Five Mental Health Apps
There are millions of apps available for people who want to play games, plan their days, talk to their friends, and capture their lives online. With the accessibility that comes with smartphones, and with one in every pocket, there is no limit to the power that can come from the apps running on these devices. Thankfully, there are many apps that can help teens better handle stress, anxiety, and improve their overall mental health.
Here are 5 apps that we think you should check out and see if they can help you!
1. Pacifica
Pacifica is a great app that offers many ways to handle your stress. Pacifica aims to break the cycle of fear that causes people to feel anxiety and stress. According to Pacifica’s own description, “Fearful thoughts cause physical feelings which cause actions. Your heart starts racing, so you think you’re in danger, so you want to escape. Pacifica attempts to break this cycle using tools that target each of its components via Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.” Pacifica offers you the ability to track your mood throughout your day, listen to audio exercises when you are anxious, verbally record your thoughts so you can analyze your distorted thinking patterns, daily challenges to help you make progress, and connect privately or with helpful communities.
Pacifica is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app is free to download, but require you to subscribe to their service for $3.99 a month or $29.99 a year.
2. Stop Breath And Think
Stop Breathe and Think is a free tool that helps you learn to meditate. Research has shown that mediation can help many people better handle their daily stress and anxiety. Stop Breathe and Think revolves around a simple process. First, stop whatever you are doing. Whether you are spending all afternoon texting with friends, playing video games, or watching funny YouTube videos, stop. Then, take some time to breathe. Focusing on your breathing is a good way to relax and clear your mind. Finally, think. Think about what is going on around you, what is making you stressed out or anxious. Stop Breathe and Think can help you meditate in just five minutes!
Stop Breathe and Think is free and available for both iOS and Android devices.
3. Happify
Happify allows you to choose a goal and helps you achieve that goal yourself. Happify can help you conquer negative thoughts, cope with stress, build self-confidence, and achieve mindfulness through meditation along with over thirty other options called tracks. Once you have chosen your track, Happify provides you with small games that help you along your journey. Some of the games ask you to do things like list your daily victories, while others have you stare at a beach scene for a period of time. According to Happify’s own surveys, 86% of the people who use the app report improving their life after a two month period.
Happify is available to download for free for iOS and Android devices. Happify Plus subscriptions start as low as $4.99 per month.
4. Unique Daily Affirmations
Affirmations are a great way to boost self-esteem and remind yourself of your strengths instead of focusing on your weaknesses. Unique Daily Affirmations shows you affirmations daily. When the affirmation comes on the screen, press the “HOLD” button as you repeat the affirmations out loud. This app is available for iOS and Android devices for free!
5. Hydro Coach
Research shows that proper hydration is a great way to keep stress at bay. It is highly documented how stress can be minimized by drinking water. Studies have shown that even being two cups dehydrated can increase the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in your body. Every single part of your body needs water to function properly, and when they are highly hydrated, well, they can do their job the way that they are supposed to. This doesn’t mean that drinking enough water every day will get rid of everything in your life that may be causing you stress, but it will help you ensure that you are well equipped to deal with it.
Hydro Coach is an app that helps you calculate how much water your body needs based on your height, age, gender, and climate. It uses the time you wake up and the time you go to sleep to help you calculate your drinking pace and reminds you to drink throughout the day to keep drinking water. Open the app every time you finish a cup or a water bottle to add it to your log. It keeps track of your drinking habits day after day.
Hydro Coach is available free on Android and similar apps can be found on iOS.