Be Well

Harnessing Your Mental Health

By Emme Martin

If you pay any attention to the news, you may have seen reports discussing the potentially harmful effects social media may have on mental health. Most of us can probably relate to not feeling like our best selves after analyzing others’ perfectly curated feeds. Not to get too cynical, but these sites are designed to hold our attention, reinforcing our feelings of inadequacy. Besides social media, many other sources are to blame for America’s increasingly dire mental health crisis—the pandemic, burnout, trauma, unemployment, relationships, the list goes on. Most of us struggle with or know someone who struggles with mental health issues, yet we have often lacked the necessary tools to combat these complex emotions. The redeeming part of the current crisis is we increasingly recognize that we don’t have to feel this way.

Self-care apps and conversations about mindfulness serve as refreshing antidotes to historically untouchable mental health topics.

The recent boom in mindfulness has given us a plethora of wellness-based apps to improve our quality of life. Because we can’t have a wellness-focused issue of the magazine without discussing mental health, VIE has gathered a list of the best mental health apps to help you through hard times. Whether you struggle with anxiety, depression, or are trying to quit smoking, there is undoubtedly an app for that. While proper supervision from a healthcare professional should always be the first line of defense for more serious mental health issues, these apps contain valuable resources that can put you on track to truly living your best life.

Meditation

Headspace – $12.99 per month / $69.99 per year (free trial available)
You have probably heard of Headspace, the app designed to make meditation accessible anytime and anywhere. Meditation is known for its positive effects on reducing stress, improving sleep, and sharpening focus. Headspace makes reaping these benefits easy by providing guided meditations narrated by the cofounders, starting at just three minutes a day.

Therapy

Talkspace – Prices vary by subscription option, and insurance is accepted.
Therapy has long been known for its benefits, from improved communication skills to developing positive thought patterns. Everyone can profit from going to therapy, but often logistics hold us back. Thankfully, Talkspace offers a more convenient alternative to traditional treatment by providing video, messaging, and phone therapy with licensed providers who cover a range of specialties. Talkspace also offers couples therapy, therapy for teens, workplace therapy, and psychiatry with medication management at affordable rates.

Addiction Recovery

I Am Sober – Free
I Am Sober is a user-friendly sobriety app that takes the pressure off getting rid of harmful habits. Regardless of the vice, I Am Sober makes getting sober as fun as possible with a candid community and frequent milestone notifications. Helpful features of the app include tracking progress down to the minutes, a supportive community forum, and even tracking how much money users are saving by quitting their vice. The app also has a modern interface that users can personalize to fit their aesthetic preferences. Goodbye bad habits, hello freedom!

Anxiety Management

MindShift CBT – Free
Struggle with unnecessary worry, panic, perfectionism, social anxiety, or phobias? MindShift CBT uses cognitive-behavioral strategies to help you shift your mindset and take charge of your life. The app includes tools such as check-ins, coping statements, thought journals, and more to bring greater awareness to your thoughts and provide tools to manage them in more effective ways. In addition, by tracking your anxiety symptoms, you can better understand the causes and hopefully avoid them.
Colorfy – $2.99 per week / $39.99 per year
Colorfy is an adult coloring game app designed to soothe anxiety and relax the mind. The complex coloring formats and over one thousand pictures to paint keep the game exciting while also allowing you to interact with others worldwide. If you’re a creative person who finds comfort in making pretty things, this app is for you.

Daily Affirmations

I Am – Free
Individuals who say daily affirmations are more likely to have positive thought patterns and motivation. Affirmations are powerful statements that strengthen the connection between the unconscious and conscious mind. I Am is a daily affirmations app that empowers users by delivering themed intentions on push notifications throughout the day. It’s like having a personal motivation coach in your back pocket!

Gratitude

The Five Minute Journal App – Free / In-App Purchases
Journaling daily can lead to increased emotional intelligence and a more optimistic mindset. The Five Minute Journal App is the application version of the widely popular The Five Minute Journal. However, the app takes journaling to the next level by allowing users to add photos and videos and track their moods so they can follow their own stories. By spending just five minutes a day journaling, you can appreciate your life more and get out of your head.

Spirituality

The Bible App – Free
The Bible is included on this list because it reminds us that we do not face our struggles alone and that we cannot solve all of the world’s problems on our own. In addition, the stories contain rich lessons that apply to our modern-day world. The Holy Bible App is the ultimate spiritual guide with over 2,400 Bible versions in over 1,600 languages. The app also allows you to highlight or bookmark your favorite verses so you can always come back to them when you need to.

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