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For many of us, our phones can be a double-edged sword. They are often the way we interact with the world. At the same time, they can be one of the avenues through which stress can enter our lives. Since no one is going to be giving up their phone anytime soon, let’s explore some apps you can download to help you deal with the stress in your life and turn your phone back into a source of happiness.
Worry Tree
What is it?
This is an app that the NHS recommend as a tool for dealing with stress. It is a journaling app that uses some key ideas from cognitive behaviour therapy to help you deal with your worries and stress.
How does it work?
Whenever you are feeling worried or stressed, you can open up the app and record your concern. The app will then ask you some questions to guide you through your concerns and help you identify if there is anything you can do about the problem. It can then support you in making an action plan to move forward with your day.
Who is it for?
This app is suitable for anyone who wants to give journaling a go.
Cost?
The basic app is completely free. There is an upgraded version if you want extra features, but you do not need to pay anything to have an effective app on your phone.
Headspace
What is it?
Headspace is a guided meditation app. It is a huge library of guided meditations to help you reach various goals. The meditations are based on science. Headspace is proud to be based on scientific research and studies on both mindfulness and meditation.
How does it work?
When you download the app, you start by choosing a focus. This could be something like sleep, self-esteem or sport-related, for example. The app then suggests an exercise to try that matches your goal.
Who is it for?
This app is suitable for anyone who wants to meditate. You can be new to mediation or and old hand it doesn’t matter.
Cost?
You can have access to a small library for free. For the full library, you need to have a subscription. There are lots of different levels of subscription. You can pay monthly or annually. There is a two-week free trial, and they are offering a years subscription for free for anyone who is unemployed.
Happify
What is it?
Happify is an app that combines games and activities with Cognitive Behaviour Therapy to help you improve your mental health and happiness.
How does it work?
You answer some questions, and then you complete games and activities that are designed to match your needs. It gently helps nudge you into good habit and mindfulness.
Who is it for?
Anyone. If you like graphs and data about yourself, this is a good choice.
Cost?
There are ten free ‘tracks’. You need to pay a subscription for access to up to another 18 tracks.
Rootd
What is it?
Rootd is an app designed to deal with panic attacks and anxiety. It aims to help you get through panic attacks when they occur as well as helping you with long terms tool to deal with anxiety.
How does it work?
Rootd uses tools such as guided deep breathing, visualisation and mediation. If you feel a panic attack coming on, you can open the app, and it will guide you through it.
Who is it for?
Anyone who wants a tool to deal with their anxiety or panic attacks.
Cost?
Some of the tools are available for free, but others need to be paid for to access.
Calm
What is it?
This is a mental health app that is designed to help you relax and fall asleep more easily.
How does it work?
Calm uses guided meditation. There are many different types and lengths of meditation to choose from. You can choose to focus on goals such as gratitude, stress management and relationships.
Who is it for?
This app is suitable for everyone.
Cost?
You can use the app for free. Some of the content is behind a paywall, but you get a lot of content for free.
Brain.fm and Relax Melodies
What is it?
Both of these are apps that use music to get you into a particular state of mind.
How does it work?
You decide what you want to achieve, for example, focus or sleep and the app plays you a track or a meditation to help you reach your goal.
Who is it for?
Both are suitable for everyone; however, Relax Melodies has more options aimed at children.
Cost?
Brain.fm gives you five free sessions; then you have to pay a monthly subscription.
Relax Melodies has a free version with ads and a subscription version with more sounds and stories to choose from.
Freedom
What is it?
Freedom is an app that blocks your access to social media, internet and other distractions. It can help you focus and avoid sources of stress while you are trying to sleep.
How does it work?
You can set a schedule during which time it stops you from accessing your chosen apps and internet, and also blocks alerts from them.
Who is it for?
Anyone who needs to focus.
Cost?
You can try it for free. After seven tries, you need to either pay a monthly subscription a yearly or a forever price.
