Life
10 Stress-Relieving Apps To Help Beat Anxiety, Because It's Good To Know Relaxation Is Right At Your Fingertips
I have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, so managing my worrying is a big part of my everyday life. I've tried a lot of things to combat my stress and anxiety over the years — from therapy to medication to altering my lifestyle — but self-help has always been a big asset, and stress-relieving smartphone apps have actually had a surprisingly positive impact. It’s nice to have the tools you need to manage your daily stress and anxiety (whether you have a disorder or not) right at your fingertips. Here are a few of my favorites.
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Pacifica
I’ve been using Pacifica for about two weeks, and I love it. It’s a low maintenance app that tracks your daily activities and how they might relate to your anxiety. It also provides a relaxation (basically meditation) opportunity, as well as a chance to record your daily thoughts and worries in an audio file.
Breathe2Relax
Breathing is obviously important for living, but it’s also essential for managing panic attacks and for meditation. Developed by the Department of Defense’s Center for Telehealth and Technology to help provide mental health options for soldiers and their families, this app helps you develop stress-relieving breathing techniques, and provides a variety of info on depression, anxiety, and more.
I Can Be Free — Relax, Remove Fear And Anxiety
A part of the I Can Be Anything series of apps, the I Can Be Free app lets you listen to audio recordings aimed at relieving stress, overcoming phobias and fears, and helping you sleep better, among other things. It now also works with the Apple Watch!
Available for iPhone, free.
Relax And Relieve Stress NOW With Chinese Massage Points
The Chinese practice of acupressure has been used to help combat stress and anxiety for years, and this app teaches you specific pressure points and techniques you can use on yourself to alleviate your daily stresses.
Available for iPhone, $2.99.
Happify
I just started using Happify a few days ago to help improve my mood and lower stress. The app uses a series of positive-thinking activities — such as posting about something you’re grateful for or imagining what it would be like in someone else’s shoes — based on what they call the “Science of Happiness.”
Available for iPhone, free.
Previdence
Previdence is an assessment app that you can use to determine your level of anxiety or depression. After the assessment, it gives you a to-do list of things that will help you deal with your stress — from seeking professional help to finding a new hobby.
Available for iPhone, free.
Relax Melodies
This is a great multi-purpose app for dealing with anxiety symptoms. You can choose from a variety of nature sounds, calming music, and guided meditation sessions.
Available for iPhone, free.
