We've found five free apps for iPhone and Android that can help you keep track of your thoughts and feelings through mindfulness, grounding techniques and CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy).
These applications should not be used as a substitute for professional help or medication. If you are worried about your mental health or the mental well-being of someone else, there are services available. Find out how to get help in the North East here.
1. What's Up? (Free for iPhone and Android)
What's Up is app which combines CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance Commitment Therapy) methods, 'to help you cope with depression, anxiety, anger, stress and more.'
The application has a whole host of features, including a grounding game to help you when you're feeling overwhelmed, breathing techniques, a catastrophe scale and simple ways to overcome negative thinking patterns.
2. Mindfulness: Art Of Being [Lite] (Free for iPhone and Android)
Mindfulness: Art of Being uses guided meditation in order to 'help improve your mood, concentration, increase your creativity, reduce stress and manage your emotions.'
Although only the 'lite' version of this application is free, it does offer two guided mindfulness tracks. These are short meditations, designed to be listened to privately when you need a moment of calm.
3. SAM App for Anxiety (Free for iPhone and Android)
SAM (Self-help for Anxiety Management) was made in collaboration with a research team from University of West England in Bristol. It's designed specifically for people who suffer with anxiety.
The app uses short exercises to help you identify causes of anxiety and monitor anxious thoughts and behaviours. These include breathing, muscle relaxation and grounding techniques.
4. Pacifica - Stress & Anxiety (Basic features free for iPhone and Android)
Pacifica is a wellness app that doubles as a journal, using CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) techniques to address and help you resolve feelings of stress and anxiety.
The app allows users to record their mood and health via personal trackers to help you establish your triggers. It also features audio exercises, daily challenges and various ways to record your thoughts, to help you break negative thought cycles.
5. 7 Cups - Anxiety & Depression (Free for iPhone and Android)
7 Cups is a unique application which puts you in touch with trained volunteers, to discuss anything at all that's on your mind. You can select the listener you'd like to chat with after viewing their profile, and just start texting.
The service is anonymous for users, none of the texts are saved and you can start chatting to someone within sixty seconds of downloading the app. This is a really useful tool if you'd like to talk through your feelings with a real person.
Is there a great app that we've missed? What would you like to see in next month's tech tips? Tweet us @TranscenditUK
