If you’re feeling more anxious than usual lately, you’re not alone. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, so many people are experiencing heightened levels anxiety and depression, among other mental health issues. In fact, according to recent survey results, 25% of people are dealing with depression or anxiety, and 55% of respondents say they’ve experienced some mental issue since the onset of the pandemic. Whether your anxiety is directly related to COVID-19 or not, it’s always best to seek the help of a mental health professional to come up with a treatment plan. In the meantime, there are number ofapps for anxiety out there that may just ease some of those not-so-fun symptoms that come with being anxious. Here are 12 calming apps to try:
Best Anxiety Apps
- Lyf Available for iOS and Android Price: Free, or $49.99 weekly/$4.99 for 30 minutes if you’re looking for individualized support If you work on the frontline as a doctor, nurse, first responder, or in another healthcare setting, you can access free, 60-minute support sessions with mental health experts.
- Breathe2Relax Available for iOS and Android Price: Free Proper breathing can not only lower heart rate and blood pressure, but it can get you through an all-out panic attack. Breathe2Relax is an app for anxiety that teaches you how to use diaphragmatic breathing. This can combat the body’s stress responses and leave you feeling a little less freaked out.
- Headspace Available for iOS and Android Price: Free; $12.99/month or $7.99 annual monthly fee; family plan for $19.99 a month Meditation can alleviate heightened anxiety, and Headspace aims to take the guesswork out of learning how to meditate, and will help you from a regular meditation practice. Anyone can sign up for the free version to check it out. And if you’re unemployed, Headspace is giving away a free year of Headspace Plus—a $69.99 value.
- Panic Relief Available for iOS Price: $0.99 Panic attacks are terrifying, but you can do a lot to help get them under control. Panic Relief integrates practices from a psychiatrist and cognitive therapist into brief animations that can guide you through a panic attack. Not only can it help you understand attacks, but you can practice tools to better respond to—and hopefully eliminate—them. 5. WorryWatch Available for iOS Price: $1.99 Tracking your worries is a great first step to worrying less, and WorryWatch can help with that. This calming app for anxiety is more than a place to hash out your woes, as you can use the tools to understand the thought process that leads to ongoing worry.
- SuperBetter Available for iOS and Android Price: Free SuperBetter will help you combat your anxiety and increase resilience so your anxiety doesn’t take over your life. This makes building strength a game of sorts, as it uses the Live Gamefully® method to activate your resilience-building strengths. 7. What’s Up? Available for iOS and Android Price: Free Learn how to use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques that can aid in reducing your stress levels. This will help you put things in perspective by keeping a journal and playing an interactive game that’s ideal for moments when you’re in the thick of high anxiety. 8. Sanvello Available for iOS and Android Price: Free; $8.99 a month; $53.99 a year From peer support to therapy, this app is designed to give you all the mental health tools you’ll need—all from your phone. Even better: Your health insurance plan may cover it! 9. Brain.fm Available for iOS and Android Price: $6.99 a month; $49.99 a year Simply listening to certain music can relieve anxiety. Brain.fm uses AI-generated music that is said to help your brain get into a better state. They have music for relaxation, sleeping assistance, and more. 10. MoodFit Available for iOS and Android Price: Free Input your goals, view data on your moods, get tools to help you deal, and get reminders from the MoodFit app. The MoodFit app is especially helpful if your anxiety likes to get sneaky and mask itself as anger, as it will help you better understand how different moods interact and overlap. 11. MindShift CBT Available for iOS Price: Free This is another app that promises to teach you how to harness CBT to lower anxiety levels. It allows you to challenge the personal beliefs that may be holding you back from more peaceful living, and gives you clear tools to improve your overall wellbeing. 12. Happify Available for iOS and Android Price: Free; $11.99 per month for Happify Plus Happify is geared toward helping people lower stress and manage anxiety—all by helping you let go of habits that aren’t working for you and creating new ones. Happify utilizes principles of CBT along with positive psychology and mindfulness. In addition to the many apps for anxiety, check out thesecoronavirus anxiety coping tips!
