Ensuring peace of mind means that you are free from your worries and troubles. This can be hard to achieve especially since we live in a demanding world.
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As such, it is important to take steps to ensure that we practise self-care to protect our peace of mind. Some individuals find that reading self-help books and taking up meditation are more beneficial to their overall well-being while others find using a mental health app more useful.
With a number of mental health apps out there available to the public, it can be challenging to pick one that is suited to your needs. To be certain of which works best for you, continue reading the article as we cover all you need to know on how to pick a helpful mental health app.
What are mental health apps?
Mental health apps are mobile apps designed to improve our overall sound of mind through various techniques such as mood-tracking, journaling and breathing exercises, among others. Most users seek help from these apps to reduce anxiety, daily stresses and depression.
While they do not have the exact ability to replace therapy, they sure can make a difference to our overall mental wellness. As such, individuals who are in need of mental health support seek these apps to receive psychological treatment at their convenience and at a low cost.
When should you use a mental health app?
Experiencing daily stresses is part of life and it is completely valid. You may realise that those around you might experience and react to their everyday stresses differently. If you find yourself experiencing any of these situations, you might want to consider using a mental health app.
Sudden inability to cope at work
If you are starting to experience the inability to cope at work, either because of work related factors or matters in your personal life, then it’s time to evaluate and address the issue head on so that it doesn’t get in the way of your professional commitments or mental health. If the inability to focus at work prolongs, it might lead to more concerning issues that might affect your work performance and relationships with your colleagues. Fret not, as this might be the right time to seek help, which mental health apps are able to provide.
Stress – illustrative photo. Image credit: Freepik, free license
Issues with current sleep cycle
If you find yourself finding troubles tucking yourself into bed soundly at night, it might be a clear sign that you are experiencing some stress, anxiety or maybe your mental health issues are affecting your current sleep cycle. Mental health apps are able to provide support through meditation sessions and sleep stories, with the ultimate aim to improve your sleep cognition.
Severe mood shifts
Many individuals who find themselves in challenging situations might experience severe mood shifts or get agitated easily. This could possibly be symptoms of a mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety. Mental health apps can come in handy as they can reduce negative thinking that can help to improve these conditions.
How to pick a helpful mental health app suitable to your needs?
With countless options of mental health apps available on the market, it is important to choose one best suited to your specific needs. Here are some ways to pick a mental health app beneficial to you:
Recognise your needs
When selecting a mental health app, it is important to understand what you hope to get out of it. Are you hoping for your sleep to improve at night? Are you hoping to have a more positive outlook on life? Do you find that you have been experiencing severe mood swings recently and are unaware of what to do? These are some questions that you could ask yourself before selecting an appropriate mental health app.
Look for scientific research
Science-based mental health apps have been proven to be effective in addressing mental health issues. As such, it is important to pick a legitimate app that will support your needs, instead of falling prey and becoming a victim of untrusted sources.
Communicating with a psychologist – illustrative photo. Image credit: Freepik, free license
Consult a professional
Since there are currently about 10,000-20,000 apps out there, it is tricky to be certain of which app to spend your money on. While some mental health apps are free of charge, it is important to ensure that you pick the right app. This can be done by consulting a mental health practitioner or other professionals who have completed mental health courses online to understand their suggestions, ensuring that it would work best for you.
Protecting your peace of mind starts today
If you often find yourself in a stressful and challenging situation, you’d be reassured knowing that many individuals feel the same way as you. This explains the need for you to constantly protect your peace of mind.
Our mental health is an essential part of our overall well-being. Without proper self-care and treatment, it can take a toll on many aspects of our life in the long run. Mental health apps come in handy as they can provide us with greater insight at the touch of a button as to which areas of our life need support.