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Looking after your mental health is vital, but it’s not always easy. When we feel stressed, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. To support your mental health, there are many digital tools available.
These shouldn’t replace a few in-person supports, though.Instead, they should be seen as a complement to your VA alcohol rehab or similar treatments. Use them as an extra support to see the best results possible.
Rootd
Rootd is an app designed for people who experience anxiety and panic attacks. The app includes several useful features including a breathing tool, anxiety tips, a panic button, and mental health lessons. The key features of Rootd include:
- Anxiety lessons: Learn about anxiety and the root cause of panic attacks.
- The Breathr: Use breathing exercises specially designed to reduce anxiety.
- Progress page: Use the journal to track your progress in overcoming your symptoms.
Smiling Mind
The Smiling Mind app is a free tool for mindfulness created by psychologists and educators. The app includes programs to help users cope with challenges, problems, and stress. There are plenty of benefits of using a mindfulness program, including:
- Reduce anxiety and stress
- Focus on the present and appreciate the moment
- Develop a more positive mindset
- Improve meditation skills
- Learn how to relax and sleep better
- Exercises to deal with negative thoughts
Grief Support Network
This app is a social network to support and connect people who are grieving. The creators of the app understand that grief is different for everyone, which is why the app has plenty of different features. Users can use the chat feature to speak to fellow ‘Grief Angels’ close by. There are also meetups where people can access community support in person. There’s a ‘calming sounds’ feature, helping users to relax, unwind, and meditate.
Many grieving people also have to arrange a funeral, which can be particularly difficult. Organizing a funeral can be stressful whether it’s choosing memorial rocks for cemeteries or planning funeral speeches. Using the Grief Support Network app, people can make new connections and feel less alone.
Think Up
The Think Up app is a positive affirmation tool. Affirmations are positive statements or phrases we repeat to shift our focus to positivity and manifesting our desires into reality. The Think Up team believes ‘our mindset and thoughts have an enormous impact on self-esteem, health, prosperity, and happiness.’ The tool has plenty of positive affirmations to choose from, or you can create affirmations of your own. There are many themes to choose from such as self-esteem, relationships, reducing stress, beating depression, and more. You can speak your affirmations out loud or write them down in a journal.
Happify
Happify is a tool designed to help you feel more happy and content. The app includes games and activities to cope with challenges, stress, and negative thoughts. All of the exercises on the Happify app were developed by scientists and experts in psychology.
According to the app creators, ‘96% of people who use Happify regularly report feeling better about their lives in 2 months.’ You can choose from plenty of different programs such as:
- Improving your stress coping strategies
- Progressing with your career
- Overcoming negative feelings
- Learning about mindfulness
- Plenty of mental health tips
My Life Meditation App
Meditation is an excellent way to improve your mental health. The app includes different meditation themes and programs. Whether you’re having trouble sleeping, concentrating, or you’re feeling stressed, this tool has lots of useful exercises:
- Personalized meditations tailored to you
- Suitable for both novices and experts
- Breathing exercises to ease anxiety
- Mediations in different languages
- Exercises for mindfulness
Reflectly
Reflectly is a journaling app for processing memories, difficult emotions, goals, and more. Studies show that journaling can help to improve mental health. There are lots more benefits of journaling such as:
- Relaxation
- Brainstorm solutions to issues
- Work through difficult emotions without fear of judgement
- Set goals for self-improvement
Remember, these apps are not a substitute for therapy or prescription medication. If you have a diagnosed mental health condition, it’s important to see your doctor for support. There are plenty of other exercises that are useful to reduce stress and anxiety. Try practices like yoga and being amongst nature. With the right tools, it’s easy to make more health-conscious choices.
What Else To Know?
When you’re looking for apps to support your mental health, it’s worth noting these should be used alongside other appropriate steps. From seeing a therapist to taking any responsibly prescribed medication, such as Abilify for anxiety, there are more than a few things you could consider with this. Apps should be seen as the tip of the iceberg when looking after your health. The more you put into looking after this, the more it’ll end up helping.
NOTE: No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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