Mental health has been on everyone’s minds lately.
With all that is going on in the world it has taken a toll on people in various ways. Some are experiencing feelings of anxiety, stress, depression, PTSD, etc. It is easy to ignore these feelings, but it is not healthy. These feelings should be addressed and managed in a healthy way that works for you.
If you are looking for somewhere to start there are a number of apps you can use directly from your phone to manage your mental health! Convenient, right?
Here are 5 FREE apps to help manage your mental health.
1. Self-help for Anxiety Management
Self-help for Anxiety Management (SAM) is a user friendly app that provides healthy coping mechanisms for those that struggle with anxiety. This app allows you to track triggers of your anxiety to identify trends. In addition to that you can receive up to 25 different self-help techniques.
2. MindShift
MindShift uses scientifically proven strategies based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) to help you be mindful and relax. Unlike other apps this app focuses more on changing your way of thinking to combat anxiety, worry, perfectionism, social anxiety, phobias and panic. Notable features include: coping cards, thought journal, and CBT-based tools.
3. Happify
Happify is a science based app and is a psychologist-approved mood-training program.
This app helps to train your brain to think differently about stress and anxiety triggers. Users can enjoy interactive games, gratitude prompts and activity suggestions to train their brain just like any other muscle in the body.
4. Breathe2Relax
Sometimes you just need to breath. However, this can be hard if you are experiencing extreme levels of stress and anxiety.
Breathe2Relax uses diaphragmatic breathing to calm the mind and body. This technique is known to specifically help those who are experiencing feelings of PTSD. Users can enjoy various breathing activities which will decrease their bodies ‘fight-or-flight’ stress response.
5. eMoods
If you have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder this app is for you.
eMoods is a digital mood tracker that allows you to log your moods throughout the day. It also helps you identify triggers and take control of your moods.
What’s great about this app is that at the end of each month the app will generate a color-coded set of data for you. The data will include everything logged that month. Also, you can export the data as a PDF and send it to a personal doctor.
*Disclaimer*: Everything logged in eMoods is private until consent is given to release the data stored.
These are just a few great apps that are out there for mental health. I encourage you to check at least one of them out. You never know what could come from doing so!
