Yes, Your Smartphone or Tablet Can Be Great for Your Mental Health
Most people reading this article are likely reading it on a smartphone or tablet. This is due to the influence technology has had on our lives. One example of how mobile technology has helped is the development of various mental health apps.
Mental health apps can help to develop skills such as self-awareness, mindfulness and have the potential to improve many other areas of a person’s life.
I’m not saying that mobile apps are a replacement for a therapist or medication. What I’m saying is you can use smartphone apps to compliment your treatment. Such as in the following examples I’ve written about in this article.
Youper: I’ve used Youper for a while now, and I’ve found Youper to be positive and therapeutic.
Youper helps to recognize negative thought patterns. It offers options such as journaling and setting your goals and intentions. In addition, Youper also uses breathing exercises which are good for learning skills like grounding or mindfulness.
You can download Youper at no cost on iOS and Android devices.
Moodpath: Moodpath is another great app at no cost and. available for download on Android and iPhone/iPad. It’s like Youper, but has a few more features that make it stand out.
The way Moodpath works is every two weeks of using the app. Users receive an assessment based on the information they’ve put in the app.
Moodpath has over 150 different psychological exercises and videos. Moodpath magazine is another great feature that make this app stand out. Not to mention it’s a great magazine. It focuses on a wide variety of topics.
They developed this app with the help of psychiatrists and therapists. Who have years of experience working in the mental health field!
Mindshift CBT: Anxiety Canada developed Mindshift. It’s available on iOS and Android devices at no cost.
Mindshift uses cognitive behavioural therapy techniques to help with issues such as worry, panic and social anxiety and sleep. Through exercises such as journaling, goal setting and creating healthy habits and coping strategy cards. Mindshift has guided meditations and breathing exercises.
Mindshift gives positive feedback and asks users daily questions to track their progress. In give users a better understanding about things such as understanding their negative thought patterns
What’s up: What’s up is 100% free and a great app for iOS and Android devices and uses a similar approach.
It uses grounding technique, exercises made up of over one hundred questions. To aid the user with issues such as negative thinking patterns. Another great way to use this tool is to recognize unhealthy habits and turn them into healthy habits.
I like how this app has a lot of focus on journaling.
Fabulous: Fabulous is another great app. Even though you can pay for added features, the free version is great. I’ve used the free version for over a year and love it.
Unlike most of the apps I have discussed in this article. Fabulous is useful for creating routines and healthy habits to improve the users self-care. This app lets you choose what you want to do and when you want to do it.
Then sends a notification to complete a specific task. It’s a great app for creating routines and takes a realistic approach that can lead to long-term positive change.
Smartphone applications are not a replacement for your doctor or therapist. These apps can still be a great tool for enhancing one’s treatment. These apps are helpful in areas such as;
- According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, journaling can be a great tool for helping to cope with things such as lessoning stress, anxiety and depression. Journaling can help you keep track of everyday symptoms, goals and learn healthy self-talk habits.
- Grounding exercises don’t take away your problems. These techniques help you recognize your emotions, negative thought patterns by being mindful of our thoughts, beliefs and reactions and to be present. When a person feels overwhelmed. Grounding and breathing exercises are a way of helping a person center themselves.
- They develop these apps with the help of qualified professionals like therapists and psychiatrists. Plus, to help someone who is having a mental health crisis, or a who lives with a mental illness. A person or in this case an app needs to have extensive knowledge and resources about these topics.
- These apps help you recognize unhealthy habits, thought patterns and emotions. By. helping to create healthier approaches to these issues and gives you a non judgmental outlet to express yourself.
- These apps make you a part of your treatment plan and give the users a better sense of control over their lives. This is helpful because having a mental illness I know how powerless it can make you feel.
In conclusion, many people including me find these apps helpful. That being said, please talk to your doctor or therapist before using these or similar apps.
