# Yoyoing and mental health **URL:** \ **Category:** General Yo-Yo\ **Created:** [June 30, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422 "2020-06-30T17:44:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Yo-yoislife](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yo-yoislife/32/87261_2.png) [@Yo-yoislife](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yo-yoislife)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/1 "2020-06-30T17:44:46Z")
https://www.youtube.com/embed/8vKDch3nt5Q?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque&list=PLbhTAFJjnEa2FF0VOFVMgAsZ6yDjs72Rt&start=0 Hey guys! I ran across this video and thought I would share it! I think all of us can agree that yoyoing has had a big impact on our lives. For me, yoyoing has given me a relief from anxiety, and a higher sense of self confidence. I hope this video resonates with you. Share your thoughts!! ---
**Author:** ![Isaac](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/isaac/32/597931_2.png) [@Isaac](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Isaac)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 11:03pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/2 "2020-06-30T23:03:26Z")
What a wholesome feel-good video. Can completely relate to using yo-yos to distract from anxiety. Really cool to see it introduced in children’s counseling. My heart swelled watching this video \<3 ---
**Author:** ![Yo-yoislife](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yo-yoislife/32/87261_2.png) [@Yo-yoislife](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yo-yoislife)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/3 "2020-06-30T23:28:54Z")
Awww. I’m glad! ---
**Author:** ![Exmime](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/exmime/32/40143_2.png) [@Exmime](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Exmime)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/4 "2020-07-01T00:14:33Z")
> [@Can yo-yos be used as therapy? A new PopCast Vlog](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/can-yo-yos-be-used-as-therapy-a-new-popcast-vlog/303472): > > Hey y’all, the newest [PopCast](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vKDch3nt5Q) is especially great for National Yo-Yo Day. It’s an interview with a social worker who uses yo-yos as a form of therapy for kids with social disorders. Check it out and let me know what you think. [[Using Yo-Yos To Help Improve Mental Health and Compulsive Behavious] ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vKDch3nt5Q) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![DocPop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/docpop/32/605009_2.png) [@DocPop](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/DocPop)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 1:09am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/5 "2020-07-01T01:09:05Z")
Thanks for sharing that, Katie. I’m glad it resonates with you and others. ---
**Author:** ![Yo-yoislife](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/yo-yoislife/32/87261_2.png) [@Yo-yoislife](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Yo-yoislife)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 2:37am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/6 "2020-07-01T02:37:09Z")
Yeah I have been suffering from depression over the past few years and yoyoing has been a big help in making me feel better. It reminds me that I am actually good at something and it builds my self esteem. ---
**Author:** ![Tanker](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/tanker/32/91498_2.png) [@Tanker](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/Tanker)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 3:17am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/7 "2020-07-01T03:17:08Z")
Great post Katie. Challenging one’s self and learning new things is always healthy. I work 75-90 hours a week and my weeknights were basically get to the hotel and go straight to bed. I fall into ruts easily with this kind of lifestyle and it gets worse the older I get. Now that I got back into throwing, I’m more active and stimulating my brain. It is nice having something to look forward to at the end of the day. I drink less, am almost fully done with smoking because I’d rather be playing. I’ve even lost some weight thanks to my yoyo walks. Life is full of distractions but I believe that I have finally found a positive one in these yoyos. I am glad that you find relief in your anxiety. ---
**Author:** ![twitch77](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/twitch77/32/60219_2.png) [@twitch77](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/twitch77)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 4:14am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/8 "2020-07-01T04:14:51Z")
My mom passed away in the middle of 2017 unexpectedly at the young age of just 55. She was a MAJOR part of my life. My best friend. Though I live in my own apartment, I spent just about every day with her…we did a lot of fun stuff together. It’s been the hardest thing in my life I’ve ever been through. I jumped into yoing at the tail end of some major depression/grieving. That first 1 1/2 years was tough. I really needed something to obsess over. Something that could take over a bunch of my life…and it’s done just that. I’ve stabilized greatly over the last year and am now doing pretty damn well…better then I’ve done in many years. Yoing has been and continues to be very important to me. ---
**Author:** ![beeebon](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/beeebon/32/30672_2.png) [@beeebon](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/beeebon)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2020, 4:36am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/9 "2020-07-01T04:36:43Z")
Yoyoing entered my life (again and ‘properly’) at Christmas of 2017. At the time I was working a job which I really really hated which was causing me a great deal of anxiety and depression, I was also drinking heavily to cope with it. Yoyoing gave me something different to focus my energy on and helped me develop enough confidence to do something about it, later in the year I found a new job at a College which is where I am still at. Yoyoing (and other skill toys) definitely help with anxiety and definitely help calm a lot of my restlessness. ---
**Author:** ![SlowThrow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/slowthrow/32/307451_2.png) [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2025, 2:05pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/13 "2025-04-21T14:05:06Z")
That neon yellow string sometimes feels like the only thing holding me together. Crazy times we are in, and the stress of a family on top of what was already shaky mental health… it’s a lot sometimes, but I keep it together for my son and wife’s sake. I am bad at it, too often some times, but I do find peace picking up a YoYo when those times come. It doesn’t _always_ help, but it has yet to make it worse! Love my yo-yos, they mean so much to me, and can be so comforting to even just hold and admire. The tactility of the object and the art of their designs bring me great satisfaction. Studying the details and all that, gives my brain something to grab onto to pull out of the spiral. They aren’t magic, but close enough. Thank you to all that keep the this hobby going. Yo-yos mean the world to me, and I appreciate all the work that goes into them so so much. ---
**Author:** ![AngryGumball](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/angrygumball/32/683872_2.png) [@AngryGumball](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AngryGumball)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:02am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/14 "2025-04-22T04:02:42Z")
Yoyoing has been and still is my break from reality, having first realizing it when my job in 2016 was stressing me out. It got me through a rather depressing pandemic, helped me cope with the loss of both pets and a family member and here we are again, having it keep my head above the water during these stressful political times. Even if it’s just me throwing and catching a responsive yoyo, there’s something that just brings comfort, even if it’s temporary. ---
**Author:** ![POspot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@POspot](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/POspot)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 4:08am UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/15 "2025-04-22T04:08:26Z")
Yo-yoing is a basically dealing with ups and downs in many different ways. It is good training for life’s ups and downs Everyone have a great rest of the week. ---
**Author:** ![rkalajian](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/rkalajian/32/672584_2.png) [@rkalajian](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/rkalajian)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 3:09pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/16 "2025-04-22T15:09:19Z")
Playing with yo-yos is definitely a stim for me. Even if I’m not throwing one, I’m usually winding/unwinding them, pull-starting repeatedly with a responsive yo-yo, squishing my couterweights, or just running my fingers over a throw that feels particularly nice to me. ---
**Author:** ![SlowThrow](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/slowthrow/32/307451_2.png) [@SlowThrow](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/SlowThrow)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/17 "2025-04-22T15:15:24Z")
I really enjoy playing with my hub-stacked throws by doing this: > **[Skill Addicts - learning mobile app](https://app.skilladdicts.com/trick/yoyo-meditations-1251)** > > Easy and fun way to learn skills. Skill Addicts is mobile app which helps you learn new skills unique way. Watch tutorials, practice, share, rate others and have fun! ---
**Author:** ![MinerJ](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/minerj/32/629515_2.png) [@MinerJ](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/MinerJ)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 7:02pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/18 "2025-04-22T19:02:24Z")
I don’t have anything with hubstacks, but do the same thing with my PLTPS or other throws with finger dimples. ---
**Author:** ![rkalajian](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/rkalajian/32/672584_2.png) [@rkalajian](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/rkalajian)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/19 "2025-04-22T19:05:05Z")
Yup! I do it with my PLTPS! ---
**Author:** ![AngryGumball](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/angrygumball/32/683872_2.png) [@AngryGumball](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/AngryGumball)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 9:06pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/20 "2025-04-22T21:06:46Z")
![1000018219](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/3/8/d/38dd2f325985410a30df356655255cbc8ea7ff23.jpeg) ![1000018221](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/yoyoexpert1/original/4X/b/d/4/bd437209d78228497d293885a4c416dada91cd6e.jpeg) Yoyo bloopers though… They can sometimes put a smile on your face esp if a close call was documented (trying to learn Lunar Landing here) Update - bigger grin on my face when I successfully landed it just moments after this post. ---
**Author:** ![rockstar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.yoyoexpert.com/rockstar/32/19803_2.png) [@rockstar](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/u/rockstar)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2025, 10:39pm UTC](https://forums.yoyoexpert.com/t/yoyoing-and-mental-health/323422/21 "2025-04-22T22:39:44Z")
I have been retired now for 19 years now in 2025 as a teacher for the deaf in Jacksonville Illinois i wanted to share my experience as I used the yo-yo (omega brand was common then ) to help with my kids anxieties!! The yo-yo came thru loud and clear with my students… they even caught-on to biding too! I watched the gratification on their faces in class! I only wish my supervisor teacher could’ve understood that but he did not and used it against me eventually!! Alas…… now I feel vindicated! Thanks guys! Rock