Tiny things for big feelings: Small objects are becoming our emotional companions - Rappler

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I have a habit of always checking my bag before I leave the house. 

Phone? Check. Wallet? Check. Keys? Check. My green Inhaler? Essential. My octopus crochet stress ball? Definitely.

Some of these – specifically, my inhaler and octopus ball – are not exactly something you’d consider as necessities, but I always bring them with me. 

Whenever I feel nervous, I reach for my inhaler. And when I’m bored waiting for the jeepney to fill up, I wrap my hands around my squishy ball. I like to think of them as my comfort objects.

Simply put, comfort objects are things that bring us joy, evoke memories, or give us a sense of nostalgia and comfort during nerve-wracking moments. 

Popular choices among my peers include dumpling-shaped squishy stress balls, keycap keyrings, cute plushies, fidget keychains, and worry stones. The thing is, comfort objects aren’t one-size-fits-all. They can mean different things to people.

For one friend, it’s a bear keychain from a memorable family trip to Switzerland. Another friend turns to her collectible Fuggler plush whenever she feels stressed after an intense pickleball game.

I know someone who keeps an inhaler with him and says that sniffing it before quizzes helps him focus. Another person loves having her Squidward plushie around to keep her company through a long checklist of tasks.

Sometimes, we carry these objects simply because they’re adorable. For others, they’re reminders of people and places, or something tactile to hold when they’re feeling overwhelmed.

In child psychology, a related concept is the transitional object, an item that helps a child cope with separation or anxiety. Think of a teddy bear that makes a child feel safe when their mother briefly leaves the room, or a favorite bedtime toy that makes the monsters in the closet seem less scary.

While this concept is commonly discussed in childhood development, the desire to find comfort in familiar objects can continue into adulthood.

A 2025 study of 2,729 Filipinos aged 18 to 29 examined depression, anxiety, and stress among emerging adults in the Philippines. Researchers found clusters of severe and extreme levels of these conditions in areas including Metro Manila and several provinces in Luzon. The study used convenience sampling, so its findings should not be treated as representative of every Filipino young adult. Still, it points to the reality that stress and mental health concerns are part of the landscape many young Filipinos are navigating.

Which brings us back to the tiny things. Maybe we’re not always looking for something that will fix everything. Sometimes, we just want something that makes the next few minutes a little lighter. 

Thinking of getting your own comfort object? There’s no official starter kit. It depends on what your hands and your personality are like.

For people who need something to keep their hands busy, slow-rise squishies are a good place to start. They come in the shapes of food, animals, balls, and practically anything you can imagine. The texture is soft, and it’s soothing to squeeze. 

For anyone who loves a satisfying click, keyboard keychains are a fun take on the classic fidget toy. They’re functional and decorative, and you can clip one to your bag for something to fiddle with while waiting for class, commuting, or killing time.

Your comfort object doesn’t have to be a fidget toy. It could be a tiny plushie from someone you love, a souvenir keychain from another country, or a Filipino snack charm that brings back childhood memories. You’re carrying it because it means something to you, and personally, I think that is one of the sweetest things about it.

And then there are people who simply want something cute. Crochet charms and soft toys—you get the idea. There’s no complicated function. You just look at it and think, “Oh, that’s cute. I want that with me.” Honestly? Valid.

Our purchases don’t always have to be practical. Your little squishy doesn’t need to justify its existence. Maybe you just like the way it feels, and it makes you smile —and that’s enough.

Comfort objects aren’t replacements for professional mental health support when someone needs it. But they don’t have to be a treatment to be meaningful, either.

My inhaler and a yellow crochet stress ball sitting beside my phone and keys help me get through the day. The traffic might still be bad, my deadlines will keep approaching, and I’ll probably find something new to worry about – but at least I’ll have something small to hold.

Sometimes, that’s how we get through big feelings, not by making them disappear, but by finding little ways to make them feel more manageable.– Rappler.com

This piece was written by Rappler volunteer Betina Andrea Santiago. Betina is a visual storyteller whose work centers on childhood nostalgia and pressing social realities. She enjoys exploring how visual media can drive empathy and is eager to use cinema to spark meaningful dialogue. A graduating Film major from the University of the Philippines Diliman, she aims to produce human-centered stories that give voice to everyday communities.

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