The 2022 Holiday Gift Guide for the Person with PsA Who’s Tried Everything

These nine gifts are the perfect way to bring a little extra comfort into your favorite spoonie’s life.

Shopping for someone who lives with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be a challenge. You might be tempted to pick up practical items designed to lessen the pain of psoriatic arthritis, but trust me — we’ve seen it all.

We spend most of the year trying to find all the best gizmos and workarounds to make our day-to-day easier and less painful, which is why opting for treats and gifts that help foster relaxation and luxury at home is the way to go.

If you’re looking for the perfect gift for your favorite psoriatic arthritis spoonie, we’ve got you covered. I’ve rounded up some of the best PsA-friendly gifts I’d personally love to receive.

These gifts will not only show how much you care but also help ensure your loved ones start the new year feeling as relaxed and stress-free as possible.

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Gratitude journal

It doesn’t matter if you’re newly diagnosed or you’ve been living with psoriatic arthritis for decades — the chronic pain and fatigue can be difficult to accept and live with.

Adopting a gratitude practice is one way to shift your focus away from the weight of living with a chronic condition and onto all the things that are actually going well. In fact, research supports a link between gratitude and lower levels of depression in people living with a chronic condition.

That’s why I love the Five Minute Journal. This cloth-backed journal includes writing prompts that help foster a sense of optimism and gratitude in the little things and it only takes, as suggested, about 5 minutes per day to reap the benefits.

Bath blends

Most people with psoriatic arthritis also have psoriasis. That means it’s likely that your loved one with PsA could use a little skin love. Why not get them something a little luxurious for the bath?

I think The Seaweed Bath Co. Whole Seaweed Detox Bath, in particular, makes a great holiday gift. The dried seaweed formula is safe to use on inflamed skin but also offers an ultra-moisturizing bath experience.

The founders of Seaweed Bath Co. live with psoriasis, so they really get it. They aim to create products that help soothe psoriasis without sacrificing a luxury look and feel.

Weighted blanket

Sometimes it’s easy to get through the day without thinking about our psoriatic arthritis diagnosis for a single second. On other days, not so much.

When we’re going through a day of chronic pain and fatigue, there’s nothing better than a really good blanket to cuddle up in while taking it easy. Many people swear by weighted blankets for relieving stress and anxiety, and research shows that they may help reduce perceptions of chronic pain.

I like the Uttermara weighted blanket, which feels like a warm hug.

Foot massager

If you’ve never experienced joint pain in your feet and toes, then you don’t know how lucky you are.

A foot massager, like the TheraFlow Foot Massager Roller, may offer some relief when it comes to cramped or swollen joints south of the ankles. It’s also a great way to decompress after light workouts or long walks.

While daily foot massages would be ideal, it’s the next best thing!

Heated neck and back massager

A heated neck and back massager is a great gift for anyone who experiences tightness in the shoulder or neck area. Who doesn’t want a soothing neck massage on demand?

Whether your loved one experiences joint pain in their neck and back area or not, the stress-busting benefits of this heated massager can help them to decompress and unwind after particularly trying days.

Microwavable therapy mittens

Dactylitis — severe inflammation of the fingers or toes — is one of the most common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, affecting about 40% of people with the condition. It’s not always painful (even if it looks swollen) but with overuse or during a particularly bad flare it can become very painful and difficult to go about our day-to-day.

This set of microwavable therapy mittens includes flaxseed and lavender, which, when combined with heat, helps offer both heat and aromatherapy benefits.

Spa gift card

This might not be the best gift for everyone, but if your favorite spoonie is known for their love of massages and spa treatments, then this might be the best gift on the entire list.

If they have a favorite go-to spot, you can contact their massage therapist or spa directly to purchase a gift card. If not, Spa Week’s spa and wellness gift cards are accepted at most major spa and wellness centers across the country. It’s also important to note that this gift card doesn’t expire, so even if they’re not feeling a massage upon receipt, they don’t have to feel pressured to run right to the spa.

Essential oil diffuser

One of the worst things you can do to someone living with a chronic condition is to offer unsolicited advice on how they should be treating their disease. Trust us, we’ve already researched and tried everything you found on your quick Google search.

Although some people might consider aromatherapy to be in the “woo-woo” category when it comes to treatment for chronic conditions, an essential oil diffuser for aromatherapy does tend to help with stress relief thanks to stress-busting essential oils, like lavender.

Herbal tea

Making time for a hot cup of tea before bedtime is one of the easiest ways to unwind and relax at the end of a long day, and teas made from certain herbs can be especially great options for those living with chronic joint pain.

I like the Feel Nothing Pain Relief Tea, sold by Your True Health on Etsy. It’s a blend of the following pain-relieving herbs:

• ironwort
• thyme
• marjoram
• mint
• St. John’s wort
• cat’s claw

The takeaway

The holidays can be especially tough for people with chronic conditions like psoriatic arthritis. If you have a loved one living with PsA, the greatest gift you can give is rest and relaxation.

Whether that’s an at-home spa day or massage with one of the gifts on this list, or simply offering to take a few things off their plate during this busy time of year, it won’t go unnoticed.