According to MIND, 1 in 6 of us report to feeling anxious and/or depressed in any given week. And whether you’re feeling slightly low or completely at a loss, it’s important to take any mental health symptoms you may be experiencing seriously.

Depending on the extent of your symptoms, the support you need could be right at your fingertips. You may not have the inclination to Snapchat or Instagram, but have you thought of turning to wellbeing apps on the days when things feel tough? None of these apps are a substitution for professional help and seeking this should always be your first port of call, but the more tools you have to manage your mood, the better.

 

It’s time to work on your mental health.

Whether you’re looking for specific advice or you’d just like some distraction from your thoughts, we’ve hand-picked some wellbeing apps that could be useful. Phones are good for so many things, so why not use yours to help take care of number one?

 

Depression CBT Self-Help Guide: free on Android.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (or CBT) is all about talking through your feelings, identifying thought patterns and behaviours that aren’t doing you any favours, and then giving you a toolkit to help deal with those challenging thoughts. This wellbeing app also has a test that can gauge if you’re depressed, and the severity of your feelings. You’ll find articles about CBT itself (so you can get familiar with how it works) and you can use the tracking feature to help focus on positive thoughts and behaviours.

 

Catch IT – Making Sense of your Moods: free on Android and iOS.

Sometimes a mood diary is the best way to stand back and keep track of how you’re doing. You’ll get an insight into any patterns you’re experiencing and hopefully you can understand a bit more about possible triggers. Catch IT is a joint project between the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester and was designed to show some of the key principles of psychological approaches – like CBT – to mental health and wellbeing.

 

Stop, Breathe & Think: free on Android and iOS.

This is a great app if you’ve been thinking about incorporating meditation into your daily routine. Mindfulness is a really useful tool, and not only for those of us who experience feelings of anxiety or depression. There’s a section called Learn to Meditate which explains why mindfulness is beneficial, and what to expect. And there are 30 free sessions that you can get stuck into with themes such as Breathe, Connect With Your Body and Be Kind. It even covers some of the neuroscience of mindfulness and the physiology of stress – in case you’re a little sceptical. And of course, you can simply use it to meditate and find calm with some soothing background tracks.

 

TalkAbout Mental Health: free trial on Android & iOS.

Sometimes the simplest strategies are the best. And if you just need to talk to people who are objective and trained, help is at hand in the form of TalkAbout. This wellbeing app lets you connect with licensed, accredited professional counsellors in a safe and private online environment. It’s free to get started, but it’s worth noting that there will then be a weekly fee that starts at £25. This may put you off initially, but you’ll get unlimited sessions with your counsellor, 24/7.

 

Blue Light Therapy: free on iOS.

This app is designed to stimulate your brain with blue light. It helps you wake up more naturally (so you can stop abusing that snooze button) and claims to improve mood, restore alertness and improve motivation. If you suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (or SAD) then “you have a little piece of sky everywhere you go” according to the creators – they claim that the ever-changing patterns of interactive blue and white light therapy can really give you the boost you need.

 

Aaptiv: available on iOS and Android

It’s a widely-known fact that doing any kind of exercise not only gets you fit but releases those feel-good hormones that can help to lift your mood. It can be hard to get motivated though.

Aaptiv uses certified trainers to guide you through audio workouts that have been synced perfectly with hand-picked, motivational playlists. There are loads of different types of class to choose from, from running, strength training and cycling to yoga and meditation. All ranging from beginner to advanced levels so there’s something to suit everyone.

And, the beauty of Aaptiv is that you can use it at home, in the gym or outside. So, if hitting the gym isn’t your cup of tea, you can just clear a space at home or head out to the garden or your local park.

If you fancy giving Aaptiv a go, you can grab yourself a 30-day free trial on Wuntu.

 

If you don’t feel like yourself, then these apps could be a good way to start the journey to mental wellbeing. They’re no substitute for a visit to your GP but they just might help with some of your symptoms.

 

And if you don’t have the impetus to look at any of our wellbeing app suggestions, don’t forget that mental health charities and helplines are out there waiting to speak to you. Calls to the Samaritans are confidential and free from any mobile if you dial 116 123.

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Source: Three Mobile Hub
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