About us

About us

If you were late diagnosed with ADHD and learnt to 'hold it altogether' then you know the quiet sprint that your brain runs all day. The 47 tabs open - on your screen and in your head. The nail picking. The clenching and grinding of your teeth. The restless hands in another meeting that could've been an email. You're brilliant and highly capable. And you still fidget - because your nervous system is doing its best to help you cope. Fidgeting activates dopamine pathways, easing anxiety and boosting focus (neuroscience fact!).

Anna & Tai here - the co-founders of Subtly Anxious, based in Queensland, Australia. We're both anxious professionals, lifelong fidgeters, and navigating parenthood for our Dinosaur and Lego obsessed autistic and ADHD 5 year old. We're not doctors or therapists. Therapy and mindfulness helped us but it was messy in the middle - in between emails, daycare pick ups and 2am spirals. 

The story behind Subtly Anxious®

We couldn't find a fidget that we needed as adults: something elegant and discreet, that let our hands move quietly, without judgment. No clicking. No snagging. No cheap materials that turn your fingers green. Just subtle and timeless designed accessories that help you focus and get through the moment. 

So we created Subtly Anxious where anxiety meets elegance.

Our rings are designed for the high functioning, capable women who have a lot going on, and keep showing up. If you fidget in meetings, pick at your nails in traffic, or spiral during small talk, our anxiety rings are meant for you. 

What our rings do

• Gives your hands something to do so your mind can take a breath
• Turns restless energy into discreet, soothing motion
• Helps to protect your nailbeds and cuticles from unconscious picking
• Helps to protect your teeth cracking from grinding and clenching 
• Offers a small 'anchor' you can reach for, in meetings, traffic or social situations 

Why choose our rings

• s925 sterling silver or premium stainless steel base that's hypoallergenic and made to last 
• Adjustable so you don't need to know your ring size
• Unique and elegant designs - not like the ones you see on Amazon and Temu
• Pretty first, but always functional - it's jewellery you'll actually want to wear and receive compliments on 

Who we're here for

• High functioning, high achieving women who get it all done (and keep showing up_
• Late diagnosed ADHD minds who fidget to focus
• Anxious overthinkers who look composed but feel the chaos underneath

Empower yourself. Embrace your thoughts.®

• The rings are designed as a tool used to empower yourself to manage any symptoms of anxiety. It is one of many tools and strategies that you can use to deregulate and reduce stress.
• When you feel like your anxiety is approaching, you don't ignore those thoughts - embrace your thoughts and let them pass like a wave through your mind. Empower yourself. Embrace your thoughts.® It's a reminder to yourself on how to manage your anxiety. 

Our mission is to:

• normalise anxiety and fidgeting: your fidget isn't a flaw and it's something to be proud of. 
• to make calming tools that are elegant, quiet and sensory friendly - no clunky, loud gadgets or cheap rings.
• to design for women like us: late diagnosed, overachieving, deeply feeling and constantly juggling neurodivergent women 

Our community

• We've donated $850 to Beyond Blue. 
• We've donated to community Kindy fundraisers and young people at risk of mental health crisis through the Salvation Army.
• Whilst navigating our son’s neurodivergence and ensuring that he is ready for school, we saw an underwhelming amount of (free) neurodivergent focused resources available in the community so we started creating our own. You can find more of our free anxiety resources including our social story templates here.