# Anyone else use yo-yos to help with anxiety?
**URL:** https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429
**Category:** General Yo-Yo
**Created:** [March 9, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429 "2017-03-09T20:38:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Tvelto](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Tvelto)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/1 "2017-03-09T20:38:47Z")
[ ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIt5oL_2zrI)
I’ve been contemplating whether or not to post this here, but I figured it might be helpful.
Short summary: I’ve recently been diagnosed with a sort of mild Obsessive Compulsive disorder and it causes me anxiety. I’ve generally used my hobbys (like yo-yo) to help combat this, but it just wasn’t enough. I’ve found that my healthy yo-yo addiction and some meds and I feel better than I have in a long time.
I’ve found that yo-yo has been REALLY helpful in helping me cope with anxiety and just keeping my hands and mind busy. Just hoping my story could help.
If this is the wrong place for this or this type of thing isn’t allowed, please remove.
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### Author:  [@kevinm](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/kevinm)
#### Post date: [March 9, 2017, 10:44pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/2 "2017-03-09T22:44:05Z")
Thank you for sharing that.
Lots of folks are throwing therapeutically here, for sure. It really is a healthy hobby, and
it can be done inexpensively (i imagine) . It is a great way to connect with others, but you can still enjoy it alone… so yeah, throws and brews… works for me.
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### Author:  [@sipo1](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/sipo1)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 12:38am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/3 "2017-03-10T00:38:22Z")
Completely agree with you buddy. I was diagnosed with depression after a really bad event in my life in in August 2015 and discovering YoYo-ing in mid 2016 really helped me to control the negative thoughts that i was drowning in.
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### Author:  [@Dturtle](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Dturtle)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 1:38am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/4 "2017-03-10T01:38:34Z")
I do :+1:
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### Author:  [@yoyoboy224](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/yoyoboy224)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 1:50am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/5 "2017-03-10T01:50:21Z")
Life is too stressful without a yoyo.
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### Author:  [@GrindDude](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/GrindDude)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 1:56am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/6 "2017-03-10T01:56:54Z")
> [@major\_seventh](#):
>
> Life is too stressful without a yoyo.
Agreed
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### Author:  [@poisonfrog13](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/poisonfrog13)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 2:05am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/7 "2017-03-10T02:05:37Z")
Throwing is just one of the things i enjoy that lets my brain stop thinking about everything. This video was amazing. Ive watched all of the videos from throws and brews I liked this one the best . Keep them coming.
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### Author:  [@Yoyolazar](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yoyolazar)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 11:28am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/8 "2017-03-10T11:28:40Z")
Agreed
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### Author:  [@Myk\_Myk](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Myk_Myk)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 2:13pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/9 "2017-03-10T14:13:34Z")
Thanks for sharing, Brother!
I like what you said about reaching out if you just don’t feel right. It can be too easy to keep things in to a breaking point.
Yoyoing is great for relieving stress. Personally, I do have to keep a check, not always successfully, on the spending aspect, or that can actually add stress to my life.
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### Author:  [@rizki\_yoist](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/rizki_yoist)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 2:40pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/10 "2017-03-10T14:40:19Z")
I get anxiety instead lol. That time when my performance is inconsistent on stage, that time when each yoyo setup is slightly different in 2a, that time when my pair of yoyo have different setup than the other pair even though I can use them just fine, that time when the string is broken in just perfectly but I kept playing and suddenly it’s worn out a little too much, and some other things.
But I enjoy it so…
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### Author:  [@MoggFanatic](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/MoggFanatic)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 8:39pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/11 "2017-03-10T20:39:08Z")
Yes. Yoyoing helps me deal with stress and anxiety a lot. In fact, throwing helped me quit smoking for good about a year and a half ago. It keeps your hands busy, which in turn keeps your mind occupied, and that’s a very good thing for someone who worries all the time.
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### Author:  [@Myk\_Myk](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Myk_Myk)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/12 "2017-03-10T21:02:37Z")
> [@rizkiyoist](#):
>
> I get anxiety instead lol. That time when my performance is inconsistent on stage, that time when each yoyo setup is slightly different in 2a, that time when my pair of yoyo have different setup than the other pair even though I can use them just fine, that time when the string is broken in just perfectly but I kept playing and suddenly it’s worn out a little too much, and some other things.
> But I enjoy it so…
Yeah, I can see where competitive yoyoing could work the opposite way!
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### Author:  [@Woody](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Woody)
#### Post date: [March 10, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/13 "2017-03-10T23:54:43Z")
> [@MoggFanatic](#):
>
> Yes. Yoyoing helps me deal with stress and anxiety a lot. In fact, throwing helped me quit smoking for good about a year and a half ago. It keeps your hands busy, which in turn keeps your mind occupied, and that’s a very good thing for someone who worries all the time.
Same for me. Picked up the yoyo on accident one day and have stuck with it. I still suck but it relieves stress and keeps me busy.
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### Author:  [@Tvelto](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Tvelto)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/14 "2017-03-11T02:36:23Z")
I’ve got so many inspiring stories both publicly and privately from this video. You guys are all heroes to me and I have a tremendous respect for all of you.
You are all the real heroes.
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### Author:  [@French](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/French)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2017, 3:12am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/15 "2017-03-11T03:12:43Z")
Thanks to all who shared. I’ve been thinking a bit about what makes the yoyo community special. It isn’t the crazy variety of yoyos, or the never ending possibility for creating tricks. It is the people.
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### Author:  [@stevejspins](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/stevejspins)
#### Post date: [March 11, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/16 "2017-03-11T03:56:03Z")
Yes, and try yoga as well. It’s easy to find something off YouTube, and it won’t cost you anything to try. If nothing else you become more flexible, and yoga encourages concentration.
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### Author:  [@Tvelto](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Tvelto)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2017, 2:44am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/17 "2017-03-12T02:44:04Z")
> [@stevejspins](#):
>
> Yes, and try yoga as well. It’s easy to find something off YouTube, and it won’t cost you anything to try. If nothing else you become more flexible, and yoga encourages concentration.
I try to do 15 min of yoga in the morning. Mostly to get stretched out for the day. Yoga, then coffee, then yo-yo and I’m in my happy place.
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### Author:  [@Paul](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Paul)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2017, 8:24am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/18 "2017-03-12T08:24:19Z")
Yes.
I recently got back into it, and its reminded me how much I used it for stress back in HS/College for sure. Ive always been very fidgety and tactile (clicking pens, shaking my leg while sitting, biting my nails, etc.) and lately Its curbed those things again.
I also need to be constantly stimulated. I wind down by solving puzzles (love video games for this), researching hobbies, or planning my next project (I have a few going at once with different hobbies of mine)
I find I need less time to wind down if I throw for a good 20-30 minutes before bed or right after work.
I now own a few businesses and anxiety is my life right now as theyre in early stages and havent made profits yet, so it helps keep my mind off things for a few minutes at a time.
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### Author:  [@Toby2345](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Toby2345)
#### Post date: [March 12, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/19 "2017-03-12T20:19:04Z")
Yeah it is relaxing. That is until you wack your knuckles really hard. Lol
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### Author:  [@Morgoroth](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Morgoroth)
#### Post date: [March 13, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/anyone-else-use-yo-yos-to-help-with-anxiety/83429/20 "2017-03-13T13:01:39Z")
Yes.
Next question. 😃