18 Gifts to Send a Friend Going Through a Hard Time
Updated: Sep. 11, 2023
Send your love to anyone in need of a pick-me-up with the help of these thoughtful gifts for friends going through a hard time.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
It can be hard to know exactly what to say when a loved one is experiencing a difficult event. When words are hard to form, these gifts for friends going through a hard time send your love whether you’re near or far. No matter what they’re going through, these little pick me-ups, from care packages to gift baskets, show you care.
Sending Hugs Gift Box
If you can’t be there to comfort your friend in person, this “Really Big Hug Delivery” is the next best thing. It combines self-care gifts for friends going through a hard time with a personalized greeting card so they’ll never forget just how loved they are. Take a peek at these other care package ideas.
Sympathy Red Wine Gift Box
With an award-winning red wine, chocolate-covered cherries and an assortment of truffles, Harry & David’s gourmet gift box is sure to be appreciated by a friend in need of a pick-me-up. It even includes a thoughtful message in the form of a “sympathy” wine bag.
Feel Your Best Wellness Workbook
Sometimes getting out of a rut requires a little self-reflection. This interactive workbook offers charts, check-ins and goal planning all in a highly Instagrammable format. It gives your friend the tools they need to thrive. It’s a great “thinking of you” gift, too.
Send a Hug Candle
A candle is a gift that’s near-universally appreciated, especially when customized with a loved one’s favorite scent and a personalized message. This “Send a Hug” candle is a thoughtful, sentimental choice for any occasion. These food-scented candles are also a great option.
Warming Heart Pillow
This adorable Warmies pillow is almost better than a hug. It’s covered with soft fabric for a squeezable pick-me-up, and it can be popped in the microwave or freezer for a soothing snuggle. The brand makes several of our favorite weighted stuffed animals, too.
Hummingbird Memorial Ornament
If your friend has lost a loved one, this hummingbird wind chime is a heartfelt way to show your sympathy. Each chime comes with a customizable note, as well as this sentiment: “May the jingling of the bell be a reminder of the love that surrounds you.”
Love Message Shortbread Cookies
If food is the fastest way to a person’s heart, then these shortbread cookies will get you there in record time. They’re packed with rich vanilla flavor and stamped with a sweet message that’s guaranteed to make the recipient smile.
Sunflower Bouquet Pop-Up Card
Sometimes flowers are the best gifts for friends going through a hard time. For that special someone who needs some sunshine in their life, send this sunflower bouquet pop-up card. It arrives with a custom gift message, and it exudes sunshine for as long as the giftee needs it.
Scoops of Support
Gift some comfort in the form of everyone’s favorite sweet treat: Ice cream. These pints of support, including flavors like coffee toffee and chocolate cake, show you’re thinking of them and are here to support them no matter what they’re going through.
Adult Coloring Book
Remind your friend of all the beauty and joy in the world with the help of this gorgeous adult coloring book. It provides a few moments of relaxation and de-stressing for under $20.
Sympathy Cookie Basket
There’s a reason we call it comfort food. Harry & David’s basket of 22 cookies has a sweet treat for everyone. Indulge in everything from blackberry galettes to Moose Munch cookies.
Deep Sleep Pillow Spray
Sometimes experiencing a difficult time can lead to difficult sleep, too. This pillow spray helps promote instant relaxation and deeper sleep using the calming scents of lavender, chamomile and vetiver.
Self-Care Bucket List Cards
Make sure your friend is taking time for themselves by sending this box of cards. It provides 100 self-care ideas, from journaling to calling a loved one. They’re designed to promote positive mental health and de-stressing.
Relax and Relief Bath Set
There are few things better for the soul than a warm, soothing bath. This bath and body kit contains a eucalyptus- and spearmint-scented Epsom salt soak and foaming gel for instant aromatherapy that relaxes both the body and the mind. Send along these mini meditations to help them relieve stress, too.
Pet Memorial Kit
Losing a pet is devastating. Help your friend heal with this pet memorial kit. It includes all of the materials needed for planting a swath of perennial wildflowers to honor their furry friend’s legacy.
Share Love Tea
Tea is known for its calming properties, and this tea blend is crafted to be extra loving and relaxing. The heart-shaped pressed tea leaves combine dark tea, rose petals and caffeine. It’s the perfect blend for a stress-free day.
Sympathy Candle Gift
If your friend has recently lost someone special to them, this candle gift is a unique and sentimental choice. Its design is simple and subtle enough to be displayed in their home for years, and it’s also customizable.
Good Days Start with Gratitude Journal
Remind your friend to count their blessings daily with the help of this gratitude journal. It gives them a space to reflect for just a few minutes a day, plus a weekly check-in to discover the progress they’ve made.
Want more fun product picks and money-saving deals from our shopping experts and Test Kitchen? Sign up for the Stuff We Love newsletter.Â
