Mental Health Apps for Tracking and Support
What is one thing that we have around us most of the time (whether we like it or not?) Our phone. While connection to our phones can cause stress and anxiety at times, technology has the possibility to be harnessed for good! Making room for certain mental health-oriented apps on our phone has the potential to increase our self-awareness and positive habits. With the right support, apps on our phone can help us build routines and habits that are able to be implemented without our phones at a later date. Phones can be a helpful stepping stone to habit building and tracking. (Please note, I am not affiliated with or sponsored by any apps, technologies, or companies. All information in this article is provided for informational purposes and is not intended as advice or to take the place of counseling.)
Symptom and Mood Tracker:
● Bearable– Chronic pain and illness tracker that can help you track symptoms as well as triggers and changes.
Habits:
● Streaks ($5.99)- Appealing interface that utilizes filling in circles to track habits and goals.
● Habit Tracker (free with in-app purchases)- A clean interface that allows you to track and review habits and goals, broken down into helpful visuals and timelines. Timers, reminders, and lock screen widgets available.
Self Care:
● Finch– Self care “pet,” a cute bird that helps you interact with your self care goals. The pet grows and changes based on what you log.
Mindfulness & Meditation:
● Insight Timer– Thousands of meditations that can be sorted by time, subject, and needs. Includes meditations around stress, sleep, relationships, compassion, and focus.
● Calm-(free and paid versions)- Meditations and guided mindfulness activities.
One of the keys to utilizing app support lies in a non-judgmental mindset and approach. Practice curiosity about what it’s like to use technology as a tool, and give yourself space to make adjustments to find what works uniquely for you.
Benefits to utilizing mental health apps include increased accessibility to resources, new ways of tracking, and new ideas. Drawbacks may include more time spent on your phone, or frustration surrounding tracking a new habit.
Apps are able to be used at your own pace, whenever and wherever you might need a resource or have a symptom you’d like to track. Utilizing the structure of an app can build confidence in eventually approaching your daily life with more ease surrounding your habits, symptoms, and goals.
Further reading and citation: Martha Neary, Stephen M. Schueller, State of the Field of Mental Health Apps, Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, Volume 25, Issue 4, 2018, Pages531-537, ISSN 1077-7229, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2018.01.002.
