15 apps to treat anxiety
The prevalence of anxiety disorders has increased in the last decade , and experts warn that in the case of children and adolescents stress is increasing alarmingly. The Spanish Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AEPNYA) states that this increase will have a great impact on the psychiatric diseases of adults in the next decade.
Types of anxiety disorders
Actually, anxiety is something that we have all experienced at some time in our lives. It's a normal emotion, which is even adaptive . Just before an important exam, for example, anxiety can manifest itself. Anxiety usually appears in situations of stress and uncertainty.
Now, when anxiety causes some degree of functional deterioration in the life of the individual who suffers it, affecting the different areas of his life (for example, work, interpersonal relationships, etc.), what is known as anxiety disorder. There are different types of anxiety disorder: Panic disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Social phobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Agoraphobia and Specific Phobia.
- Maybe you are interested: Types of Anxiety Disorders and their characteristics "
Apps to treat anxiety
Along with the increase in the prevalence of anxiety disorders, new technologies have also been developed. This has caused that the experts in psychology have tried to merge their knowledge on the mind and the behavior with the technological advances. For example, the new Virtual Reality Therapy.
However, there are technological advances that are more within reach of us than Virtual Reality Therapy. A clear example are the applications for smartphones . In recent years, mobile apps have appeared that aim to reduce the symptoms of anxiety. Although they are not useful for serious cases, they can be effective for less severe cases.
Although these applications do not replace a psychologist, you can find below a list with 15 apps to treat anxiety .
- Related article: "The 7 types of anxiety (causes and symptoms)"
1. Worry Watch
Anxiety is manifested many times by imagining negative and unreal future scenarios. Worry Watch is an app whose purpose is to enable the management of irrational and unjustified worries or thoughts. It has a diary that helps track user concerns , including thought it could happen and how the situation really ended.
As the use of the application increases, it is possible to monitor trends and learn from their patterns of worry and anxiety. By observing one's own thoughts and real consequences, one begins to be aware that these thoughts are, in many cases, irrational.
2. Worry Box
Worry Box in Spanish means box of worries. This app was created to help people deal with worry and learn how to effectively handle this paralyzing emotion. When we face this kind of anguish, the application gives a list of coping expressions to help us reframe the thoughts. It also includes relaxation audios to help induce calmness.
3. What's up?
In the treatment of anxiety it is very important to be aware that one suffers from this psychological phenomenon, and thus to understand how their thoughts affect their emotions and their behaviors. This can make the difference between having a panic attack and rationally approaching your fear and concern with a more open mind. That is, it is key to learn how to manage this phenomenon and to reduce the intensity of your symptoms .
This application uses Behavioral Cognitive Therapy to instruct its users on how to identify negative thought patterns and sources of anxiety. It has breathing techniques, habit and anxiety monitors, positive quotes, forums and even a game.
4. MindShift
When you suffer from anxiety, you may feel tied to your constant thoughts of worry and fear. Mindshift try to help users reduce these thoughts . He does this thanks to his diary, his symptom monitor and the relaxation tips he facilitates to handle a complicated situation. These guided tips focus on anxiety, fears and phobias, and trust.
5. Stress Doctor
More than Stress Doctor, this application should be called Stress Psychologist (stress psychologist). It is an app Useful for people who regularly face panic attacks and anxiety , which uses the Behavioral Cognitive Therapy approach to help users rethink their destructive thinking patterns that can lead to or worsen their anxiety. It offers breathing exercises, an anxiety diary and other options.
6. Headspace
An application based on mindfulness, with mindfulness and meditation techniques to help control stress and anxiety, improve wellbeing and be happier in general. Guided meditations are designed to train the brain in just 10 minutes a day, with the ability to record progress and help practice self-pity , along with a system of friends so that one can remain motivated and help others to do the same.
7. Nature Sounds Relax and Sleep
Relaxation can be difficult when someone suffers anxiety. However, the sound of nature can help you relax and sleep better . This application was created to help users find calm. The different options include waterfall, night in the jungle, bird sounds and thunder. You can also use the application as an alarm.
8. Acupressure
Acupressure involves focusing therapy on certain points of the body to relieve the physical and mental symptoms of stress. Unlike acupuncture, there are no needles involved, just massage. Acupressure: Heal Yourself guides you through the various pressure points, so You can self-massage to get the relief you need . It is also useful for pain. The app uses illustrations, shows exactly which points are the best for your symptoms and lets you find out how to massage them to get the best possible results.
9. Anxiety Free
High levels of stress can worsen the symptoms of anxiety, so stress management techniques are often recommended for people with anxiety. The Anxiety Free application uses self-hypnosis techniques to help reduce stress and reduce feelings of anxiety. The lessons are guided and developed by Donald Mackinnon and last 90 minutes each.
- Related article: "Hypnosis, that great unknown"
10. Moods
Learning to manage anxiety requires, first of all, knowing how to recognize it. With this mood tracking application, you simply need to enter how you feel at any time of the day and you can use these entries to track and identify patterns of behavior and thinking .
11. Self Help for Anxiety Management
This app can help you manage the symptoms of anxiety. It is a self-help tool for the management of this disorder, which starts from a holistic vision for its treatment.
In the app you will find an anxiety tracking tool, instructions for relaxation, a treatment guide and a community with which to interact. There are also interactive relaxation functions that you can use to learn to better manage your emotions and physical reactions .
12. Sleep Time
Insomnia due to anxiety is frequent in situations in which a person is stressed or has excessive worries. Sleeping well can make the difference between having a good day or a bad day. Sleep Time allows you to sleep with environmental and relaxing sounds . It also allows you to track sleep patterns and gives you information about the quality of your sleep hygiene.
13. Pacifica
As the name suggests, This app is ideal to relax and treat anxiety . It includes deep breathing exercises and muscle relaxation. The goal of this application is to manage panic attacks correctly. It also includes an interactive guide that allows you to record your mood.
14. Breathe2Relax
This application is easy to use. Developed by the National Center for Telehealth & Technology, this app guides us through diaphragmatic breathing (or "belly breathing") and allows us to record and memorize our own level of stress. It also offers informative videos about the consequences of stress.
- Maybe you're interested: "Types of breathing (and how to learn them in meditation)"
15. PTSD Coach
Created by the National PSTD Center, this app is intended for people suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). PTSD Coach is a self-assessment tool that links users with support groups.
