The COVID-19 pandemic has instigated immense change in our lives. One of the most prominent changes is the rise in stress, anxiety, and depression that the spread of coronavirus and preventative measures such as stay-at-home and social distancing orders have ushered in. There are many accessible ways to improve mental health (see our post on mental health coping strategies during the pandemic). Here we’re bringing you some useful mental health apps that can help you improve your mental state.
DownDog
DownDog is an app that provides users with guided yoga practice. Never repeating the same video twice it thus prevents repetitiveness and complacency. Many users have found it helpful in improving their levels of stress and anxiety. Click here for more information on how you can use movement and exercise to maximize your well being.
Headspace
Headspace is an app centered on improving mood, stress, and sleep through mindfulness and guided meditation. This app offers hundreds of guided meditations on a variety of topics ranging from anxiety, to productivity, to physical health.
Moodnotes
Moodnotes is a journaling and mood tracker app that aims to improve users’ thinking habits towards adopting perspectives conducive to happiness and well-being. The strategies used by the app are based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and positive psychology.
SuperBetter
SuperBetter is a game that aims to help players fight stress, anxiety, depression, and chronic pain through resilience building. The app has nearly a million users that boast its success in helping them develop mental fortitude.
Talkspace
Talkspace is an online and mobile mental health subscription service that pairs you with a licensed therapist based on your preferences. You can then talk, video call, and text with your therapist and he or she will get back to you at least once a day, five days a week. The service has the support of Michael Phelps, who also struggles with depression and anxiety.
Calm
Calm is an app based in mindfulness that seeks to improve sleep and relaxation and lower stress and anxiety. It offers guided meditations, sleep stories, breathing programs, stretching exercises, and relaxing music tracks. The app even features guided meditations and sleep stories narrated by celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey and Leona Lewis.
Sleep Cycle
Sleep Cycle is an app that tracks the phases and quality of your sleep throughout the night to help you better understand your sleep. It uses intelligent alarm clock technology to wake you up gently while you are in the lightest phase of sleep so that you can start your day feeling energized instead of sluggish. Here are some additional tips on naturally improving your sleep.
While these times are certainly emotionally taxing and burdensome on mental health, we do not have to remain passive in taking care of ourselves. These mental health apps can help you fight against the emotional fallout of the pandemic safely and effectively, from your own home. Additionally, use these tips and tricks to reduce your anxiety and naturally improve your mood if you find yourself in need of an extra boost.
Stay Strong!
Written by: Bonnie Feldman, DDS, MBA, Ishita Dubey, Ellen M. Martin
