Rubbing a worry stone can help relieve tension in your hands by working the muscles involved.

Also, through its calming action, a worry stone can help relieve muscle tension in other parts of your body if it's caused by psychological stress.

Steps to Use Your Anxiety Stone

1. Choose a stone 
2. Close your eyes
3. Next, continue to hold the stone
4. Now, open your eyes and look at the stone
5. Finally, bring your attention back to the physical sensation of the stone
6. Notice what it was like to bring your attention to the stone.

The history of worry stones.

Worry stones have been found all over the world, so the exact origin isn't quite clear.

But from what we can tell, people everywhere—from Ancient Greece to Tibet to North America—have all found a sense of peace when taking a moment to touch their worry stone and let their worries go.

What are the benefits?

There are a number of benefits to keeping a worry stone on hand, but the main one would have to be stress relief.

For many people, worry stones are just an actual physical touchpoint when they're dealing with stress and anxiety.

If you're the kind of person who struggles to meditate or do breathwork, having that physical touchstone can be really helpful.

You can also assign your worry stone a specific intention.

Whenever you see and touch your stone, you have a visual reminder of a specific intention you set —be it finding more gratitude in life or challenging negative thought loops.

Again, the whole idea is that the stone can help absorb your worries,  given that it is an element from the earth. 

And thanks to our acupressure points in the thumbs, worry stones can not only help you calm your worries but also make you feel a little happier in the moment, too.

When to use a worry stone:

1. When you're feeling stressed.

This encompasses so many scenarios;

Big interview coming up?

Getting ready for a date?

Stressing about the state of the world?

The sky's the limit with these stones.

They're simply nice to have near you at any moment, so if you are going through a challenging transit, or periods of anxiety you have access to it.

2. While meditating.

Another way to work with a worry stone is by incorporating it into your meditation practice.

Similar to a mala used in Hinduism, which involves saying a mantra for each bead on the necklace, you can recite an affirmation or mantra every time you rub your stone.

Or, for a less-involved approach, you can simply hold it in your palm as you meditate.

It gives the mind something to do and can add to the relaxation benefits.

3. Before bed.

Stress and anxiousness have a knack for striking at the worst times—like when you're trying to fall asleep.

Let all the worries of the day go by grabbing your worry stone before bed.

You could even have one in the bath with you if that feels nice.

4. On a walk.

So often [we] think of meditation as being passive, but it can be a walk in nature—more of an active thing.

Indeed, meditation doesn't come easy for all, but by turning an afternoon stroll into a moving meditation, with the added benefit of incorporating the worry stone, you'll get all the benefits of fresh air and movement, plus channel some stress while you're at it.

5. During a difficult conversation.