My Therapist is a Hydroflask

Everywhere I go, I see almost every person holding a water bottle. Whether a Stanley, Hydroflask, Owala, or a cheap water bottle they got for practicality, most people have one. And they’re probably emotionally attached to it. 

The emotional support water bottle is a well-known phenomenon among those who have carried the same janky water bottle for the last few years. 

Composed of dents, scratches, and residue from stickers that said “Save The Turtles!” when you thought you were just trying to be more sustainable, the emotional support water bottle is a collection of who we are and who we become. Moving through phases in life alongside us and keeping us hydrated while doing it.  

However, using these bottles is not singular to keeping us hydrated. Drinking from it becomes a way to keep us awake when falling asleep in class, a habit to keep from feeling awkward, or, for some, something that can even be used to help quit vaping. 

The refillable water bottles we all purchase at some point in our lives become a part of our identity, and when we go a day without it, we feel naked. Our thirst becomes more apparent, and so does the awkward fact that we don’t know what to do with our hands. 

I could give a list of all the times I realized I am way too attached to my water bottle, but instead, here are some comments from Strike readers about their emotional support water bottles: 

“I freak out every time I think I lost it. I know I could just buy another one, but this one has been my sidekick for so long,”

“My friend has had my water bottle for a few weeks and I actually really miss it,”

“If I didn’t have it with me all the time, I don’t think I would drink water.”

I can easily say that if I didn’t have mine with me, I would also struggle to drink water throughout the day. That scuffed-up hydro flask is the only thing keeping me from being extremely dehydrated. 

The impact of the emotional support water bottle is strong. The dents, scratches, and (unusual) noises are a reflection of the experiences and growth we’ve had while carrying it. But make sure you wash it once in a while.

Strike Out, 

Madi Denizard 

Boca Raton 

Madi Denizard is a content writer for Strike Magazine Boca. In typical Leo fashion, she is a social butterfly and loves self-expression of all kinds. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a book, mermaiding in the ocean or crocheting her newest masterpiece. You can reach her by email at madison.denizard@gmail.com or on Instagram @mpaigee_