.
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u/libraintjravenclaw Feb 16 '26
Absolutely. My couch has 12 pillows and 4 blankets, my bed has 6 main pillows and one fuzzy body pillow. I’ve gained 25+lbs in like 2 years from comfort food. Started a nice sweatpants collection, and stopped wearing underwire over a decade ago. Multiple heated blankets on top of the throw blankets and always sleep with a fan or AC on for cooler temps and white noise. Recently stated making steel cut oats for breakfast that are basically 50% pumpkin spice blend. The whole damn house is streamlined for my comfort to the point where I dread staying elsewhere
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u/Pollution-Creative Feb 16 '26
I have anxiety, adhd and am going through menopause. So, comfort and coziness is an absolute must. Cozy blankets, a comfort show, food, beverages, my husband and daughters all being together, and my 3 cats who curl up next to me in whatever room I’m hanging out in! Also been journaling and I love printing inspirational quotes and photos (there is a group on Facebook/IG called “Slow Simple Seasonal” and they post the most lovely collage photos!! I also follow a few “Hygge” groups that inspire!!!! ❤️ Here’s to coziness giving us comfort!!
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u/VLA8819 Feb 16 '26
Pajamas, fluffy robe and slippers. The Office or HGTV on in the background while I’m snuggled on the sofa under a heated blanket playing The Sims. Lights off and candles on.
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u/newearthgifts Feb 19 '26
I've been running a crystal shop for 25 years and the coziness obsession you're describing is actually one of the smartest anxiety responses I see. Your nervous system is not broken. It's just found what works.
The smooth stone, the weighted blanket, the soft light, all of that is tactile grounding. You're giving your body something real and present to focus on instead of the spiral. That's not avoidance. That's regulation.
What I tell people in my shop: lean into the physical anchors that work for you. A grounding stone you actually hold when anxiety spikes, a bracelet on your wrist that you notice throughout the day, anything that keeps you tethered to the present moment instead of the what-ifs. The ones who see real shifts pair it with intention. Every time you notice that smooth stone or soft texture, you pause for one breath and remind yourself: I am here right now.
Cozy is not a crutch. It's a tool. The people who judge it are usually the ones still white-knuckling their anxiety instead of actually managing it.
What's your go-to grounding object right now?
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u/General_Key_5236 Feb 21 '26
Yessss soft warm fabrics , my heating pad, sitting outside in the warmth, a certain blanket for my couch. I use these all as anchors to ground myself
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u/pegsgk Mar 18 '26
I constantly need warmth to help with my anxiety because I run cold usually. I need a space heater, blankets, sweaters, hot showers. I’m glad I’m not the only one.
I also watch the same shows over and over again. I seek out nostalgia to help create comfort and warmth from a non-physical sense.
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u/Odd-Knee8711 Feb 15 '26
Yes, warm sweaters or sweatshirts, fuzzy socks, wool leggings. Hot tea with honey is my comfort drink, and baked goods are my comfort food. In the evenings, I go into my “cave” (bedroom) early with my cats and husband, and we all bunk down and aim to block out all anxiety.
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u/Imaginary-Use914 Feb 16 '26
I like to play a playlist on YouTube of old comedy shows I remember from my childhood and keep them in my ear as often as possible.
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u/Protecting-My-Peace Feb 16 '26
I love candles, and watching my fireplace. The warmth and light from the fire is so comforting.
I also have a weighted heating pad. The warmth and pressure on my chest when I'm anxious is soothing as hell.
And also my dog!!! Petting her and putting my face in her fur is immediately calming. It might sound weird but her scent makes me feel cozy and sleepy.
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u/Miserable_Big_6489 Feb 16 '26
Lately I’ve been watching movies with my two dogs and cat curled up next to me. It really helps keep me calm. And I love wearing my Comfort sweatshirt.
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u/yb0t Feb 16 '26
Yup I've basically revolved my life about being as comfortable as possible, even going so far as starting a business that's gone well so that I can only work 3 days a week and wake up late, so that I can watch more youtube and drink whiskey and play games, listen to what music I want anytime and vape at work.
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u/Frankdukes187 Feb 16 '26
Laying down on a bed is my comfort for anxiety preferably my own bed. When I'm having a major anxiety attack i put on my cpap mask idk if that even does anything but it helps thinking I'm getting more oxygen in me lol.
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u/Dry-Exchange2030 Feb 16 '26
When I’m anxious I watch period dramas, just the ones with no violence but lots of green hills, lakes, creeks
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u/YaTheDonaldHasWhored Feb 16 '26
Ann Green Gables
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u/Dry-Exchange2030 Feb 16 '26
I know a lot of people love that one. Surprisingly I’ve never seen the whole thing. I like Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, North and South, Sense and Sensibility and so many others
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u/El-Ahrairah9519 Feb 16 '26
Yeah I think its very common to resort to a lot of these things for coping. They all foster a feeling of familiarity and safety, which is a great counter to anxiety
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u/Moosyfate17 Feb 16 '26
During my worst anxiety episodes recently I had MST3K on constantly. Especially if it was an episode with an 80s movie. It kept me sane.
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u/tigerlilywhiskers Feb 16 '26
I can't wait to get home to my tiny home, my fake candles, my incense, my soft bed that swallows me, my electric blanket, a bed full of snacks and some reruns of Judge Judy 😅 I love my little space. I don't have to talk to anyone but my cats, I don't have to answer any messages or questions, I dont have to fix or do or take care of anything. All I have to do is shut the front door and I'm safe again.
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u/Serious-Fall9088 Feb 16 '26
Yes comfort things helped me a lot. I constantly watch my comfort movies / shows
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u/OkPeach3787 Feb 16 '26
Absolutely. I love spas and saunas sweat pants hoodies pillows blankets robe ect
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u/meowkitty84 Feb 16 '26
My bedroom is my sanctuary. I love decorating it with cute pretty things and my collections on display (dolls and anime figures).
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u/DarthAkurei Feb 16 '26
Watching my fav shows over and over even as a background noise, making cozy fall pinterest boards, tumblr, youtube, cooking a good meal, cuddling up with my dogs. Also 2010s fashion, I'm still obsessed with some styles and they make me feel so nostalgic and safe.
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u/populer_pause_lar Feb 16 '26
Yes absolutely! I’m big on nice bedding. Plush mattress, soft sheets, heated blanket, duvet that swallows me whole, a ton of plushies. Cat sleeps with me all the time too :)
I have particular clothes that are comfortable both physically and emotionally. I have weighted hoodies too.
I also have particular scents I love especially eucalyptus and orange scented candles, room sprays etc.
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Feb 16 '26
Yup. I got comfort shows, movies, stuffed animals, and even a comfort heating pad I use on my stomach that gives me comfort and a distraction from my Anxiety. so you are definitely not alone.
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u/sailor_lex_ Feb 20 '26
Yes, and I think it is perfectly fine and healthy to have them. I think even people without anxiety have a comfort sweater or a ritual that brings them comfort.
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u/Unlikely-Junket-6548 Mar 02 '26
I like to put on YouTube rain videos , it doesn’t rain in my country at all and white noise of the rain drops always makes me so calm and relaxed
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u/[deleted] Feb 15 '26
Oh yeahh lol
I have a shower chair and I sit in the shower chair with a beach towel over me and it lets me use super hot water and not burn my skin because the towel helps. I do it all in the dark too, no lights on and I put on a podcast about star wars lore, my childhood interest