Shopping for someone with chronic illness or chronic pain can feel weirdly high stakes.
Should you get something comforting?
Something fun?
Something practical?
Something that has nothing to do with their medical life at all?

The answer: Yes to all of that.

This guide mixes comfort items, purely-for-fun treats, and practical helpers that can make life a little easier. Use what fits your person and leave the rest.

A Few Universal Gift-Giving Tips

• Ask what they want.
  You’re much more likely to land on something they’ll use and love.
• Gift cards are great.
  Specific stores (bookstores, craft shops, gaming platforms, favorite clothing brands) feel more like “treats.” Big-box or Amazon cards might get used for toilet paper and cat food—still helpful, but less fun.
• Medical-ish gifts are not taboo.
  If a mobility aid, comfort item, or symptom helper would genuinely make their life better, it’s okay to go there. Follow their lead.
• DIY only if it doesn’t empty your energy tank.
  Handmade gifts are amazing—but often take more time, money, and energy than we admit. Make sure the trade-off is worth it for you.
• You never owe anyone a gift.
  If gifting is financially or emotionally draining right now, it’s okay to skip it. Anyone who can’t handle that needs to work on their priorities.
• Gifts don’t have to cost anything. 
  Invite a friend over for a movie night, cook someone dinner, or ask them how you can help them. Sometimes your presence is the best present.

A Few Notes About This Guide

• We don’t earn money if you buy anything mentioned here. These are just things we think are cool, helpful, or both.
• Prices mentioned were accurate at the time of writing, but sales, shipping, and tax can all change the final total.
• We link to a mix of small businesses and larger retailers. Some people avoid certain companies when they can; others don’t have that luxury. No judgment—we support doing what works for you.

Shops to Explore

These are great “one-stop” places if you want to browse.

No-Limbits

No-Limbits makes adaptive and sensory-friendly clothing plus disability-pride merch. Their fidget sweatshirt ($45.00) has built-in fidgets in the pocket—perfect for folks with hEDS, autism, anxiety, ADHD, or anyone who likes something to do with their hands. The “Disability Is Not A Bad Word” hat ($35) is also a standout for anyone wanting to be an advocate and stylish.

Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods is the “they already have everything” store. They have stuff like:

• A mug you can draw faces on to represent your mood ($18)
• Emotional support desk pets (tiny animals to keep you company while you work or rest) ($22-$32)
• Pickleball pajamas for the extremely specific hobbyist
• Indoor mason jar herb garden for the garden enthusiast who doesn’t have a ton of energy ($20)

They have tons under $50, plus customized items that feel very “you” (or “them”). It’s a great place to find something that makes the recipient laugh, say “wow,” or both.

International Museum of Surgical Science (Chicago)

You don’t have to visit the museum to enjoy their gift shop (though if you’re near Chicago, tickets make a fantastic experience gift for medical-history nerds).

Online, you’ll find, among other cool science-y stuff:

• Pins of neurological blooms representing different mental health conditions ($14)
• A genetics & DNA water bottle or one decorayed with poisonous plants ($32/$48 depending on size)
• Plush organs, diseases, and plague doctors/nurses dressed for different roles ($11-$70, most range between $15 and $25)

Ideal for people who love medicine, anatomy, or delightfully weird educational decor.

Etsy

Etsy is wonderful for little things that make life brighter: stickers, jewelry, pins, and art.
Some fun shops to explore:

• PawsitivePins for condition or accommodation needs pins (“I’m Fragile” is a classic).
• HQJewelrybyTami for spoon earrings or other gothic jewelry needs
• RobotBananaCat for bold art.
• Original artwork and prints that reflect disability pride, body diversity, or the recipient’s favorite animals, plants, or fandoms.

Etsy is also a great option if you want something handmade or customizable without having to make it yourself.

Gift Ideas

“Read Me When…” Letters
These are fill-in-the-blank letters you prepare ahead of time—each with a “Read when…” prompt like “you’re having a bad day” or “you need a pep talk.” You write short notes in advance, seal them with the included stickers, and your loved one opens each envelope when they need encouragement. It’s low energy for the giver but deeply personal and comforting for the receiver. Perfect for people going through long treatments, flares, or life transitions. ($16) Em & Friends also has journals, notepads, artwork, greeting cards, and more.

Custom Funko POP! figure
For anyone who has pictured themselves with a super huge head and small body, this is the ultimate gift. You can customize by using a selfie, uploading a photo, or building it yourself. It’s a fun, lighthearted gift that works for teens, adults, and anyone with a sense of humor about their own face. ($40 for a single figure; special clothing and pets incur an extra fee.)

A Video from a Celebrity
Cameo lets you request a short video from a celebrity—actors, musicians, athletes, YouTubers, Twitch streamers, even Santa or beloved kids’ characters. You tell them the occasion (holiday, birthday, surgery recovery, “hey, you survived this year”) and what you’d like them to say (within reason), and they record a personalized video message.

Books for Comfort, Validation, and Escape

There is already an excellent book list on Chronic Pain Partners for EDS and related conditions. Here are some more standout picks if you want a quick “starter library” to browse or gift from. We’ve included memoirs, short works, and fiction that reflect disability with depth, humor, and heart.

Memoirs & Nonfiction
Sitting Pretty by Rebekah Taussig — Sharp, warm essays from a disabled perspective.
Disability Visibility and Disability Intimacy, edited by Alice Wong — First-person stories from disabled writers across backgrounds.
Being Heumann by Judy Heumann and Kristin Joiner — A landmark memoir from a disability rights icon.
Hypermobilities by Ellen Samuels — A medical memoir written in haiku.
The Sawbones Book by Justin and Sydnee McElroy  — All of the weird medical stuff from their podcast of the same name, just with word and pictures instead of sound

Fiction
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert  —  Chloe defies her chronic pain and fibromyalgia to complete her bucket list in this contemporary fiction novel. Funny, tender, and full of chronic illness realism without killing the vibe. The start of a series featuring main characters with illnesses and disabilities.
The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang  — Stella, a brilliant autistic econometrician, hires a male escort to help her practice dating and intimacy in this adult fiction book.
The Chemistry Test by Georgia Frankie —  Penny, a college freshman with EDS, navigates disability, new adulthood, and a charming romance with C.J., who has his own struggles in this coming-of-age romance.
True Biz by Sara Nović — Set in a school for the Deaf, this adult fiction book follows several students and their headmistress as they navigate community, communication, identity, and systemic issues. Engaging, vibrant, unforgettable.
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo — Kaz uses a cane due to chronic injury; Jesper has ADHD-coded traits; the whole cast deals with trauma and resilience in real ways in this fantasy novel.
Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens ed. by Marieke Nijkamp  — Short stories across genres (fantasy, sci-fi, contemporary), all written by disabled authors.

Weighted Eye Mask
These weighted eye masks from Natural Lifestyle come in fun shapes (cat, dog, butterfly, etc.) and help block out light while offering gentle pressure. Their weighted eye mask comes in four shapes: dog, cat, butterfly, and deep breath. This eye mask is perfect for those who suffer from migraines or anyone whose favorite color is “dark.”  ($16) Also fabulous: their cuddle-up cozy scarf that’s big enough to double as a wrap ($32; multiple styles) and their double-sized cozy throw blanket ($45; multiple styles) – perfect for couch nests and blanket forts.

The Un-Bear-ably Handy Fan

This little handheld fan looks like a bear when folded, which is already a win. But it also is lightweight and purse/pocket-friendly, runs up to 19 hours on one USB charge, has soft blades that stop when they hit something, and doubles as a flashlight and backup phone power bank. For people with POTS, heat intolerance, hot flashes, or bodies that hate temperature regulation, this can be a lifesaver. ($18.89)

Hands-free option: a neck fan that sits around the neck and blows air upward. Pro tip: flip it upside down and rest it on the head for a quick cooldown and emergency hair-drying. ($19.99)

 

 

Condition-Themed Plushies

These plush bunnies are designed around different conditions—EDS, autism, migraine, and ADHD, among others. Each includes visual details that nod to real-life symptoms (like braces and bruising for EDS). They’re comforting and come with a matching tote. Great for teens, adults, and anyone who wants to feel a little seen without having to say anything. ($45)

Support Cushion for Bed
If someone spends a lot of time in bed or on the couch, a good support pillow is gold. This one comes in multiple sizes (check all dimensions, not just height), has armrests and a tall back, includes an adjustable neck pillow, and has side pockets for remotes, meds, or snacks. A quality bed support cushion can make reading, working, or watching TV much more comfortable—and can help maintain better posture for fragile joints and sore backs. ($45.99-$69.99)

Kitchen Gadget Cuteness
Looking for a gift for someone who loves spending time in their kitchen? OTOTO’s kitchen gadgets will give them something to smile about apart from their latest tasty creation. Options include the Splatypus Jar Scraper Spatula ($9.95), the Gracula Garlic Press ($9.95), Beardy the Gnome Scrub Brush ($14.94), and Louie the Cat Tea Infuser ($19.95), among other fun choices. Ideal for people who like cooking, baking, or just having whimsical little guys watching over their kitchen.

Mini Waffle Maker
A mini waffle maker makes 4-inch waffles—perfectly sized for snacks, small meals, or late-night comfort food—and comes in multiple colors.

Ideas for greatness include:

• Potato waffles topped with sour cream, bacon, and chives
• Waffled cookie dough (faster than the oven)
• Waffled hash browns or grilled-cheese-style sandwiches

Also great for people with small kitchens, limited counter space, or limited energy. It heats quickly, cooks fast, and is easy to clean. ($10.99)

Chronic Pain Coloring Books for Adults
Coloring is a relaxing activity for many people. While traditional coloring books are fine, chronic pain coloring books allow the user to create colorful art expressing their feelings (usually negative, probably) about chronic pain. There are ones that are inspirational ($19.99), some that are snarky ($8.99), and others that are somewhere in between, like the one from Jules Machias CPP featured in July 2025 ($7.99). Pair with some colored pencils or low-pressure brush pens, some stickers, or some hot cocoa and a snack for a gift that says “I get you” without saying a word.

Coloring books are pictured in the order they are listed in the text.

Magnetic Chessboard
A magnetic chess set has magnets in the board and under each piece so pieces stay in place instead of falling over. This can be helpful for people with tremors or shaky hands, folks who like fidgety, tactile objects, and anyone who appreciates a good design object on the coffee table. Even if they’re not grandmaster-level, it’s a beautiful, interactive piece. ($29.99)

Hanayama-Style Metal Puzzles
These are small, compact, sturdy metal puzzles where the goal is to separate and reassemble pieces. They’re often solvable visually and tactically rather than with lots of fine dexterity. Great for people who like brain teasers but don’t have the energy for big, 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles or for those who like to “win” at fidgeting. ($11.99)

Conversation Cards
Boredwalk is an artist-owned small business founded in LA. The Delve Decks have questions designed to prompt deeper or more interesting conversations—anything from silly hypotheticals to thoughtful self-reflection. Each card has a question on it, and the rules are up to you—does everyone answer it? The person who drew the card? Does the person who drew the card get to choose? There are three sets (base, joy, and venting) and a discount if you buy all three at once. ($32.00 per set; $75.68 for all three.) They also have great tops, books and games, journals, messenger bags, stickers, and more, ranging from the sarcastic to the supernatural.

A Home for Your Phone
An adjustable phone stand may not sound exciting, but it’s one of those “once you have it, you get it” items. This one has a lot of features that make it especially useful: it fits all phones, vertical or horizontal, even those with big cases; it has a cutout for the charger cord; the angle of the part holding the phone is adjustable; and it comes in a variety of colors. These are inexpensive and incredibly handy for folks who spend a lot of time in bed, have limited grip strength, or just like not dropping things on their face. ($9.99)

Fun Straw Toppers
These silicon animal figures sit on top of a straw and keep out dust, allergens, and insects and prevent enemies from completing their nefarious poisoning plot. These are great stocking stuffers that slip easily on to a 10 mm diameter straw (the standard size for most cup and water bottle straws, including Stanley cups.) If animals aren’t your jam, you can find other themes, such as Christmas, Halloween, and Cowgirl, among MANY others. (prices ranges from $5.99 to $9.99 depending on how many figures are in the pack.)

Jewelry from Oh Clementine
All jewelry from Oh Clementine is made from medical-grade stainless steel. Gold pieces have an 18k gold PVD coating. The jewelry is tarnish-free, irritation-free, and meant to be lived in. The huggie hoop earrings can be customized with various charms—changing earrings can then happen without taking the base earring out. The charms also work with their necklaces in two ways: on the necklace chain itself or with their necklace clasps. The clasp serves as a place for the charms and as an easier way to clasp a necklace than the tiny bits on most necklaces. Most pieces come in gold and silver.(Earrings: prices range from $24 to $39, and many are on sale now, like the zebra print earrings that are on sale for $13.00; Charms are usually $12; Necklaces start at $42; Clasps: $8.00-$13.00)

The Anti-Planner
At $48.00, this is one of the pricier planners out there, but it’s specifically made for ADHD brains, overwhelmed brains, unmotivated brains, and “I don’t know where to start” brains. Not just a calendar—dozens of strategies, exercises, and tools for momentum on beautiful full-color pages. And buying one (for you or as a gift) totally counts as accomplishing a task. Yay you! ($48)

A Soft Light to Help Relax
This lamp—available as a duck, panda, chicken, or rabbit—is also squishable, returning to its original form when squeezed. The USB-charged light lasts about 30 minutes. While the duck can sit up, the “lying on his side, pondering everything that went wrong this year” pose is pretty great. ($17.99)

Microwaveable Slippers
These faux fur slippers are weighted, lavender-scented, and warmable (or coolable, if that’s your thing). They are like hugging your feet with a small, soothing cloud. ($29.98) They come in multiple colors and in a bootie style ($38.99). If slippers aren’t your jam, the Warmies company makes warmable/coolable weighted plushies in two sizes. They have all kinds of animals—real and mythical, and, of course, zebras. ($19.95-$29.95)

Wrapping It Up

The best gift isn’t necessarily the most expensive or the most “clever.” It’s the one that says, “I see what your life is like. I know it’s not always easy. I want to bring you a little comfort, joy, or convenience.” Whether you go for a silly straw topper, a deeply validating book, a fan that keeps their body from overheating, or a pillow that makes bed life more livable, you’re not just giving stuff—you’re giving care, compassion, and maybe even a little fun.